Everyone knows the feeling of sadness and low spirit. This belongs to the human experience just as joy and happiness. But when does it become the disease depression?

This can be indicated by the 2-question test:

1. “In the last month, have you often felt down, sad, depressed or hopeless?”
2. “In the last month, have you had significantly less pleasure and joy in things you otherwise enjoy doing?”

If you answer “yes” to both questions, you should consult a psychiatric specialist. Here you will discuss whether it is just a temporary low mood or depression that needs treatment. This is a mental illness that can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms: above all, a persistently depressed mood, listlessness and loss of interests. In addition, there may be a tendency to brood, fear of the future, lack of self-confidence, impaired concentration and a variety of physical symptoms, e.g. insomnia, appetite disorders, pain. The majority of sufferers even have more or less pronounced thoughts of killing themselves.

Where does depression come from?

There is no one cause for depression. Drastic life events, certain personality factors, prolonged overwork or stress can trigger depression. Studies show that hereditary factors can play a role in its development. In addition, it is now known that certain nerve messengers, so-called neurotransmitters, have a major influence on the development of depression. Certain medications and physical illnesses can also cause depression. Often other mental illnesses (ADHD, schizophrenia, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive disorders, dementia) are associated with depression.

How is depression treated?

Most of the time, depression can be treated well. At the beginning there is always an explanation. This already has a relieving effect in many cases. The main pillars of treatment are psychotherapy and antidepressants. These are supplemented by relaxation methods, occupational therapy and sports therapy. Depending on the type and severity of the depression, the impairments and personal preferences, a joint decision is made as to which therapy approaches are selected and combined for your treatment plan.

Depression is an illness. It can affect anyone regardless of age or gender. The most important thing is to go to a specialist in Munich, who with a lot of psychiatric knowledge and experience will quickly diagnose and treat.