After two unstable years due to COVID-19, the current situation of war between Russia and Ukraine has led to anxiety, but also cases of depression in Portugal. Many times, world order problems affect our lives so intensely that they are responsible for the increase in unemployment, family problems and, of course, for the increase in depression.

In this article we will specify all the doubts that exist about depression and understand how the disease affects the mental health of a person and those around him.

What is depression and what is anxiety?

The word depression has come into common usage for all of us to define feelings of enormous sadness and bitterness. When these states of mind are prolonged, it is likely to cause a disturbance and leave the person without energy.

In fact, there is no longer any desire to contact others, resulting in a break in affective ties.

There are many factors in depression, in addition to the traumatic events in times of war. Depression can be caused when there are accidents, grief, tragedy, divorces, even living far away from a loved one. Although it mostly affects people with more introverted profiles, it can also affect extroverted individuals.

As for anxiety, it is a feeling related to an excess of worry about the future. Picture yourself making plans for a wedding. Even so, it’s something you should pay attention to, as it can lead to panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive disorders. In more alarming cases, anxiety can be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.

What are the symptoms of depression?

There are several symptoms of depression that really shouldn’t be overlooked.

• Mood swings;
• Loss of interest in a certain activity or hobby without a logical explanation;
• Tiredness;
• Muscle aches;
• Sleep problems;
• Difficulty concentrating whether at school, work or simple household chores;
• Lack of appetite;
• restlessness.

It is not appropriate to belittle the symptoms of depression. This is a disease of all ages and can affect teenagers, children and elderly people alike.

The first thing a person suffering from depression must do is recognize that they are not well and have the courage to ask for help. You must count on the support of family or friends and must switch to professional help. Even so, if this home support circle is not enough, hospitalization should be considered with a specialized clinic. At VillaRamadas we will initially carry out the clinical diagnosis of depression and its respective treatment, with strategies that we believe are fundamental for the affected person to be able to resume their daily lives.

How serious can depression be?

Would you like to know how serious a depression can be? The disease, as we have seen, has been affecting many people around the world. But is this clinical picture the same for everyone? In fact, there are different stages of depression, depending on the intensity of the symptoms. Are they:

• Depressive episode (mild depression)
• Mixed episode of anxiety and depression;
• Seasonal depressive disorder;
• Dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder;
• Major depressive disorder (MDD) or major depressive disorder (MDD);
• premenstrual dysphoric disorder;
• Depressive disorder caused by medication;
• Chronic depression;
• atypical depression;
• Bipolar depression type 1 or type 2;
• Deep depression;
• Psychotic depression.

Of all these stages, psychotic depression is the most worrying, as it is caused by hallucinations and the affected person is no longer able to distinguish between what is reality and what is not. In addition to emotional imbalance, this person claims to be able to see, feel and smell things and people that don’t exist.

If not followed up properly, depression can lead to suicide. The deeper and more prolonged the emotions of sadness and anguish, the more difficult it will be to get out of depression.

How can I deal with depression?

Attention, it is not advisable to self-medicate with antidepressants, these are subject to a doctor’s prescription and should be prescribed when really needed. Abusive use of antidepressants can lead to drug addiction, due to the relaxing effect provided by the drugs.

It’s not easy to deal with depression. Recovery work is a long journey that, as mentioned before, needs family support. Both the family and the individual must recognize it and realize that something must change.

While trying to help someone out of depression, you must take care of yourself, your mind and your body. We are aware that your willingness to help a person suffering from depression is enormous, but do everything you can to maintain balance.

Then you should go for the treatment of depression in a clinic like VillaRamadas, where through a focused team we promise to help the person suffering from depression to return to the life they had before.

Is it possible to prevent depression?

Depression prevention is possible regardless of the type of depression that affects you. Don’t let yourself be overcome by any anguish and show yourself capable of overcoming any problem. The first step to preventing depression is to step out of your comfort zone daily.

• The first step to preventing depression is to step out of your comfort zone daily.
• Visit new places and make contact with new people;
• Practice physical exercise, go for a walk at the end of the day or go swimming;
• Find someone you can talk to or just vent to when you’re not feeling well;
• Listen to music, go to the cinema or the theater. Although culture is often overlooked, these are activities that can help you maintain a mental balance;
• Be part of an initiative in your neighborhood or community;
• Practice meditation and be focused on the positive;
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle, with foods rich in Omega 3 and B vitamins;
• Avoid excessive use of alcoholic beverages

Always remember to be with people who are good for you and do what makes you really happy. These are the behaviors that will help you to reflect on certain bad episodes and avoid falling into depression.

Is depression curable? What is the best treatment?

Yes, depression is curable even though it’s not easy to get out of depression overnight. Seek help when you can’t handle more doubtful thoughts or even when you don’t feel like getting out of bed.

You can contact VillaRamadas so that, in a first phase, we can reach the diagnosis of depression. Our professionals will understand what types of exams need to be performed and whether hospitalization is necessary. Hospitalization in the case of depression occurs in very particular situations, such as in cases of major depressive disorder.

When depression is not treated, it can have worrying consequences that will limit the affected person’s social, professional and family life. The sooner the intervention starts, the better. At VillaRamadas we will understand the needs of people with depression and their families. Don’t be afraid and ask for expert help.