This state does not present itself overnight, in fact, it often takes years for the symptoms of depression to fully manifest.
Last update: December 13, 2018
In some cases the symptoms of depression are very clear to identify, in others they go almost unnoticed. Sometimes, both for those who suffer from it and for those close to him, it is difficult to understand if he really suffers from depression; this reality is common with children and the elderly. However, the reverse can also happen. A person who is simply in a sad or melancholy moment is labeled as depressed even though he is not really depressed.
When we talk about depression, we are referring to a mental pathology, different from normal sadness. This state does not present itself overnight, in fact, it often takes years for the symptoms of depression to fully manifest. Although there are certain elements, variables, structural problems or neuronal factors that can lead to this condition, they are not always the cause.
"While you can't prevent the bird of depression from flying over your head, you can prevent it from nesting there."
-Chinese Proverb-
The classic symptoms of depression include low enthusiasm, sadness, irritability, lack of energy, or fatigue and the feeling of helplessness and rejection of oneself and one's image. Feelings and thoughts appear related to the idea of ​​abandonment, guilt and the need for protection.
The less obvious symptoms of depression
Some symptoms of depression are less easy to perceive, and are typical of people who face the situation in a pre-conscious way. This means that they realize for themselves that there is a problem. However, they lack the tools to fully understand the situation and to detect depression, and do not even give importance to the symptoms. They engage in behaviors and behaviors that allow them to ignore or hide the problem.
One of the symptoms of depression is the presence of strange eating and sleeping habits. For example, an extreme sensitivity towards the foods consumed and a frequent feeling of food-related nausea. But still, meals at the wrong times or not eating for longer periods of time than normal. However, the opposite situation may also arise, namely gorging oneself with food to fill one's inner emptiness.
Other symptoms of depression may be the tendency to exhibit a false cheerfulness, which is not really felt. This behavior also pushes you to relate to all the people around you without ever reaching a deep level of intimacy. You don't spend many hours with others, and you always have excuses not to go to meetings, meetings or just walks.
Additional symptoms related to depression are related to the emotional sensitivity of the person affected. This increased sensitivity can be described as "skin deep". Thus, her cheerfulness is rare, but explosive, and coexists with excesses of anger directed not only at other people and their behavior, but also at herself. She cries for nothing, for example. In these cases, it can be a hidden depression
Technique to calm the symptoms of depression in just five minutes
In 2007 a group of scholars from the University of Essex, UK, conducted a study to evaluate the effect of nature on mood. They started from the premise that surrounding oneself with natural elements can have positive effects on health. However, they found that these beneficial effects are far greater than they expected and predicted in their initial assumptions.
It was concluded that contact with nature can reduce symptoms of depression by up to 70% in just a period of time . We all intuitively know it's not a good idea to stay indoors if we're down in the dumps. What we didn't know, however, is that in these cases the best place to eliminate our negative emotions is a forest, a garden or any place where nature is present. We also ignored that a very short time is enough to experience these enormous healing powers: alone.
Currently there are several currents united under the name of ecotherapy. These are approaches that defend the healing powers of contact with nature. They ensure that such contact has an energy capable of healing us. Various studies have shown that staying in a purer environment for short periods of time, leaving problems behind, recharges energy levels.
When symptoms of depression appear, which may be clear or more difficult to identify, it is worth integrating psychotherapy with contact with nature. You just need to find a green place and stay there for at least five minutes.
Contact with other life forms activates a feeling of well-being and helps us restore our emotional balance. It costs nothing and takes very little time. Try it.
