Treatment of depression - Warsaw
Depression is a disease. It is a serious disorder that affects our thoughts, feelings and actions. As little as 2 weeks of impaired mood and functioning is enough to recognize depression. Early diagnosis and early treatment give you a better chance of overcoming the crisis quickly - a quicker recovery and return to full function. You are not alone, help is available. Don't be ashamed to ask for it. Persisting in the belief that "I can do it," only delays proper action.
How do you know when something is "wrong"?
The symptoms of depressive syndrome are quite easy to understand and observe. Most people have this experience of having lost something important. One then feels grief over the loss, sadness. Nothing makes one happy, nothing interests one. Sometimes one has a limited desire to even move. It is similar with depression, but it must be strongly emphasized at this point that temporary periods of one or even a few days of deteriorated mood is not yet depression. Depression is a disease. To recognize it, its symptoms should last at least 2 weeks. On the one hand "at least" 2 weeks, on the other hand "only" 2 weeks. This is because many people have the notion that depression is such a serious matter that it affects people who have been ill for months. Well, no, as little as 2 weeks is enough to recognize depression.
But what symptoms should we confirm in our observation to think about depression? There are three basic symptoms:
✅ lowered mood, or sadness and depression,
✅ anhedonia, or the impairment of feeling joy and
✅ drive disorder, that is, nothing wants to happen, nothing gets done.
Two of these three symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. In addition, depression can have additional symptoms, which can be a long list, but at least two additional symptoms must also be present. It is relatively common for the sufferer's sleep to be disturbed, self-esteem to deteriorate, and even thoughts of one's own suicidal death may be present.
What does a visit to a psychiatrist look like?
A visit to a psychiatrist looks just like any medical visit to any other doctor. This is because a psychiatrist is a doctor. His work with the patient therefore involves taking a history of the patient, his symptoms, and examining the patient, making a diagnosis and offering treatment. What distinguishes a psychiatrist from a doctor of other specialties is the method of examination.
A psychiatrist does not auscultate the patient, he listens to him.
The psychiatrist's primary tools are conversation and observation. He may also order some additional tests. Psychiatry as a branch of medicine is a pure science. The organ that is diseased is the brain, and a psychiatrist examining a patient gets closer to interpreting which parts of the brain are functioning less well. Without going into deeper details - our cortex is more stressed when we think. Subcortical centers when we are experiencing something. In contrast, conduction disorders between different areas of the brain can express themselves, for example, by deterioration of attention. This is how we diagnose, make a diagnosis and select treatment.
How to treat depression?
As soon as possible. This means that if you have been suffering for 2 weeks, you know the symptoms and suspect that it may be a mental disorder - do not delay, come see a doctor. Depression can progress as a syndrome with mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. If you come to the doctor without undue delay, you have a good chance that the depression is still at the stage of mild severity of symptoms, early inclusion of psychotherapeutic treatment may make pharmacotherapy unnecessary. However, in most cases pharmacotherapy is needed, but the earlier treatment is started, the greater the chance that drug doses can be lower. The best results come from combined treatment, that is, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.
In depression, it is recommended primarily:
✅ cognitive behavioral therapy
✅ drug treatment
Prevention
Depression can also be prevented. The key seems to be taking care of the balance between strain and rest. A so-called healthy lifestyle is one of the best recommendations. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol and drugs can help maintain mental health. In addition, relaxation techniques, such as meditation, can help manage stress, which is often linked to depression.
Illness is not a reason to be ashamed
We are not ashamed of having the flu, asthma, or that we wear glasses. So let's not be ashamed of depression. Depression affects many people. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that in 2030, depression could become the most commonly diagnosed disease in the world. Many famous people have struggled with the disease and have spoken openly about it. In Poland, the experiences of famous people were brought to us by the "Faces of Depression" campaign. Do not hesitate, do not wait - you are not alone(-). Depression is not a "weakness" and will not go away on its own. Depression is a disease and should be treated. There are proven, effective methods that can be used for treatment. If you have doubts - come.
How to make an appointment with a psychiatrist in Warsaw?
➡️ Choose your psychotherapist and contact us by phone - at +48 22 24 12 444 or by email - via e-mail: kontakt@cpp.pl to schedule an appointment.
You can alsoschedule an appointment online.
➡️ Fill out the necessary documents - registration card and consent to data processing, and provide your contact phone number and send everything to: kontakt@cpp.pl.
You can find a template of the card and consent to data processing in the DOWNLOAD FILES section of our contact page: https://cpp.pl/kontakt/.
➡️ Pay your appointment at least 24 hours in advance. You can use a quick transfer or make a traditional bank transfer. Don't forget to include your information, the name of the chosen specialist and the date of the consultation in the description of the transfer.
Our transfer details:
CPP Professional Assistance Center al. Jana Pawła II 80 lok. 129 (floor XXI) or lok. 21 (floor IX) 00-175 Warsaw
account no: 94 1140 2004 0000 3502 8301 4938
📌 If you have any questions, please contact our secretariat at +48 22 24 12 444. We are at your service from Monday to Friday, 10:00-20:30.
