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Depression is a mental disorder that profoundly impacts how you feel, act, and think.
It's not just being sad or having a bad day; it's a more persistent and complex condition.
Symptoms of a depressive episode include the presence of five or more of the following for at least two weeks:
- Decreased interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities.
- Depressed mood.
- Weight loss or decreased or increased appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Increase or decrease in physical and mental activity.
- Feeling of worthlessness or excessive guilt.
- Decreased ability to concentrate.
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
As can be seen, a depressive episode has a global impact on a person's life and usually involves emotional disturbances (sadness, discouragement, decreased ability to feel pleasure, etc.), behavioral disturbances (decreased activity level, agitation or slowness), cognitive disturbances (decreased concentration, memory and/or performance), physiological disturbances (insomnia or hypersomnia, decreased appetite, activity and/or sexual desire), and interpersonal disturbances (little interest in others and deterioration of social relationships).
What is the difference between a depressive episode and grief?
It is important that we distinguish a depressive episode from a grief episode, since they can share several characteristics but are very different.
In it duel, the predominant affect is usually a feeling of emptiness and loss, with sadness that diminishes and occurs in waves. On the other hand, in the depression The predominant affect is a persistent depressed mood with an inability to experience happiness or pleasure, and sadness is more persistent.
In addition, in the depression We also find thoughts of self-criticism or pessimistic rumination, low self-esteem and absence of positive emotions. While in the duel Thoughts often focus on concerns about the deceased, self-esteem is preserved, and positive emotions may accompany the pain of loss.
If there are thoughts about death, in the duel are related to the deceased and in "reuniting" with him, while in the depression They would focus on ending their own lives because they felt useless, unworthy, or unable to cope with the pain of depression.
Depression assessment and personalized treatment plan
When addressing this issue in consultation, the psychologist will first assess the level of interference and the severity of the symptoms.
To do this, you can use:
- Self-reports that assess current activity level, recording both pleasant and unpleasant activities in the person's life.
- Instruments that assess coping strategies.
- Instruments that evaluate the person's skills and competencies.
- Behavior analysis to determine the presence of available reinforcing stimuli.
- Scales that assess the presence of suicidal ideation, planning or desire.
- Other questionnaires, scales or records that provide more information about the symptoms present.
Once this information has been collected, a specific treatment plan for the person's symptoms will be developed.
The therapeutic objectives will be primarily aimed at recovering normal activities and learning to solve problems in a more active and adaptive way. To achieve this, we will seek to increase activity levels, improve mood, and address some cognitive aspects (negative automatic thoughts, expectations, attributions, etc.) or associated problems (sleep disturbances, eating disorders, and physiological arousal).
To achieve this improvement in symptoms, the treatments used will include emotional regulation strategies (focused on exposure and acceptance of symptoms) and behavioral activation (increased activity and the opportunity to receive positive reinforcement).
These two strategies will be the pillars of most treatments and can be complemented with other tools such as skills training, psychoeducation, problem-solving training, or relapse prevention.
A psychologist and emotional well-being It is something that always goes hand in hand for these types of situations, and it must be remembered that the selection of the specific techniques to use will depend on each case and the characteristics of the person.
Do you need help?
If you experience any of these symptoms, know someone who is experiencing them, or simply want more information, Do not hesitate to contact Catalina CalafatCatalina will provide you with a professional assessment and offer a personalized response to help you manage and overcome depression.
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