What is depression?
Some people say it’s introversion, not liking to socialize;
Some people say it’s being dramatic, seeking attention;
Some people say it’s feeling low, it will pass with time…
There are various misunderstandings about depression in society, including from the friends and family of those with depression, and even the individuals with depression themselves.
Depression is not just introversion, drama, or feeling low; it’s more like a “severe cold” of the brain.
According to a report from the World Health Organization, over 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, with an 18% increase in patients over the past decade. It is estimated that there are over 95 million people with depression in China, making it one of the countries with a significant burden of depression globally.
Depression has become the second biggest “killer” of humanity.
4 Major Signs of Severe Depression
Extremely Depressed Emotional State
Patients can no longer feel joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness; they lose interest in everything and are constantly immersed in sadness. Often, due to unbearable mental anguish, patients feel life is not worth living, with suicide attempts and actions being the most dangerous symptoms of depression, occurring during severe symptoms or even during early stages or improvements.
Severe Sleep Disorders
The sleep patterns of patients with severe depression are at two extremes – either severe insomnia, being unable to sleep all night, or excessive sleep, spending the entire day in a state of sleep. Many insomnia sufferers with severe depression most often think about choosing the right time at night to end their life by suicide.
Loss of Appetite
They have no desire for food, they don’t eat every day mainly because they have no interest in food. Therefore, many severe depression patients are very thin, have pale complexions, decreased physical strength, and are prone to constipation; female patients may experience irregular menstruation or even amenorrhea.
Slowed Cognitive Function
Many patients with severe depression speak little, talk slowly, respond sluggishly, and some severe cases may become mute and motionless, with slowed cognitive function.
Although the exact cause of depression is not fully understood, it can be treated through medication, psychotherapy, and physical treatments.
How to treat severe depression?
1. Psychotherapy
Many doctors also recommend psychotherapy for patients. Mild depression can be cured through psychotherapy, but combining psychotherapy with medication under psychological counseling can better control moderate to severe depression.
2. Self-treatment
Self-treatment usually involves exercise and social interaction. In terms of exercise, you can choose some aerobic exercises. Research has shown that it can improve mood, increase appetite, and promote sleep. In terms of social interaction, patients need to go out and preferably participate in group activities to alleviate low moods. For many patients, self-treatment is more challenging. Currently, more help and guidance from family members are needed.
3. Medication
The current preferred medication for depression is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as paroxetine, sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine. However, these medications may sometimes have a manic effect, in which case they can be replaced with amisulpride for treatment. Levomethadone hydrochloride amisulpride tablets are a new type of antidepressant, primarily with antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and anti-compulsive effects, without the risk of causing mania, meaning it won’t turn the patient’s depressive symptoms into manic symptoms.
4. Physical Therapy
For patients with severe suicide attempts and those for whom antidepressant medications are ineffective, physical devices such as the ZY-09A low-frequency alternating magnetic therapy machine, KF-10C ultra-low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulator, are used, mainly for mild to moderate depressive episodes.
It should be noted that depression ≠poor resilience to stress; it is a common mental illness that must be taken seriously. As long as it is detected early, diagnosed early, and treated early, especially by identifying these patients early, it can help them overcome their mental struggles and even save their lives.
