Dr. Sergio Gil Carranza
Depression is a mental illness that can become chronic or recurrent.
Despite having such a negative impact on people's lives, in Mexico, less than 20% of people who suffer from it seek help and it is estimated that it can take up to 14 years to reach specialized treatment.
According to OMS
- In the world there are more than 340 million depressed people.
- Causes 800 suicides daily worldwide
- It is the third cause of disability
In Mexico:
- According to the Federal Ministry of Health, depression affects between 12 and 20% of adults between 18 and 65 years of age.
- Women are more likely to suffer depression, it occurs more in women 10.4% than in men 5.4%.
- It is estimated that approximately 10 million Mexicans suffer from it.
What are the symptoms?
They can range from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or depressed
- Losing interest or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities.
- Changes in appetite: weight loss or gain not associated with a voluntary diet.
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or severe fatigue.
- Increased physical activity without purpose (eg, wringing hands, moving them constantly) or slowness of movement and / or speech (facts observable by others).
- Feeling worthless or guilty.
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
- Persistent aches and pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that don't go away even with treatment.
What can you do if you feel depressed?
- Talk about your feelings with someone you trust. Most people feel better after talking to someone who cares about them.
- Seek professional help. Talking to a local healthcare professional or your GP is a good starting point.
- Remember that you can feel better with the right help.
- Keep doing the activities you liked when you were well.
- Don't isolate yourself. Stay in touch with family and friends.
- Get regular exercise, even if it's a short walk.
- Maintain regular eating and sleeping habits.
- Accept that you may have depression and adjust your expectations. You may not be able to do everything you used to do.
- Avoid or limit alcohol intake and refrain from illicit drugs, as these products can make depression worse.
- If you have suicidal thoughts, ask someone for help immediately.
There are many causes, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Depression can start at any age, but it usually starts in youth or young adults.
It is much more common in women. Women can also have postpartum depression after giving birth. Some people have seasonal affective disorder in the winter.
The best thing to do is go to a specialist to help us detect if we or someone close to us suffers from depression.
Sources: https://www.cesarlozano.com/depresion-10-sintomas-debes-tomar-cuenta/
Depresión. Asociación Psiquiátrica Mexicana. Sitio Web: www.psiquiatrasapm.org.mx
Hablemos de la depresión, 2017. Secretaría de Salud de Puebla. Sitio Web: http://ss.pue.gob.mx/
Depresión. MedlinePlus. Sitio Web: medlineplus.gov
Depression is a disease that more and more people suffer every day and in many cases it is not treated as such, either because the person does not feel the confidence to go to a specialist for fear of being judged by the people around them or simply because they are so used to that lifestyle that it seems normal to her. Paying attention to the alerts that our body and mind send us is extremely important, since having a full and motivated life even in critical moments is of vital importance, since enjoying good mental health will improve our panorama of life and even improve our relationship with the people around us.
It is never too late to start treating these types of conditions, the important thing is to start and not give up.
– Dan Sifuentes
