How to get out of depression and overcome chronic fatigue?

Do you frequently feel worn out? Do you have daytime sleepiness? Do you lack strength or energy? Can't wake up in the morning? These can be symptoms of depression!

The WHO estimates that depression affects around 300 million people worldwide, making it the most prevalent mental illness.

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 8.5 million Ukrainians are at risk for mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of military operations.

What is depression, and why should you not delay its treatment?

Affective, volitional, and cognitive alterations are hallmarks of depression, according to psychologist Victoria Shkryabun.

Shkriabun Victoria

psychologist

How can you recognise depression in yourself or a loved one?

The basic signs of depression are poor mood for most of the day, fatigue, self-blame, or negative thoughts about oneself and the world.

Depression can cause a decrease in sex drive (low libido), drowsiness or sleeplessness, a loss of interest in activities, and a loss of enjoyment in activities that used to be enjoyable.

What negative effects result from disregarding depression?

The greatest danger of this ailment is that it can remain for a long time without proper attention from both the sick person and those around him, warns the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Over time, ignoring depression can result in the most devastating outcomes, from severe mental diseases to suicide.

What to do if you are depressed?

Here are the WHO recommendations:

• Ask a specialist for help. You can start with a visit to the family doctor. Remember that with the right help, you will recover faster.
• Continue to do the things that brought you pleasure before the depression.
• Avoid self-isolation. Stay in touch with family and friends.
• Accept the fact that you are depressed and try to adjust your expectations accordingly. In this state, you may not have enough energy to support your usual activities.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and abstain from any psychotropic or narcotic drugs, as they make depression worse.
• If you have suicidal thoughts, seek help immediately.

But it’s important to remember that fatigue and lack of energy are not usually signs of depression. Examples of signs of chronic fatigue include trouble concentrating, exhaustion, sleep disorders, and memory issues.

What is chronic fatigue?

Chronic fatigue is a set of symptoms that can be caused by both depression and somatic disorders. Thus, conditions like iron deficiency anemia or endocrine system disorders can lead to chronic fatigue. However, chronic stress or exhaustion may also be to blame.

What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue?

The symptoms are generally quite similar to those of depression, including persistent exhaustion that persists for more than 24 hours following the end of intensive intellectual or physical activity, memory loss, poor concentration, and sleep disturbance.

How to get rid of chronic fatigue?

If we are talking about chronic fatigue, which is not due to depression or any other mental or somatic disorders, then it is worth changing the lifestyle. Namely, monitor your rest, because rest is our duty, not a wish; maintain moderate physical activity; and observe sleep hygiene.

If somatic illnesses are the root of chronic fatigue, their cause must be identified in order to address the issue.

«❗️We encourage you not to put off visiting a doctor if you’ve seen signs of depression and chronic fatigue, have a gloomy mood every day for at least two weeks, feel sleepy, or can’t fall asleep»