We see everything in black
The depression is a mental disorder that comes in several symptoms whose duration exceeds fifteen days. “When it manifests itself at work, we tend not to notice these symptoms because things are deteriorating little by little. Often people in depression live in denial”, explains Dr. Jean-François Costemale Lacoste, assistant specialist in psychiatry at Sainte Anne Hospital. It’s not easy to put words to what you feel.
Yet these sensations are clearly identifiable. Dr. Lacoste, who helps patients suffering from depression on a daily basis, describes the first signs of this disease. “Depression is manifested by several symptoms: we feel a feeling of overwork, a loss of pleasure. We go to work backwards. We withdraw into ourselves”.
This withdrawal into oneself is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of sadness. At work, performing the tasks becomes an increasingly heavy burden to bear: “We are in slow motion. It is difficult to concentrate, details the psychiatrist. We devalue ourselves and the mental ruminations are constant”.
The body is deranged
In this burnout there are also other physical signs. Appetite is altered, the taste of food is lost and weight loss follows or, conversely, weight gain is linked to the consumption of excess sugary foods; we sleep little and badly (insomnia, short and non-restorative sleep, early awakening). Sexuality is also affected (little or no libido). Some pain may appear such as headaches, joint pain, digestive problems, etc.).
It is difficult to fight alone against this disease, even more so when the diagnosis is unknown. If these symptoms appear over a prolonged period, the first instinct remains to go to a general practitioner who can direct us to a mental health specialist. You can also go directly to a psychiatrist who will prescribe medication and/or offer psychotherapy.