Depression can develop due to many reasons. The number of people experiencing depression is increasing day by day. The person experiencing depression and their environment are adversely affected by this situation. People who are depressed can become unable to do even the simplest vital activities. Psychologist Nurseli Kavak stated that depression is a psychological disorder that does not feel well to individuals psychologically, can last for a very long time and affects daily life, and said that lack of motivation, feeling of worthlessness, pessimism, unhappiness, guilt, thoughts of death and suicide are the symptoms of depression.
THIS PROCESS REQUIRES AT LEAST 2 WEEKS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF DEPRESSION
“Depression is not a personality problem or weakness. For a diagnosis of depression to be made, the symptoms must last for at least two weeks and there must be a change in the person’s previous level of functioning. Therefore, depression is much more than just a few days of boredom or feeling unhappy.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION?
Symptoms of depression include: Constantly feeling sad or in a depressed mood. Loss of interest in or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed, unrelated to diet weight loss or weight gain, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, loss of energy, pessimism or helplessness, unhappiness, inability to sit still, aimless physical activity such as shaking hands increased activity or slow movements or speech, feeling of worthlessness, feeling guilty about almost everything, difficulty thinking, concentrating, and making decisions, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, lack of sexual desire, decreased self-esteem, lack of future prospects. To be depressed, at least five of the above symptoms must be present for a period of at least two weeks. Many individuals with depression may experience many of these symptoms. The symptoms of depression can cause the patient to constantly create new problems and can visibly affect the patient’s daily life.”
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION MAY VARY DEPENDING ON AGE
Stating that the symptoms of depression in children and young people may differ, Kavak noted the following:
“About 1 percent of preschool children and about 2 percent of elementary school children are affected by depression. Current data show that about 3-10 percent of all youth aged 12 to 17 years suffer from depression. Depression symptoms differ depending on age. The course and severity of depression symptoms vary greatly from person to person. The depressed individual may feel sad, hopeless and lose interest in things they used to enjoy. Depressed people feel a lot of tiredness, helplessness and sadness. In addition, the person’s work life, social and family life is also affected. Although depressed individuals feel lonely all the time, they perceive everything negatively and look at events negatively. Constantly blames and blames himself for what happened in the past. There is pessimism and hopelessness about the future. In addition, people are often unaware that they are depressed.”
ONE IN EVERY FOUR WOMEN HAVE DEPRESSION
Stating that depression is one of the most common psychological disorders in the society, Kavak said, “According to research, the rate of occurrence at least once in a lifetime is between 15-20%. Depression is almost twice as common in women as in men. It has been stated that one out of every 4 women and one out of every 10 men has had depression at least once in their life. Women suffer from depression 2 times more often than men. This is partially explained by the hormonal imbalances caused by the menstrual cycle experienced by women. In addition, studies have proven that some mood changes occur during pregnancy and puerperium, when women experience strong hormonal changes. Untreated childhood depression can lead to prolonged depression and persistence into adulthood. 14 out of a thousand women aged 65 and over and 4 out of a thousand men are depressed. These rates are about a quarter of younger adults. Twenty out of 1,000 elderly people have dysthymic disorder (mild but prolonged depression). he said.
THE EFFECT OF THE DRUGS IS SEEN IN 3-6 WEEKS
Adding that depression is a psychological disorder that should be diagnosed and treated by a professional, Kavak said, “An individual who thinks he/she is depressed should definitely seek help from a specialist. Drug therapy or psychotherapy are methods actively used in the treatment of depression. These two methods can be applied separately or together. The treatment process for depression varies depending on personal preference, medical history, and severity of depression. The drug is also used as part of the treatment. The drugs that the patient should use during the treatment of depression should definitely be determined under the control of the doctor. The real effect of the drugs can be seen in 3-6 weeks. Therefore, the person may think that the drugs have no effect.” said.