Is depression invincible?
Don't let your soul be lazy…
Natalia Ermakova, psychiatrist
ABC MagazineIn our society, there is a certain pitifully squeamish attitude towards people who are not satisfied with something in life, complain, but do not change anything.
A lot of people ask for advice or just pour out their soul, telling about their difficult situation, but in response they hear, mostly, "the fool himself." If you live with an alcoholic, an evil mother-in-law, work with a stupid boss-a tyrant, they say, this is your choice.
Myths about choiceAnd why do you choose this one?
There are many myths why people live in such conditions and do not change anything.
1. Secondary benefit. If you have such a life, then you like it. And somewhere in the depths of your subconscious sits a little creature that literally beats in ecstasy when an alcoholic husband rushes after you with an axe. The theory is actually not without meaning, and if you dig into the subconscious of anyone, then in principle you can explain all the troubles that happen to a person in the light of secondary benefits. But no one would think of accusing the Japanese now that they have a secondary benefit from their position. Well, what about it? They knew that there could be an earthquake and a tsunami on their land! Why didn't they go to a more stable place? but. The reason for Japanese living in Japan is more complex and multifaceted than pure masochism in the form of living in a dangerous place.
2. Children's complexes. Yes, they rule our lives. What kind of luggage our parents gave us, with those "suitcases" we are approaching the threshold of adulthood. Here, of course, it's up to everyone who how to dispose of these belongings. Yes, and "suitcases" are packed very unevenly. Someone has decayed rags, someone has unnecessary junk, and someone has a survival kit or tools necessary for work. Therefore, every young man and girl has different opportunities. Yes, and someone's suitcase is filled with empty bottles of alcohol. And agree, in order to compose something worthwhile with this "wealth", remarkable creative abilities are needed. But, alas, not everyone has them. But even after childhood, people accumulate their "capital". Sometimes it significantly exceeds the one that got from the parents. And a person with more or less developed intelligence can quickly find out where it is better for him. What can I say, because even an amoeba migrates towards more favorable conditions for it.
3. Weakling. A man who can't make decisions. In the light of the growing "humanization" of Russian society, he immediately wants to kill himself against the wall, not to whine or relax and enjoy the process of natural selection. Of course, it is very tempting to divide everyone into strong and weak, explaining all the world's troubles. But, as with everything in our world, we cannot draw a line of demarcation between the weak and the strong. The choice or simply the prevailing conditions do not always depend on the strength of character. The wife of an alcoholic is able to enter a burning house and save the neighbor's children when the rest of the strong-willed will be weak to risk their lives.
Nich-h-what I don't want!The reason for being in unfavorable living conditions can be explained in terms of dependent personality disorder.
This is one of the most common reasons. The other is apathetic depression.
Back at the end of the XX century, much was said that the XXI century would be the century of this pathology. Its level is growing and significantly affects the quality of life of people suffering from it. In many cases, it remains undiagnosed. What is the reason? The fact that a person by himself does not feel that his mood is lowered. Rather, it is not reduced, it is "no": neither good nor bad. Every day is the same and time passes quickly. It's already evening, and nothing has been done. Where the time has gone is unknown. How was your day Neither good nor bad.
The pleasure of what used to please disappears. I did some work, I was happy with it before. I am satisfied that something has been done and done well. It would seem that the passed exam or the annual report should cause some positive emotions. No, there aren't any. Passed and passed. Birthday? New Year's Eve? Well, last year we were going, so nothing special, just sat. And why is it necessary? I'd better go to bed.
Satisfaction with actions decreases, a person gradually abandons complex activities that, it would seem, should bring him both benefit and joy. Where to on vacation? Abroad? Oh-oh-oh... It is necessary to go to the agency, buy tickets, take pictures for a visa... nope... it's better at home on the couch. What's the difference? At least you lie on the couch for free, but abroad – for a lot of money. Lovers of needlework, especially the long-playing type of cross-stitch, quit the lesson. It becomes just a prolonged poking with a needle into the fabric and creating a meaningless object: well, a picture is hanging on the wall, but then what? Lovers of cooking roll down to scrambled eggs 3 times a day. I would make pies, but, damn it... there the dough should be put, then knead. Well, I'll bake pies, so what? We'll eat everything in the evening. Poke around all day, and the result will be destroyed in 15 minutes.
To do something new is generally out of the realm of fiction. Even if attempts are made, people do not feel any interest in them, nor motivation. Naturally, the result in such cases is most often negative. And soon they give up trying to change anything.
Underlying causesIt is believed that this depression has other mechanisms.
They consist in the depletion of dopamine limbic structures and the nucleus accumbens (nucleus accumbens, the central component of the so-called "reward system", which plays an important role in the formation of emotions). But there the core requires immediate recharge and endlessly tugs at the frontal cortex so that it "quickly figured out something".
Immediately – on the contrary. The frontal cortex is somewhat astonished: there are dominants, but no command comes from the nucleus accumbens to implement them. That is, a person, as it were, understands that scrambled eggs 3 times a day is not a matter for the family, that you have to leave an alcoholic, that you have to quit working with a self–righteous boss, but there is no energy for realization. There is no one to "put a spark" in the brain to make everything work.
Some key components of the "reward system".
The neurons of the cortex, having received and processed information about something pleasant (a rewarding stimulus), send signals to the "ventral region of the tire" (VTA) – the part of the midbrain whose neurons produce dopamine. After that, the VTA sends its dopamine signals to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain. (MFB, medial forebrain bundle – medial anterior cerebral bundle; septum – septum).
Image from the website thebrain.mcgill.ca , explanations to it – from the article by A.Markov on "Elements" (VM).
The brain, moreover, is such a special education that if it is not used, it begins to be lazy too. Don't you use some of the usual ways (a series of synapses)? The brain will rebuild. He will destroy them, because what is not in operation must be disposed of. Don't you use a positive reinforcement system (when you have done some work, dopamine spreads through the limbic, for a sense of pleasure)? So she will start to get sick slowly. Until the end, of course, it will not resolve, but part of the synapses and receptors of the brain will be recycled.
People and others feel that they have changed, become "lazy and stupid." What is the reason? Children's complexes? Nothing like that. You will go to a therapist indefinitely. Everyone has children's complexes. Solve all internal conflicts, but it won't solve the problems at all, even close.
The reason is that apparently due to an overabundance of stress, the limbic "burns out". The hippocampus also suffers significantly and ceases to perform its functions. Let me remind you that stress is a stretchable and individual concept.
It is quite characteristic that people in this state begin to resort to the help of psychoactive substances, primarily alcohol. The latter, although a depressant, but thanks to its action on the limbic, it releases that very "spark". The person begins to move a little and do some things. But it is clear that alcohol is "not our method", what it leads to is perfectly understood by everyone.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru20.06.2011