Depression - a common disease

A disease that can meet any of the. In Germany alone, four million people suffer from the fact that the body goes on strike and more joy does not matter.

"During my severe physical illness I had wanted to help and hope during the Depression, I just wanted to die anymore." Words of a patient, make it clear what causes high level of suffering depression and how much they can affect the quality of life.

Just as Max Strauss, who was now in Augsburg in court, about ten percent of all Germans suffer at some point in their lives from depression. It can make life a living hell. And it can completely change the affected people.

Depression, which means: Nothing is more enjoyable. Torture sleep at night, a "morning low" makes getting up difficult. Interest in hobbies or previously operated like to contact is lost. Facial expressions and gestures can "freeze". Some patients feel petrified, other drives an aimless restlessness. The range of possible symptoms of depression is high in the literature, there are terms such as hopelessness, emptiness, despair and sadness, leaden fatigue, rapid exhaustion, loss of self-confidence and self-esteem, disturbances of concentration and thinking, feelings of guilt - just to name a few .

In addition often come as various physical symptoms such as pressure on the chest, lump in throat, migratory joint, muscle or back pain.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) worldwide are affected more than 120 million people with depression. And in Germany, the situation "alarming, the" Competence Network "depression, a nationwide project to optimize the treatment and research. Four million people suffer from the often underestimated public health problem that must be defined strictly according to experts of upsets and depression as each of us knows. Women are affected two to three times as often as men. And in women the disease is also better recognized, probably because women are more willing to talk about their fears and mood swings. In contrast, men are often suspected organic causes for their condition.

What causes depression? In two thirds of the patients were the disease or at least stressful major life events - such as death of a close relative - expected, after such an event, the risk of getting depression, increased approximately half a year. Prolonged stress - such as through marriage conflicts, the constant feeling overwhelmed at work or even targeted "bullying" is also-as a risk factor. But predisposition, personality factors, or physical illness play a role. The causes of depression are varied.

And basically: The disease can affect anyone. Of the four million people affected in this country receive only a "fraction" appropriate treatment, laments the "Competence Network Depression," although with modern drugs and psychotherapy have two effective tools against the disease were available. Still, the disease will be overlooked too often confused with other diseases or approached with the wrong treatments. It does an adequate treatment of bitter hardship, because: About 15 percent of patients with severe, recurrent depression perceive their condition at some point as so unbearable that she take her own life. And that's the way the majority of men.