The majority of people experience small mood swings, feeling extremely fantastic one day and down the next. Frequently, there is a known cause for this, and it goes away fast. Most severe depression, which is often accompanied by physical symptoms including weight loss, diarrhea, and headaches as well as feelings of futility and guilt, is occasionally brought on by significant life events such a bereavement, divorce, or job loss. Physical sickness might result in depression as well. However, some people are prone to frequent depressive attacks with no apparent explanation. Additionally, there are particular stages in our lives when we are more prone to depression, such as adolescence, the period following childbirth, during middle age, and retirement.
CAUTION!
SUICIDE
Even if a threat has been made before, suicide threats should always be treated seriously. Therefore, if you know someone who is depressed that he or she believes life is no longer valuable, or if he or she has thought about suicide or has discussed it with others, attempt to convince the individual to get medical care. In major cities, specific phone lines with trained crisis counselors are provided.
Without delay, seek medical attention!
PSYCHOTERAPY
Psychotherapy is the treatment of psychological issues by a therapist who can offer professional assistance and advice while encouraging you to talk about your feelings and worries. This procedure could involve anything from speaking with your own doctor about your problems to doing an extended session of psychoanalysis with a professional. The following is a description of the more popular types of psychotherapy.
Group therapy
This involves a number of sessions where the therapist facilitates a conversation between a group of individuals who share an issue. The benefit of group psychotherapy is that group members may gain strength from understanding that other people are experiencing a similar issue and can benefit from one another’s experiences. Additionally, there is some group pressure to adopt a more positive attitude toward personal issues, as well as group support for the maintenance of this attitude.
Behavioral therapy
This is frequently used to treat particular phobias, such as a fear of flying, dogs, or spiders. Desensitization is a type of behavior therapy in which the therapist assists the patient in gradually overcoming their fear. For instance, if you have a fear of flying, your therapist may advise you to picture the activities leading up to your flight, such as taking the train to the airport, waiting in the terminal, passing through passport control, boarding, and finally sitting on the plane as it taxis to the runway, takes off, and then lands. When you finally get the chance to fly, you should feel comfortable doing it because you should have experienced it previously. Another technique, called flooding, entails a confrontation with the object you fear in an extreme form while it is being supervised by your therapist. As an illustration, visit a dog’s house as a type of treatment for a fear of dogs. You learn that there was never any real danger involved and that your worry was exaggerated by going through the worst possible degree of exposure. Only a licensed therapist should be relied upon to guide the use of any technique.
Psychoanalysis
This type of psychotherapy was created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is based on the idea that many aspects of human behavior are influenced by early childhood problems. A psychoanalyst will encourage you to speak freely during a series of sessions that make up psychoanalysis. The psychoanalyst may occasionally probe you with questions in order to direct your thoughts. He or she may be able to identify the source of your issue by listening to your memories, ideas, and feelings. Then, via conversation, the analyst helps you gain a better understanding of yourself, which may help you overcome any internal conflicts.
