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What is depression and how to find a suitable psychotherapist?
17.05.2024
What is depression and how to find a suitable psychotherapist?
Depression is a mental disorder that affects 5% of the adult population of our planet. People with depression lose the ability to enjoy activities that used to bring them joy, have a pessimistic view of the future, have extremely low self-esteem, and gradually lose the meaning of life and the will to live.
It is important to understand that depression is not just a bad mood that returns to normal in a couple of days. It is a serious illness that can last for years and even lead to death if left untreated.
Depression manifests itself differently in each person. Sometimes people with this disorder are able to maintain the appearance of a normal life, smile, meet with friends, be successful in their studies or work. However, this does not mean that everything comes easily to them and in fact they do not have any depression. In such a state, people often live their lives as if on autopilot. That is why people sometimes cannot remember how they lived for months or even years that they spent in depression.
How to overcome depression before it overcomes you?
There are two main methods of dealing with depression: psychotherapy (sessions with a psychologist or psychotherapist) and psychopharmacotherapy (taking medications prescribed by a psychotherapist or psychiatrist). Depending on your situation, a specialist may offer you one or the other, or combine psychotherapy and medication.
Depression can occur for a number of reasons: a traumatic event in life, brain damage, changes in hormone and neurotransmitter levels, alcohol abuse, etc. Postpartum depression should be mentioned separately.
Unfortunately, we cannot fully control every circumstance of our lives. No matter how hard we try to do everything right, we cannot control sudden job layoffs, serious illnesses, deaths of loved ones. We cannot stop ourselves from feeling.
However, we can control how we react to these events. Here are some recommendations on how not to let depression consume you:
1. Surround yourself with people you can trust. Human connections are very important, and people who genuinely love you will definitely help you. The main thing is not to be shy about showing your weaknesses and to be able to accept help.
2. Regularly check your health. Depressive states can occur due to a lack of vitamins, such as vitamin D. Do not forget to do check-ups on your health and monitor the course of chronic diseases.
3. Do not be afraid to ask for help. In civilized societies, there is no stigma attached to visiting a psychotherapist or psychiatrist, or taking antidepressants. The brain is an organ like any other, so there is nothing shameful about treating it.
4. Follow the recommendations of the psychotherapist. One of the goals of psychotherapy is to rid a person of destructive thinking towards themselves. And the responsibility for this lies with us, not the specialist. The psychotherapist helps us, but we ourselves do the main work on ourselves.
5. Try to lead a healthy lifestyle. It is very important to establish a sleep routine, eat tasty and healthy food, not to drink alcohol or take drugs, and to engage in physical activity. It may sound cliché, but it really does improve your psychological state (of course, if you have the strength to get out of bed).
6. Allow yourself to rest. Depression takes away all a person's strength, so maintaining a normal daily routine is very difficult. Do not scold yourself for unwashed dishes, clothes not put away in the closet, etc. Allow yourself to just be. And you can ask friends to help with cleaning and cooking.
How to find a suitable psychologist/psychotherapist?
To begin with, let's briefly discuss the differences between a psychologist, psychotherapist, and psychiatrist.
A psychologist is not a doctor, so they do not have the right to diagnose you or prescribe antidepressants or other medications. A psychologist conducts consultations where you can discuss your concerns, find solutions, look at the situation from a different angle, etc.
A psychotherapist is a doctor, so they have the right to conduct therapy sessions, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications. However, they do not treat severe mental illnesses.
A psychiatrist is a doctor who treats mental illnesses with medication.
1. Research in advance what methods the specialist uses in their therapy and choose what suits you best. This way, you can save your time and money. For example, if you do not like drawing and do not express your emotions through art, art therapy will not be suitable for you. You can find a suitable specialist on the website b17.ru
2. A good psychologist shows you the map, but you choose your path and go on your own. If the specialist, instead of asking you questions and trying to understand your problem as best as possible, makes hasty conclusions about your condition and gives advice (for example, "you need to lose weight to attract men"), it is better to stop such consultations.
3. Pay attention to your feelings during the consultation. It is very important for you to feel comfortable. If some words or actions of the psychologist make you feel uncomfortable, there is no need to give the specialist a second chance; it is better to look for another one right away. Otherwise, such meetings may cause a deterioration in your physical or emotional state.
4. Do not hesitate to ask questions. If the specialist reacts inadequately to them or starts to treat you condescendingly ("why are you being smart, you've read too much on the internet!"), this is a sign that you need to look for a replacement.
5. If you are prescribed medication, do not be afraid to discuss side effects with the psychotherapist and ask for a different drug. Sometimes side effects can significantly worsen the quality of life. There is no need to wait until life on antidepressants that do not suit you becomes unbearable.
6. The relationship with a psychotherapist should not go beyond the "doctor-patient" framework. You cannot be friends with a psychotherapist, much less enter into a romantic relationship. If a specialist allows themselves to be overly familiar with you, it is a red flag.
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