Depression is a mood or mental problem that affects many people, and the incidence of it in Arab countries may range between approximately 30-40%, which is a large number, and patients may show some disturbing and confusing signs. In this article, we present to you in detail the physical and psychological symptoms of depression, and is there a difference between them in women and men?
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that changes the way people think, feel, and perform daily activities, and can make getting through the day difficult and confusing.
It can cause many physical symptoms in addition to sadness, despair, helplessness, and low self-esteem, such as disturbed sleep, chest and stomach pain, and difficulty concentrating and remembering things.
Depression is not a sign of the patient's weak personality, as some people think, but rather it is a psychological and mood disorder, as we mentioned previously, that requires treatment under medical supervision so that we can overcome this difficult stage.
What are the physical and psychological symptoms of depression?
Major depression affects the way the patient thinks, feels, and behaves, and causes emotional and psychological symptoms, such as: feeling sad, mood changes, loss of interest in daily and recreational activities, feelings of guilt, lack of worth, and self-confidence, and it may even lead to thoughts of death or suicide.
But are there physical symptoms that depression can cause?
- Sleep disorders, if a depressed patient suffers from severe bouts of insomnia during which he finds it difficult to sleep, or sleeps for long hours exceeding 10 hours a day.
- Feeling chest pain for no reason or illness.
- Feeling tired, lethargic, and severe body pain for no reason.
- Severe and persistent pain in the muscles and joints.
- Suffering from digestive system disorders, such as: stomach pain, indigestion, feeling nauseous, and experiencing diarrhea or constipation without a specific disease or cause.
- Regular headache or migraine.
- Loss or increase of appetite.
- Pain in the neck and lower back.
- Weak sexual desire without any disease or cause.
What are the physical symptoms of depression in women?
Medical studies indicate that women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men, due to hormonal changes that occur to them throughout their lives, including: Physical symptoms الآتي:
- Increased or loss of appetite.
- Sleep disorders.
- Feeling pain in the muscles, joints, neck and lower back.
- Migraines.
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things.
Psychological symptoms
- Difficulty making decisions.
- Thinking about self-harm or suicide.
- Feeling extremely sad, helpless, or anxious.
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and hopelessness.
- Irritability.
- Exposure to severe and continuous crying spells.
- Not enjoying recreational activities.
- Ease of discomfort.
يمكنك قراءة What does a depressed patient feel?
What are the physical symptoms of depression in men?
Some medical studies have shown that it is difficult to diagnose depression in men, because its symptoms are somewhat different in them, and the physical signs include the following:
- Sleep disorders.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
- الصداع.
- Loss or increase of appetite.
- Loss of sexual desire.
Psychological symptoms
- Speed of anger and irritability.
- Feeling of failure and helplessness.
- Aggressive behavior.
- Abusing contraband.
- Not wanting to sit with friends or attend social events and withdrawing from them.
- Inability to work, perform daily tasks, or exercise.
Get to know The most dangerous type of depression
What is the treatment for depression?
Most people with depression respond to treatment, and options include:
Speech psychotherapy
This treatment depends on talking to a psychiatrist or therapist to help the patient identify his unhealthy feelings, thoughts, and behaviors so that he can change them.
Talk therapy includes many types, the most famous of which are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
العلاج بالأدوية
Depression may change brain chemistry, so doctors prescribe antidepressant medications to treat this problem.
There are many types of antidepressants, and the doctor will prescribe what suits the patient's condition and general health.
Book your consultation now Rafah Center for Mental Health At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital
Complementary medicine
Some medical studies have shown that some patients with mild depression improve after using complementary medicine, such as acupuncture, massage, and hypnosis.
Brain stimulation therapy
This type of treatment helps patients with psychosis or severe depression improve by stimulating the brain and existing nerves through the following types:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
You can read: Psychological sessions
Can depression be treated at home?
Some home remedies may help control depression and reduce its symptoms, but in addition to other treatments, and they include the following:
- Exercising regularly to increase the production of endorphins, which is the hormone responsible for improving mood and happiness.
- Eat a healthy diet rich in healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.
- Drink sufficient amounts of water daily;
- Reducing caffeine intake;
- Taking care of oneself by getting enough sleep, and practicing stress reduction and relaxation techniques so that the patient can deal with life's challenges without worsening depression.
Frequently asked questions
What are the symptoms of very severe depression?
The person loses passion or enjoyment in various aspects of his life and a constant feeling of guilt, in addition to a lack of self-confidence and constant sadness with noticeable difficulty in concentrating, and a feeling of obvious fatigue in the body with an urgent desire to commit suicide.
How does depression affect your physical appearance?
Depression affects the appearance of the body through a noticeable increase in weight, with the appearance of fatigue and exhaustion on the face due to sleep disturbances and loss of appetite. It also directly affects bowel movement, with the appearance of some vision problems, pain in the back area, and other physical effects.
What goes on in the mind of a depressed patient?
Suicide is considered one of the most prominent thoughts on the mind of a depressed patient, in addition to the feeling of unjustified guilt, as a complete change in thinking occurs with a weakness in memory as a result of a change in brain chemistry.
In conclusion, it is normal to feel sad as a result of exposure to some difficult situations in this life, such as: losing a job, divorce, or the death of a loved one, but if the sadness continues for days, weeks, or months, and is accompanied by physical symptoms of depression, which we mentioned to you in this article, then you must go to the internist to ensure that there is no physical illness, then go to the psychiatrist to help you get through this difficult and exhausting stage before the condition worsens or you think about harming yourself or others.
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