Depression is life without colours. Let’s bring them back!

Most of us are likely to face depression at one time in our lives – be it through an affected family member, friend or co-worker, or even by experiencing it ourselves. Depression is one of the most common mental disorders that too often remains undiagnosed. Despite its severity and frequency, there are many false assumptions that hinder those seeking help to improve their health.

Colours can reflect our mood

In Wheatfield with Crows, one of his last works of art, Vincent Van Gogh painted the sky in menacing grey and blue hues instead of using his usual vibrant colours. The dark sky is said to refer to the artists increasingly persistent suicide thoughts.

Colours can be used to better express one’s thoughts and feelings. By looking at photographs and images on social media, and with the help of artificial intelligence, psychologists can detect depressive disorders quite accurately. Photographs and images created by people suffering from depression are often darker, black-and-white images, which feature fewer people and faces, suggesting less social contact.

Depression does not discriminate

Depression hits all ages, educational levels, and social groups. The first symptoms of depression are often present already during adolescence, but a depressive episode may develop at any stage in life.

Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. But they tend to seek professional help earlier and more often compared to men. It is imperative that depression be diagnosed and treated, as it causes great distress in the patient and their families; it increases the risk of developing other illnesses or even dying, and the risk of suicide.

Myths and truths about depression

MYTH 1: DEPRESSED PEOPLE CRY A LOT

Not necessarily. Feeling sad is one of the basic symptoms of depression, but it does not necessarily present as crying.

Signs of depression form in the affected person’s mind, their emotions, behaviour, and body. Patients with depression may not share the same symptoms, their range or duration. Some patients feel unworthy, guilty and hopeless. Others describe loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, feeling tired, and having trouble concentrating. Still others report predominantly physical signs, such as chest and muscle pain, pain in the lower back and headaches.

MYTH 2: DEPRESSED PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO WORK

Not all of them. People with depression often hide their emotions while in public and appear normal, even happy. Despite the fact that they can manage their work just fine, they may spend more time and energy completing their tasks, and may not be able to relax and enjoy their after-work life. Excessive work can be a sign of depression, especially in men.

MYTH 3: REAL MEN DON’T GET DEPRESSED

Men experience depression differently than women, which is why their close ones and their physicians often miss it. Instead of displaying sadness, men who are depressed may appear to be irritated, restless, tired, angry or aggressive. To avoid being perceived as weak, vulnerable and not stable, men tend to share their problems less often. Untreated depression in men may prove extremely dangerous, as it may lead to alcohol and drug abuse, and even to suicide.

MYTH 4: TREATING DEPRESSION TAKES A LONG TIME AND IS RARELY SUCCESSFUL

Most patients who face their situation and actively engage in their treatment, get better. For people with mild depression, psychotherapy and counselling can help. Moderate and severe depression need to be treated with medicinal products.

Nowadays, most patients are prescribed a combination of antidepressants and psychotherapy. It is important to note that antidepressants, unlike tranquillisers and sleep medications, don’t cause physical dependence or addiction. Antidepressants usually take between two and four weeks to start to work. But the patient should continue with the treatment for at least six months to prevent the depression symptoms from reoccurring.

Depression can take away all the colours from a person’s life. Early recognition of the disease and active participation in its treatment are vital for effective elimination of symptoms.

References

1. Vincent van Gogh: Paintings, Drawings, Quotes, and Biography: Wheatfield with Crows [internet]. 2009 [cited 25.10.2017]. Accessible at: www.VincentVanGogh.org.
2. TheJournal.ie. The colour of your Instagram photos can give a clue about your mood [internet]. 2017. [cited 23.10.2017]. Accessible at: https://www.thejournal.ie/instagram-photos-depression-clues-3528234-Aug2017/
3. Inštitut za razvoj človeških virov. Depresija. [internet]. 2017. [cited 23.10.2017]. Accessible at: https://www.psihoterapija-ordinacija.si/dusevne-motnje/motnje-razpolozenja/depresija
4. Psihoterapija Fiket.10 mitov in resnic o depresiji. [internet]. 2017. [cited 23.10.2017]. Accessible at: https://www.psihoterapija-fiket.si/index.php/articles/92-10-mitov-in-resnic-o-depresiji
5. eZdravje. Depresija pri moških [internet]. 2017. [cited 23.10.2017]. Accessible at:  https://www.ezdravje.com/dusevno-zdravje/depresija/depresija-pri-moskih/?s=vse