A comprehensive analysis of depression, covering symptoms, causes, treatment, self-regulation and care advice, provides free online depression test links, providing you with a comprehensive guide to depression knowledge and companionship.
Have you ever witnessed your relatives and friends around you getting deeply trapped in the quagmire of emotions, feeling worried all day long, being indifferent to everything, not willing to communicate with others, and even having the idea of suicide? Maybe you thought it was just a momentary depression at first, and you could recover with a little enlightenment. But in fact, these manifestations are most likely to be warning signs of depression. Depression is by no means an ordinary mood swing, but a mental illness that requires professional intervention and care, and cannot be solved by just a few words of comfort. This article will explain depression to you in a comprehensive way, covering popular science knowledge and accompanying guides, helping you better understand and help patients with depression.
What is depression
Depression is a common and complex mental illness. It is like a haze that continues to cover the patient's emotions, leaving him in a state of depression for a long time, losing enthusiasm for daily activities, and not feeling any happiness. Not only does the patient lose his energy significantly, he often feels inexplicably exhausted, his thinking becomes slow, his association is difficult, and he always belittles himself excessively, and his self-blame and guilt are all in the shadows. In severe cases, he may even have suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Depression has a wide range of effects, from physiology to thinking, from behavioral patterns to social functions and interpersonal communication, eroding patients' lives in all aspects, greatly reducing their quality of life and threatening their physical and mental health.
Related Depression Test Recommendations
If you suspect that someone around you or yourself may suffer from depression, you can perform preliminary screening through the following free online tests:
- PHQ - 9 Depression Screening Scale Free Test : This scale can quickly and effectively screen out whether there are any depressive symptoms, providing a reference for further evaluation.
- SDS Depression Self-rated Scale Free Online Test : A widely used self-rated scale helps understand the degree of depression.
What is the cause of depression
Although the exact cause of depression is not yet fully understood, it is generally believed to be the result of the interweaving of physiological, psychological and social factors.
- Physiological level : The lack of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin is an important physiological source of depression. In addition, long-term insomnia or illness may also provide a breeding ground for the growth of depression. Given changes in neurotransmitters, drug therapy has become a common treatment to regulate the balance of brain chemicals.
- Psychological factors : Childhood experience deeply shapes personality, which is closely linked to depression. For example, some people learn to ignore their emotional needs in childhood. Although they are good at caring for others, they have too low evaluations of themselves, either have too high expectations for intimacy or are completely disappointed, often feel lacking in love, and are full of fear of loss. These psychological traits may increase the risk of depression.
- External environment influence : The natural environment, such as the cold winter and the changing spring, may affect people's emotions. The pressure on the social environment cannot be underestimated. The tension rhythm brought about by rapid social development, negative events in life, invisible pressure and various inducing factors may become the fuse of depression.
How to treat depression
At present, the treatment of depression mainly relies on two major ways: drug treatment and psychotherapy.
- Drug treatment : By taking antidepressants, the brain neurotransmitter balance can be regulated and the symptoms of depression can be effectively relieved. Drugs play a role in targeting neurotransmitter changes and help patients stabilize their mood.
- Psychological therapy : In-depth communication with professional psychological counselors or psychologists, explore the psychological roots behind depression, change unreasonable thinking and behavior patterns, enhance self-confidence and coping skills, and improve life satisfaction. Generally speaking, mild and moderate depression is suitable for combining drugs with psychological treatment, while severe depression requires first relying on drugs to stabilize the condition and then undergo psychological treatment.
How do people with depression regulate themselves
In addition to professional treatment, patients with depression can also try self-regulation to relieve pain and improve mood.
- Exercise regulation : Exercise can increase the brain's serotonin content and bring pleasure. Jogging, walking, playing ball, dancing, etc. are all good choices. Persisting for more than half an hour a day can significantly improve symptoms after a long period of time.
- Regular pace of life : simplify life and ensure sleep and diet. You can use medicines or meditation to help you sleep, maintain a balanced diet, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, coarse grains, quit smoking and drinking, and consume appropriate amounts of protein and fat. Maintain regular schedules and moderate academic tasks to avoid stress caused by excessive goals.
- Build a support network : seek help from relatives, friends, classmates, teachers, etc., express your inner troubles, and obtain understanding and support. Participate in the mutual aid group for patients with depression, communicate with those with similar experiences, and feel companionship and resonance.
- Cultivate interests and hobbies : Discover things you are interested in or want to try, such as drawing, writing diaries, listening to music, watching movies, raising flowers, raising pets, etc., to add happiness to life and enhance self-esteem and self-confidence.
Related test recommendations
The following tests can help people with depression better understand their condition:
- Online assessment of the rapid self-assessment scale of depression symptoms (QIDS - SR16) : It can quickly assess the severity of recent depression symptoms, making it easier for patients to monitor themselves.
- Burns Depression Checklist (BDC) : Assesses depression status from multiple dimensions to provide patients with a comprehensive self-awareness.
How to accompany a person with depression
If you are with a person with depression, your company is of great significance. As long as you provide full companionship and support, professional education and treatment work will be left to professionals. The companion needs to remain stable and do the following:
- Pay attention to suicide risk : Pay special attention to insomnia in the early morning, early awakening, or intense interpersonal conflicts, and when patients express suicide thoughts in their words, once discovered, they must pay great attention and send them to the hospital in time.
- Provide gentle companionship : Gentle and stable companionship is great comfort for patients. When accompanying you, listen more and comment less, and give them full respect and understanding.
- Encourage the pursuit of professional help : support patients to seek professional assistance from psychiatrists and psychological counselors, remind them to conduct regular follow-up consultations and strictly follow the doctor's instructions to take medicine.
- Assist in simplifying life : Help patients simplify their lives, but avoid taking care of everything. Fixed daily arrangements help patients rebuild their self-confidence and gradually regain their sense of control in an orderly life.
- Promote a healthy lifestyle : Accompany patients with regular diet and daily exercise. Simple walks can also create opportunities for patients to get along with others and improve their emotional state.
Change may be difficult and slow, but please firmly believe that your company will eventually penetrate the haze and bring hope to patients.
Related test recommendations
The following tests can help understand the situations related to depression:
- Emotional Self-Assessment Scale: Depression - Anxiety - Stress Scale (DASS - 21) Online Assessment : It can not only evaluate the degree of depression, but also understand the anxiety and stress status and fully grasp the emotional state.
- The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Online Review : It is specifically evaluated for the depression status of the elderly. If there are elderly patients with depression at home, this test is more applicable.
- Baker Depression Scale (BDI-SF) Free Online Test : Concisely and effectively assess the severity of depression, providing a reference for subsequent interventions.
- Baker Depression Self-rated Scale BDI-IA : Assessing depression status from different angles to help gain a deeper understanding of one's own or others' depression.
- Hamilton Depression Scale HAMD Online Free Test : Common Clinical Scale, which has high professionalism and accuracy in the evaluation of depression symptoms.
- Self-assessment Scale for Children’s Depression Disorders (DSRS-C) Online Assessment : Designed for children, if you focus on children’s depression, you can use this test to evaluate it in advance.
I hope that the above popular science knowledge and accompanying guide on depression can help you, so that we can pay attention to depression patients and convey warmth and care.
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