Shall we be happy?
For this to happen, it is important that you know that depression is a serious illness and must be treated with adequate medication, medical follow-up, and family support.
Observe the main symptoms, always remembering that just a few symptoms already indicate the illness:
- Difficulty starting your tasks
- Irritability or impatience
- Pessimism
- Difficulty making decisions
- Restlessness
- Feeling life is not worth living; desire to die
- Crying for no reason
- Difficulty crying
- Feeling that things will never get better, hopelessness.
- Difficulty finishing things you started
- Self-pity
- Persistence of negative thoughts
- Frequent complaints (You catch yourself complaining for no reason, sometimes groaning softly)
- Unjustifiable feelings of guilt
- Minor issues torment you
- Dry mouth, constipation, weight and appetite loss, insomnia, loss of sex drive
- Loss of energy or interest
- Depressed mood
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in appetite and sleep
- Slowing of physical and mental activities
- Feelings of grief or failure
If you have one of these symptoms, and it interferes with your relationships with others, or even with your sleep, sleeping too much or too little: See a doctor.
A Psychiatrist is the recommended doctor, but in many regions of the country, to get treatment through the SUS (Brazil's public health system), you must first see a General Practitioner,
How is the treatment done?
The days of treatment with controlled-substance medication are gone; today, controlled-substance medications are still used because they are effective and fast, with immediate effect. However, other medications have arrived on the market that, although they only take effect in the medium term, are very effective.
Your doctor may prescribe both controlled-substance and regulated red-label medication for a period, then the controlled-substance medication is withdrawn. You will not become dependent and will continue taking the red-label medication.
Good results are only achieved after a year of taking the medication; in some cases, use is frequent, but it's not a problem!
Many people take daily medication. Diabetics take injections, people with heart or respiratory problems, hormonal issues.
So many people take medication their whole lives and never complain, feel ashamed, or are prejudiced. However, people with depression tend to feel ashamed. It is important for you to let go of this prejudice.
Life was made to be lived!
What will I feel when I start treatment with antidepressants?
The best medications for treating depression only start to take effect after 15 (fifteen) days of treatment; some people only feel truly well after a month. This is the main problem, because in the first few weeks, all the person feels are the side effects, and for this reason, they end up abandoning the treatment.
THE TREATMENT IS WORTH IT! Do not stop the treatment at the first unwanted symptoms. See the main symptoms:
- Mild chills
Dry mouth
Insomnia or drowsiness
Intestinal discomfort
If these symptoms are mild, rest assured, they will completely disappear after the second week. If you have insomnia, see your doctor; they can prescribe medication to help you sleep until the first few weeks pass and your body gets used to the medication.
→Controlled-substance medication used at the dose and time prescribed by a doctor is not harmful. The reputation for harm of controlled-substance medications comes from the misuse by some users.
Questions and answers?
Can I drink alcohol during treatment?
Alcohol is very harmful to health and worsens the state of depression. What happens is that some people use alcohol as an escape from depression. While alcohol has an effect, they feel happy and relaxed, but when the effect of alcohol passes, depression remains, worse than before. Whether you have depression or not, alcohol is harmful. People with diabetes cannot drink; some do, which is very risky.
Can I smoke?
You can... your lungs are yours.
How will my sexual performance be with depression treatment?
Some people experience (at the beginning of treatment) collateral symptoms such as changes in their sexual performance. It is worth remembering that some depression medications are used to prolong male orgasm, so difficulty ejaculating can occur, which is not a problem for more creative couples! Don't be ashamed to tell your doctor.
Have sex, sex is life!
Does depression kill?
Yes. It is linked to lack of concentration in traffic, related to foolish acts like being alone in deserted places where you can easily be robbed, and it is also related to suicide. But the worst is not dying; the worst is not living.
Where can I seek help?
Any doctor can help you.
Can I recover from depression just by going to a psychologist?
No. When a person has a problem, they can talk and seek help from a psychologist. However, depression itself is a physiological problem; it requires medication.
What causes depression?
Similar to various diseases, the origins are varied; the main ones are: genetic origin, alcohol, stress, a disorganized or monotonous life.
See a doctor in your city!
