Recognizing depression can sometimes be more difficult than you think. Here is a brief overview of the types of depression and the masks they use to deceive you. • Depressive episode How it manifests itself: decreased mood, loss of interests and pleasure, decreased energy, which can lead to increased fatigue and decreased activity. There is marked fatigue even with little effort. Most often it is a mental reaction to a traumatic event. It is easy to confuse with: - laziness - behavioral promiscuity - infantile character What is dangerous not to recognize: - inflated demands of others and the person himself - an increase in the level of stress with each new critical remark from others - the formation of a vicious circle of internal symptoms and the reaction of the environment to them - transition to a chronic and more severe form • Recurrent depression How it manifests itself: Depressive episodes are repeated, last from a month to several years and are replaced by periods of a healthy state. Easily confused with: - mental reaction to current events - infantile character - full recovery What is dangerous not to recognize: - incorrect attempts at support (get yourself together, you’re not like that; this will pass, etc.) - refusal of treatment - attempts to get rid of symptoms only with rest and a change of environment - worsening of the condition, loss of ability to work • Atypical form of depression How it manifests itself: Along with with typical symptoms of depressive disorder there are also atypical ones - increased appetite, weight gain, emotional reactivity. Easily confused with: - eating disorders (although sometimes they go together) - metabolic disorders - hot temper What is dangerous not to recognize: - incorrect selection of treatment - worsening of the condition • Anxiety-depressive disorder. How it manifests itself: Symptoms of both anxiety and depression that are present most of the time for two weeks or more. Depressive symptoms include depressed mood and a marked decrease in interest and enjoyment in activities. Multiple symptoms of anxiety can include feeling nervous, restless, or “on edge”; inability to control anxious thoughts; fear that something terrible will happen; inability to relax; muscle tension, autonomic manifestations. Easily confused with: - psychotic level of disorders (it seems that the person is going crazy) - hypochondria - paranoia What is dangerous not to recognize: - lack of support from loved ones • Autonomic depression How it manifests itself: Severe physical symptoms in the form of tachycardia, changes Blood pressure, tinnitus. Easily confused with: - neurological diseases - problems with the cardiovascular system - panic attacks (can go together) What is dangerous not to recognize: - incorrect selection of treatment • Masked (hidden) depression How it manifests itself: Hidden, mildly expressed signs apathy, with a desire for solitude and self-isolation, decreased interest in life. Symptoms of absolutely any somatic and psychosomatic diseases may be present. For example, chronic pain, fatigue, problems with the digestive system, etc. It is easy to confuse with: - fatigue - gastrointestinal diseases - hypochondria - intoxication of the body - exhaustion from infectious diseases (with latent depression they are not present) What is dangerous not to recognize: - incorrect selection of treatment• Somatogenic depression is a consequence of endocrine disorders, taking certain drugs, neoplasms, brain injuries, disruption of its blood supply, lack of B vitamins, vitamin D and other nutrients, lack of sunlight, some psychotic conditions, intoxication with heavy metals and other toxic substances. How it manifests itself: Classic symptoms of depression: fatigue, lethargy, apathy, feeling of the meaninglessness of life, decreased volitional component, gloomy perception of the world, gloomy picture of the future, tendency to suicidal thoughts/behavior. Easy to confuse with: - psychogenic depression What is dangerous not to recognize: -