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Depression
If
one has been sad for a longer time period (almost
daily during two weeks time) this may be a
depression. In depression one experiences a drastic
lowered mood, loss of energy, or/and a diminished
interest in everyday activities. Common symptoms
are concentration difficulties, problems with
thought activities, decision making difficulties,
sleep problems, weight loss or weight gain, anxiety
and/or bodily symptoms.
In depression one experiences life as meaningless,
the future as hopeless and oneself as worthless.
There often exist guilt feelings and suicidal
thoughts. Depression can develop without any clear
external (or internal) cause. It is on the other
hand common that a depression is elicited by
external events (sorrow, divorce, bad health, job
loss, life style changes, family conflicts etc.).
Difficult experiences earlier in life can make
certain people more prone to develop depression. If
a depression is developed several times without the
individual getting any treatment the condition can
become chronic and lead to a serious functional
and/or work-related disability.
In depression one is constantly interpreting events
in accordance with the following negative core
assumptions: (a) oneself is worthless, inadequate,
not deserving love and limited, (b) the environment
is overwhelming, consists of unsolvable obstacles
that cannot be overcome, and oneself is failing or
losing constantly something in it, (c) the future
is hopeless and ones efforts are inadequate to
change ones own future. Depressed people tend to
withdraw themselves from other people and
experience their close relatives as not supporting
them. This is interpreted as an additional proof
that other people are rejecting and do not care.
Activities and behaviors can in social situation
function as avoidance strategies. That is, one is
avoiding to be hurt, sad, angry etc. This leads
however to deprivation and depression.
© Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) specialist in
Stockholm, 2005-2008, www.kbterapi.se
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