When people hear the word ‘depression’, many think of sad, hopeless individuals
unable to cope with a life event, living withdrawn, and crying their existence.
In fact, this is rarely the case. In a U.S. study published
in 1996, for example, only a third of the patients suffering from depression
could name a stressful or dramatic experience that took place before the disease
kicked in. And it is by no means only negative events that can trigger
depression. In some people, events such as the birth of a child or winning a
business contract can bring on depression. The fact that not all people who
experience dramatic events develop depression also suggests that other factors
such as stress or genetics might be involved. Patients are often unable to
identify anything in themselves or their environment as a probable cause of
depression - which usually leads to long delays in search for the correct
diagnosis for the malaise they feel in.
Physical symptoms are another, often misinterpreted facet of
depressive disorders. Typical physical symptoms of depression include:
headaches, insomnia, reduced memory and concentration, digestive problems and a
general lack of energy.
The lack of perspective that is typical for depression quite
often leads to self-harm. Most people who commit suicide previously suffered
from an unrecognized or untreated depression. Other self-defeating forms of
behavior, such as alcohol and drug abuse, self-destructive eating habits or
risky driving are, as studies illustrate, linked to depression in about 60% of
the cases.
In older men, depression often manifests itself in the form
of aggression, particularly of the verbal kind, like ranting, looking down or
lashing out on others or constant cynicism. Again, these persons are only rarely
aware that they actually suffer from depression, but explain their inner
discontent and anger with external circumstances over which they usually can’t
complain too loudly and often enough.
About 20-25% of women and 7-12% of men suffer with depression
at least once in their lifetime. The real figures are probably higher, however,
due to frequent misdiagnoses and years of suffering without a proper diagnosis
and adequate treatment.
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Live the happy life you planned! Richard L.
Fellner is head of the Counseling Center Pattaya in Soi Kopai and
offers consultations in English and German languages after making an
appointment at 0854 370 470. |
