When a woman hears a diagnosis of depression from a family doctor or psychotherapist, she usually greets him with hostility: “I don’t have any depression!”, “I’m not some crazy person!” And this is not just denial. What is behind this reaction?
Such a reaction is understandable, because, despite all the availability of information about it, depressive illness still has a bad reputation. Although celebrities who suffer from depression are open about their condition and we know much more about the disease today than before, many people still have a difficult time accepting the diagnosis.
For most, it means “I’m a weakling,” “I failed in my responsibilities,” and sometimes “I have some kind of flaw.” And questions immediately arise: how to tell your employer and colleagues about this, how will relatives react? Will they still consider me “normal”?
Psychologist and writer Merle Leonhardt also initially resisted the medical report. She described this in her book When My Soul Sank into Darkness:
"I'm sorry, what?! I don't have any depression. I would have known about this... Just a bad mood, it can happen to anyone...” I hoped that my unstable self-esteem could pass for “normal”, and except for those moments when I felt out of place, my condition was quite passable, if not excellent. Well, yes, every now and then I was overcome by fear, but it was more likely not fear, but simply anxiety. No, “fear” is too strong a word. And everyone has worries...
Having learned the name of the shadow that hangs over them, women perceive the diagnosis given to them as a personal failure. They seem to themselves to be losers who have not coped with a task that others seem to have no difficulty in: being happy. They blame themselves for everything and are convinced that they just need to put in even more effort and effort to overcome the disease.
Depression: women don't believe, doctors don't see
Most women who fall into depression, of course, know that this mental illness has long become a real epidemic.
And yet, when it hits them, they initially experience a feeling of loneliness and isolation. Often such women cannot understand what is happening to them for a long time. In addition, in most cases they do not immediately receive effective help.
This sad fact is true for all people suffering from depression, regardless of their gender. Data from a study conducted by the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich show that only approximately 30% of all patients with depression are correctly diagnosed and adequately treated; according to other estimates, up to 50% of patients do not receive proper treatment.
This is because GPs are still not sufficiently informed about depressive disorder and therefore do not recognize it. In addition, patients themselves view depression not as a disease, but as a weakness that should be ashamed. Accordingly, they present socially acceptable symptoms to the doctor, complaining of chronic fatigue, insomnia, migraines, stomach pain, back pain and much more.
In addition, another reason prevents the attending physician from diagnosing depression: a significant proportion of those seeking help (presumably 30%) do not demonstrate any of the typical symptoms.
Such patients are not characterized by inhibition, depression, passivity, as if paralysis and slowness of actions and thoughts. On the contrary, they show a picture that at first glance is atypical for depression: they are tireless, self-confident, achievement-oriented and try to make a good impression. Often such patients are initially diagnosed with “overwork” or “emotional burnout syndrome.”
Andrea is a successful public relations specialist at a large IT company. She travels a lot for work, including abroad. She has a very busy life. If only it weren’t for the constant back pain! She has been visiting doctors for more than two years, hoping to finally move freely and sleep peacefully at night again.
During this time, she collected a whole bunch of diagnoses: protrusion of the intervertebral disc, intervertebral hernia, blockade of the sacroiliac joint, extensive muscle tension. She was prescribed painkillers, prescribed sessions of physical therapy and osteopathy, she went to the hospital twice (once to an orthopedic clinic, the other to a pain treatment center), it came down to a recommendation to have surgery on the intervertebral disc.
It was only a long time later that the algologist came up with the idea that behind the façade of a self-confident, success-oriented woman, a victim of depression could be hiding. The doctor prescribed Andrea an antidepressant. And it worked. Suddenly the pain went away and Andrea was able to sleep peacefully again.
When the doctor explained to her that medications could only remove the symptom, but not the causes of her condition, Andrea decided to undergo psychotherapy. After more than two years of visiting doctors and being constantly unwell, she now suffers virtually no pain.
Why is it bad? The real reasons for bad mood
If you feel like you're feeling bad just because you had an argument with your boss this morning or because the deadline to pay one of your bills is tomorrow, it's time to think about the real reasons for your bad mood.
Happiness can be defined as the absence of negative emotions, and while recent events like the ones mentioned above may dampen your mood, there are still many long-term factors influencing your mood at the moment, even if you are not aware of it.
In other words, there are known reasons why a person feels bad, and there are aspects that have a similar effect that we are not even aware of.
How women explain their condition
Indeed, sometimes depressed patients receive help too late because doctors have their own blind spots. But a certain role is also played by the fact that the victims themselves are not aware of the changes happening to them. They feel extremely confused and cannot explain to themselves what is wrong with them.
This confusion may be prolonged because, until now, students of depression have not delved too deeply into the question of what is going on inside patients and what their own theories about their state of mind are. Therefore, we have little idea how women suffering from depression themselves describe their situation.
They are rarely asked direct questions about this, and on their own initiative they speak out on this topic even less often. Of course, there is, and is, a lot of work devoted to the topic of female depression, but until now, scientists have shown surprisingly little interest in what explanations women themselves give for their experiences.
There are only two exceptions to this rule: Rita Schreiber, MD, and Finnish researchers Irmeli Laitinen and Elisabeth Ettorre. They conducted in-depth interviews with women of different ages who had experienced depression. All these women suffered a depressive episode - and were able to overcome it. During the conversations, they vividly described how they dealt with depression and what, in their opinion, was the cause.
Despite all the differences between these women, there are surprising similarities in their statements. Research participants mentioned:
- the initial stage of misunderstanding,
- childhood,
- conflictual relationships,
- problems at work,
- expectations from ourselves,
- worries for and because of others,
- wrong decisions.
Getting rid of negativity in words
Since whining usually not only has reasons, but also becomes a habit, you will have to fight it as if it were a habit. And habits work automatically. Therefore, first of all, you need to learn to catch yourself in negative words, thoughts, emotions and cope with them, and in some cases simply by willpower.
The easiest way to start is to simply stop whining, complaining and being indignant in conversations, that is, stop burdening innocent others with your problems and negativity.
Those around you will be especially happy, believe me. But the question is not in them, but in us. We need to unlearn how to talk about our problems and negative feelings, grumble and judge. If you lack willpower and attention to yourself, then it’s not a sin to use a reminder to make the task easier.
I once came across a description online of a technique invented by an American - the “purple bracelet”. The idea is simple - we put a bracelet on our hand (it doesn’t have to be purple and it doesn’t have to be a bracelet - you can just use an elastic band for your hair), which will remind us that we have taken a vow to avoid complaints, whining, gossip and other negativity for 21 days. If you “break down”, the bracelet is changed to the other hand. The goal is to wear the bracelet on one hand for 21 days.
Despite all the skepticism towards various types of techniques, it seems to me that this exercise is very effective, because in order to achieve the goal, willy-nilly you will have to do serious work on yourself to identify the causes of negativity and find ways to avoid it. As a result, life will change beyond recognition!
There is one nuance - our neighbors are used to talking to us about bad things. It will be difficult for us to forget how to carry on a conversation when they whine. Here we learn to turn it into a joke, to translate the topic - yes, we are looking for creative ways to resolve the issue, without turning into a comforter for the grieving. This is a reason to stop being a donor, we have this problem. When we learn to cope with negativity in ourselves, we will understand how to deal with loved ones. Just don’t now see everyone as enemies trying to shake our determination to be positive!
Okay, we've sorted out the conversation - you can take some water in your mouth, as a last resort. But if we continue to experience negative emotions for every suitable occasion and think all sorts of nasty things to ourselves without splashing them out, then we will be torn apart by internal pressure like a steamer, right? And even if it doesn’t tear it apart, then our feat of abstaining from evil-tonguing will still be of no use. We need to do something with emotions and thoughts too!
Memory impairment: 9 main reasons
Memory impairment is a fairly common problem among people. It is worth saying that symptoms can occur in different age groups. However, memory deterioration with age, in people over 60, is more common.
It is important to understand the difference between ordinary forgetfulness, which is common to many and manifests itself rarely, with memory impairment, when a person is able to remember events that happened 2 years ago, but is unable to tell what happened yesterday.
Now let's look at the main causes of memory impairment, which are most often found in people with this disease.
Atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels
With age, the blood vessels of the brain begin to lose their elasticity, their general condition worsens, and their capacity is impaired.
As a result, blood circulation in the brain worsens. In addition to memory impairment, a number of other symptoms can be observed:
- Fatigue;
- Decreased attention;
- Constant irritability;
- Frequent headaches.
Head injuries
If memory and attention deterioration occurs at a young age, then this most often indicates a head injury. Many people don’t pay attention to this; a simple head injury is not a reason to see a doctor. However, this can lead to dire consequences in the future. Rarely, but possible, death.
Severe head trauma can cause:
- The appearance of hallucinations and false memories;
- Sudden memory loss;
- Frequent headaches and dizziness;
- Various stages of development of amnesia.
Diabetes
The vessels begin to suffer first. Small capillaries overlap, the walls of large vessels become thicker, which leads to deterioration of blood circulation in the brain.
Additionally, the disease can cause:
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Constant dry mouth and feeling of thirst;
- Fatigue and fatigue;
- Incessant itching.
Osteochondrosis or hernia in the cervical spine
The most “popular” reason why memory and attention deteriorates is cervical osteochondrosis/hernia. Because near
In the intervertebral discs, cartilage tissue appears, caused by a change in geometry, it puts pressure on the vessels, which means that less nutrition with blood enters the brain cells.
Along with memory impairment, patients complain of:
- Difficulty turning the neck, periodic clicks and crackles are felt;
- Constant headaches;
- Numb hands.
If you feel these symptoms, then making an appointment with a neurologist can be a life-saving solution for you.
Mental disorders
This symptom can be found with the development of Korsakoff's syndrome or schizophrenia. If this violation exists, it is necessary to immediately seek help from a psychiatrist.
Mental disorders are also accompanied by the following symptoms:
- A person does not understand what is being said to him or what is being asked, and therefore he answers “inappropriately”;
- False memories arise;
- Obsessive ideas appear;
- Hallucinations occur;
- Orientation in space is lost.
Thyroid pathologies
When a person constantly forgets events that happen to him, the thyroid gland may be to blame for the occurrence of such a problem. If it is not able to generate the required amount of hormones, then a person may get several unpleasant symptoms at once:
- Muscle weakness;
- Constant apathy;
- High irritability over trifles;
- Fast weight gain;
- Memory impairment.
Often, weakness and memory impairment indicate numerous endocrine diseases. Failures in the reproductive system and adrenal glands can also lead to negative symptoms. In this case, a mandatory examination by an endocrinologist is necessary.
Stress, depression
If your nervous system is completely exhausted, then be prepared that your memory will begin to deteriorate. If attention is reduced and it becomes more and more difficult to remember events, then the reason is:
- Prolonged state of stress;
- Constant overwork;
- Frequent lack of sleep;
- Depression.
Treatment for memory impairment after stress is the simplest method in comparison with other types of diseases.
In fact, your body simply becomes overloaded and begins to slow down. It will be enough to give your body a little rest, start getting enough sleep and try to avoid stressful conditions.
Alzheimer's disease
It is worth immediately noting that in the initial stages of Alzheimer’s development, symptoms such as loss of attention, memory impairment are extremely rare. For this reason, it is necessary to calculate the manifestation of the disease as quickly as possible.
In the initial stages, the following signs of the development of Alzheimer's disease occur:
- Information received a few minutes ago is not stored in memory;
- Loss of orientation in the area, even when going to the store;
- Important events and dates are forgotten;
- Loss of ability to use everyday objects: microwave, telephone, stove.
Nowadays, doctors are not yet able to cure a person from Alzheimer's. However, if the disease is diagnosed in the early stages and therapy is started quickly, the progression of the disease can be slowed down.
