Depression - mental health

Ms. M., 43 years old, employed 100% as a clerk, single mother of two teenage sons, calls sante24 and desperately describes various health problems such as headaches and severe back pain. For weeks she has been suffering from difficulty falling asleep and sleeping through the night, increasing indifference, lack of energy and concentration problems with a drop in performance at work. She complains of bullying at work and is afraid of losing her job. Four years ago, she had a difficult decision and rented an apartment with her sons. She had to give up this apartment six months ago for financial reasons and moved in with her parents with her children. She is now often criticized by her parents and has the impression that everyone is against her. Due to the acute symptoms of her illness, sante24 referred Ms M. to a santémed health center on the same day. After a holistic medical-psychological examination, Ms M. was put on 100% sick leave for four weeks. She was then able to resume her professional activity, initially at 50%, then at 75% and after three months at 100%. The psychotherapy lasted seven months (1 session per week; including discussion of how to implement her findings from the stressnostress checklist in everyday life). During this time, Ms. M. was able to move into a new apartment with her sons and is doing well today.

• How do I recognize whether I have depression?

Anger, rage, sadness and depression are just as much a part of a normal life as joy, love and balance. However, if you experience mood swings, brooding, a feeling of inner emptiness, thought and sleep disorders, general listlessness, hardly meet up with your colleagues and life becomes a burden over a longer period of time, you may have depression that requires treatment. Other signs of depression can include excessive demands, anxiety, inner restlessness, irritability, aggressive behavior and great difficulty in making decisions. In addition to purely emotionally triggered depression, there are also physically triggered depressions (e.g. as a direct result of brain diseases) or in chronic pain patients. Think about whether you have had events in your life, either now or in the past, that are causing you emotional stress, that you cannot let go of and that you have not yet spoken to anyone about.

• What is the difference between normal exhaustion, sadness and the signs of depression?

Exhaustion is a common and temporary symptom that can be attributed to certain circumstances such as a stressful day at work, physical activity or lack of sleep. Sadness describes a negative, depressed mood that is usually caused by an emotionally painful or discouraging event or loss. Phases of exhaustion and sadness are part of life. However, if they last longer, the joy of life can be severely impaired and depression can develop.

• What should I do if I suspect I have depression? When should I see a doctor?

If you suspect that you have depression, you should do things that you enjoy: e.g. devote yourself to your hobbies; do sport; meet up with neighbors/colleagues more often to do something (e.g. cooking together). Concentrate on experiences and activities that increase your self-esteem. Avoid "unsuitable problem solvers" such as drugs or alcohol. By joining a self-help group, you can support each other with other people in a similar situation. If your quality of life is severely impaired, you should see your GP and talk to them about treatment options. Psychiatrists or psychological psychotherapists are also the right people to talk to. Providing knowledge and information about this illness makes a decisive contribution to the success of treatment. It is important that depression is recognized in good time and treated consistently.

• What does standard treatment look like and how long does it take?

Modern treatment for depression focuses on psychotherapy and, if necessary, antidepressants, the effectiveness of which has been proven. Other health-promoting treatment measures such as relaxation techniques, social skills training, stress management strategies, etc. are also used. Depending on the intensity of the depression, treatment may last several weeks or months.

• What can relatives do?

Relatives are always affected and should therefore seek professional advice in order to better understand and support the person with the illness. Relatives run the risk of becoming overwhelmed and are often exposed to an increased risk of illness. Do not take the statements and behavior of a person suffering from depression too personally. Self-help groups also offer support to relatives and provide stability through the exchange of information and experiences.

• What can I do to prevent it from getting that far in the first place?

Maintain social contacts, exercise regularly (jogging, dancing, etc.) and eat a healthy diet. Deal with your stress factors and try to reduce them. Simply take a little more care of yourself. For your mental health, it is important to accept yourself, do enjoyable things and consciously do something good for yourself.

Dr. med. Martin Denz is head physician at santé24. sante24 telephone health advice is a central service provided by SWICA, which is available free of charge to SWICA insured persons on 044 404 86 86 for all questions relating to health. If necessary, the sante24 specialists will arrange an appointment with a doctor and thus create the basis for coordinated and targeted treatment - from the initial consultation to the completion of therapy.

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