The discontent of the disturbed mind

Everyone experiences mood changes at some or other point in their lives – feeling ‘high’ at times and ‘low’ at others. It is when those who suffer from manic states and excessive mood swings, that caution needs to be exercised.

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, which can vary from a mild, self-limiting period to a full-blown attack of life-threatening depression.

According to psychiatrists, there are two kinds of depression: exogenous, becoming depressed as a result of outside factors such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, moving homes, or financial concerns, or; and endogenous, a medical form of depression resulting from internal biochemical sources.  Sometimes spells of euphoria and hyperactivity alternate with periods of deep depression.

With such a complex and serious illness it is hard to separate normal and therapeutic feelings of sadness and grief from clinical depression.  In some cases, symptoms of straightforward anxiety may mask a state of depression.  Depression is more common among women than men, and tends to affect people of all ages, from young to old.

Symptoms include feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, isolation and despair, and the belief that no one understands or sympathises with you.  These symptoms may be accompanied by loss of interest in work or home life; inability to concentrate on anything, and, in severe cases, sluggish thought processes and delusions.

Physical symptoms may include loss of energy, a sense of ‘heaviness’, difficulty or slowness in movement, sluggish bowel movements, dryness in the mouth, indigestion and constipation.  In some cases sufferers may lose weight and women may have period problems.

Although most doctors are not opposed to alternative medicine, they feel that they should go hand-in-hand with conventional medical or psychological treatment.  Lifestyle changes should also be taken into consideration, such as taking regular exercise, following a balanced diet, expressing your feelings and thinking positively.

When things get a little manic

Although tolerable for short periods, relatives and friends eventually find manic behaviour exhausting. Symptoms of manic depression may include extravagance, hyperactivity, over-confidence, talkativeness, and the ability to remain extremely lively with little or no sleep.  Such patients may make grandiose plans and be interfering and difficult. When they are depressed, sufferers may be withdrawn and introverted, and lacking in confidence, even contemplating suicide.  Swings from mania to depression may be sudden or gradual, are usually unpredictable, and symptoms may often resemble those of schizophrenia.

 

Treatment options

Although depressive disorders are treatable, a larger issue is getting people into treatment in the first place. Whether or not they can be cured is highly variable and dependent on the severity of a patient's disorder and their ability to comply with the demands of treatment. Lack of access to medical care is a major issue. Someone who is depressed may not feel worthy of treatment, and despite the progress that has been made in understanding these disorders, there is significant stigma attached to being recognized as bipolar or depressed.

The treatment of depression and mania depends largely on diagnosis, and this usually requires the skills of a qualified psychiatrist and possibly a psychologist.  Treatment with anti-psychotic drugs may allow the patient to lead a reasonably normal life, although medical supervision and treatment may always be needed.

Without treatment, a manic patient’s behaviour may be so bizarre and antisocial that he finds himself in trouble with the law, or being detained involuntarily in a psychiatric hospital. 

Trained to listen carefully and offer support in cases of distress, grief and anxiety, psychotherapists treat many people with emotional and psychological problems.  Therapists work by listening to you and talking with you about your experiences and relationships to gain insight to your problems.  Gradually you get closer to the roots of emotional difficulties that may be deep-rooted. Psychotherapists use a variety of therapies, ranging from warm and supportive, to more detached and analytical. 

When choosing a therapist, it is important to establish which technique he or she offers.  Some of the most popular are behavioural therapy (which helps you ‘unlearn’ problem behaviour or habits), ground therapy (in which problems are shared with other patients), neurolinguistic programming (which works with the way personal experiences influence perceptions).

Depending on the type of therapy and the needs of the patient, psychotherapy may either be short-term or require a large number of sessions over months or even years.  After a course of therapy, you should be able to confront and overcome your difficulties.