Depression and burnout asklepios kliniken depression and burnout

Depression and burnoutDepression is a mental illness. A professional diagnosis is very important, because treatment offers good chances of success. We will inform you about symptoms, causes, such as burnout, and treatment options at the Asklepios Clinics.

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What is depression?

Depression is a serious condition mental illness. Most people know phases of sadness, for example, when they are in a difficult life situation. However, depression goes far beyond this: the dejection is much more pronounced, lasts for several weeks and severely restricts the person affected. They no longer enjoy the things that used to give them pleasure, they are tired or lack drive and often withdraw. It also puts a strain on their interpersonal relationships. Depression affects all areas of life, is often accompanied by suicidal thoughts, and can even lead to suicide. It is therefore important to recognize the signs in good time and – because depression does not usually go away on its own – to get help.

How to recognize depression? The symptoms of depression are many and varied. Not always recognizable at first glance. Most sufferers experience the following symptoms:

– Depressed mood and sadness – Loss of joy – Hopelessness – Despair – Listlessness and exhaustion – Loss of interest – Sensation of numbness – Sleep disturbances – Loss of appetite – Anxiety – Inner restlessness – Decreased self-confidence – Physical ailments (e.g., depression, depression, anxiety, etc.) – Depression.B. backache or headache, feeling of prere in the chest) – suicidal thoughts

Not every symptom listed here has to mean depression or burnout right away. Some of these feelings can also occur temporarily in healthy people. However, if the symptoms last longer than two weeks stop, this can be a sign of depression. If you are affected yourself, we recommend a personal conversation with a specialist or a therapist. Seek counseling in one of our clinics.

How depression develops?

The causes of depression can be as varied as the clinical picture itself. In most cases there is not only one cause, but several factors act together. We therefore advise you to determine the individual background of your illness in a personal conversation with a specialist.

The causes of an illness can be divided into three areas:

– Psychosocial factors, esp. Stress (environmental factors) – personality traits that often developed during development as a result of external influences (e.g.B. Anxiety, low self-esteem) – Genetic predisposition – Neurobiological disorders (metabolic disorders of the nervous system)

In addition, various life circumstances can trigger depression. These include postpartum depression and depression during pregnancy, as well as depression in old age.

Genetic predisposition

Genetic predisposition can be a major contributor to the disease. The risk of developing depression is about 15% if other first-degree family members are already affected by the disease. Genetic predisposition is particularly strong in bipolar disorder.

Neurobiological disorders

From a neurobiological point of view, depression can be explained as a metabolic disease of the nervous system. There is an imbalance of various messenger substances such as serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine. Severe or prolonged psychological stress, as well as stress caused by physical illness (e.g.B. Cancer, hormone imbalances, z.B. of the thyroid gland) can upset the balance of these neurotransmitters. This imbalance of messenger substances disturbs the communication of the nervous system and can lead to depression.

psychosocial factors

Psychosocial factors (environmental factors) include experiences in the personal environment of the affected person. This can be traumatic experiences or socially harmful conditions in childhood. Special personality factors, such as a lack of self-esteem, insecurity or perfectionism, can also promote an illness. Depression often occurs after critical, negative events. This can be the loss of a partner or a relative, a separation or a serious illness (z.B. cancer).

Burnout

Constant excessive demands, private or professional stress can also trigger depression. In this context, there is often talk of "burnout". Burnout describes a depression triggered by excessive demands, overload and lack of recovery. This leads to anger, rage, negative feelings and a noticeable decrease in performance. Sufferers begin to dislike or hate the work they previously enjoyed doing. Also during pregnancy. Depression can occur after the birth of a child. As with other forms of depression, several factors play together in this process. Expectant mothers are often afraid of the unknown task and worry about whether they will be able to meet the requirements. If the child is born, excessive demands and exhaustion as well as social and societal preres can trigger depression. Hormonal changes can also contribute to the disease.

Identifying the causes of depression

However, not all depression has clear and identifiable causes. Sometimes everything seems fine on the outside, but depression can't be shaken off. It is important that those affected do not place the blame on themselves. A personal consultation with a specialist is the best way to find out whether you are suffering from depression and what the causes are. Get advice on depression in one of our clinics.

What helps against depression?

If you take advantage of the counseling services offered at one of our clinics, our experts will Diagnosis in the context of a detailed examination interview. The individual causes of your depression will also be clarified in order to define the best possible therapy that is tailored to your needs. Overall, the treatment promises good chances of success: "The chances of success of a therapy are very good – a treatment can already achieve success after four to six weeks, in some cases even after two to three weeks," says Prof. Dr. med. Stefan Kropp, head physician at the Asklepios Teupitz Specialist Clinic.

Forms of therapy for depression

In the Asklepios clinics we offer you various forms of therapy: the Psychotherapy, the drug treatment, the Social therapy as well as the Occupational therapy. In most cases, the various forms of therapy are combined. Which form of therapy is right for you depends individually on the type and severity of your depression.

Psychotherapy

In Psychotherapy (z.B. behavioral therapy, schema therapy) the depression is treated together with a therapist through discussions and exercises. Patients learn to better understand their feelings, moods and ways of thinking. Together with the therapist, they work out behavioral patterns through which they can actively improve their situation.

Drug treatment

Often, psychotherapy is combined with a drug treatment (pharmacotherapy) supplements. Antidepressants are used here. These have a mood-lifting and anxiety-relieving effect. They make it easier for the brain to balance the messenger substances and thus promote self-healing. Antidepressants are not addictive, contrary to some prejudices! Anti-anxiety medications can be added temporarily, as the antidepressants need 2-4 weeks to take effect.

Social therapy

The Social therapists support those affected with regard to official problems, in the search for a place to live, or even in the case of over-indebtedness.

Occupational therapy

With Occupational therapy (occupational therapy), those affected engage in concrete activities. In this case, activities are brought into connection with your own feelings and thoughts and reflected upon. Patients learn about their own abilities, learn social skills and sharpen their self-perception.

Find fast help and treatment for depression at a clinic near you.

In an emergency

Are in an acute crisis? Have suicidal thoughts? Then seek help directly and do not wait for a doctor's appointment. Experienced specialists advise you in our clinics. In emergencies and when you can't leave home, find help at any time of day:

– Medical on-call service 116 117
– Telephone counselling 0800 111 0 111

Common questions

– From sufferers – From family and friends

How to recognize depression? Depression can manifest itself in many ways. Is not always easy to recognize. Thus Hopelessness, loss of interest, exhaustion and listlessness be the first sign of depression. Sufferers often feel a deep, inner pain for which they do not recognize any reason. Feeling useless, having low self-esteem, and withdrawing. You can read more about this in the section "How to recognize depression"?".

Do I need treatment?

If you experience symptoms of depression over a longer period of time, it is important to consult a doctor and seek professional treatment. Depression is a Serious, life-threatening illness, which should not be trivialized. In the worst case, it can lead to suicide. However, treatment offers a good chance of success – the sooner, the better. So do not wait too long. Seek help.

What forms of therapy are available for depression?

At the Asklepios Clinics, we offer four different forms of therapy: psychotherapy (z.B. behavioral therapy, schema therapy), drug treatment (pharmacotherapy), social therapy, and occupational therapy (action therapy). The various forms of therapy are usually combined. Which form of therapy is right for you depends on the type and severity of your depression. You can find out more about the various therapy options under "Forms of therapy for depression".

How am I treated – as an inpatient or outpatient??

The range of therapies offered by our specialist clinics is tailored specifically to depression. This helps to alleviate the symptoms in the acute (immediate) crisis, to better understand and cope with the illness. In an initial examination, the form of the depression is first determined. Treatment essentially depends on this. You can be examined by your family doctor or, in acute cases, directly in one of our clinics. Then there are various options open to you:

For mild depression, a referral from your primary care physician or specialist can be an Outpatient treatment And access therapy that's right for you.

If you need more intensive care, we offer you the possibility of a Monday to Friday inpatient treatment in our Day clinics. You will spend the therapy time with us, but you can continue to live at home. An important prerequisite is that you are able to make the journey from your home to the clinic and back independently and safely.

For moderate to severe depression and major depressive episodes, we usually recommend a Inpatient therapy. We offer you individual care. Intensive therapy concepts.

Who pays for the therapy?

If you are a member of a statutory health insurance and have been diagnosed with depression by a specialist, your health insurance will cover the costs of all scientifically recognized therapies. If necessary, certain applications have to be made to the health insurance company. You will be supported by our social therapists. If you have private insurance or would like to make use of additional services, the costs for your treatment will be settled directly with us.

Do I need medication for depression?

Whether you need medication depends on your individual clinical picture. Medications are not prescribed across the board, but solely on an as-needed basis (which is usually the case with major depression). Often psychotherapy (z.B. behavioral therapy) with a drug treatment Hand in hand. You can find more information on drug treatment in the section "Forms of therapy for depression".

How long do I have to stay in the clinic?

It depends on the severity of your depression. As a rule, patients are in our clinics Four to six weeks in treatment, in exceptional cases only two to three weeks. Most patients are treated as full inpatients in a first step. Subsequently, there is the possibility of partial inpatient care in a day clinic. In about ten percent of cases, those affected require a Longer-term support, which you can take up ambulatory with us. How long a depression lasts is individual and cannot be answered in a generalized way.

What do I have to do to be treated?? Do I need a referral from the family doctor?

If you suffer from a severe depression or have suicidal thoughts, go immediately to one of our clinics and get help there. Depression should not be underestimated. Can be life-threatening in some circumstances – so don't delay! In our clinics you will get direct help day and night and will be treated as an inpatient. Required documents can be submitted later.

If you have been feeling bad for a long time and think you might be suffering from depression, your first port of call is your family doctor or a specialist. This person can give you a referral for one of our clinics. The next step is to register by phone for a consultation at one of our specialist clinics.

How long is the waiting time before I can start treatment?

Demand for treatment is generally very high. If it is an emergency, patients are of course treated directly, for example in the case of suicidal thoughts. In less urgent cases, the waiting time can be about two weeks Are. For accurate information, call a clinic near you directly.

What are the chances of success?

The chances of success in getting a depression under control are very good! The duration and course of treatment depend on your individual condition. After successful treatment, relapses can sometimes occur. It is important that you seek help in good time.

How to discuss the topic of depression with my employer?

Depression continues to be a sensitive ie in the workplace. As an employee, you may fear that depression will jeopardize your career. If your work environment has a significant influence on your illness, then it is advisable to talk to your boss about your diagnosis and find a long-term solution for you together. However, you are not required to talk to your employer or colleagues about your condition. This depends entirely on the relationship of trust between the employee. supervisor – listen to your gut feeling here. Nevertheless, we recommend that you do not be afraid to talk to people. Your supervisor must be aware of his Duty of care Follow up and take your health into account. Moreover, he can not immediately terminate the employment relationship. In most cases, a discussion with the employer has a liberating effect, especially since depression is a very common and now also a well-known illness.

How to prevent depression or relapse?

Important is: Have because of your mood No feelings of guilt, because this will only make things unnecessarily difficult for you. Try to accept their situation. Depression is easily treatable – you will feel better after therapy. If you have been Medication Prescribed, take them regularly. Do not change the dosage yourself. Do not discontinue the medication without consultation. If you are dissatisfied with the effect of the medication, consult your treating physician.

Pay attention to a structured daily routine. Try to eat your meals at fixed times of the day and to get up and go to bed at the same time, if possible. Also Walks can support a healthy bio-rhythm, as they activate the body and daylight has a positive effect on the body. To brighten your mood. Exercise regularly. Perform other activities at the same time of day, if possible. Exercise regularly. Perform other activities at the same time of day if possible.

It is also important Work-life balance. In addition to work, there should be enough space for leisure time, friends and family. Allow your body time out and rest after periods of exertion. In addition, more Mindfulness help to distance oneself from negative emotions and thoughts and to find inner balance. Various techniques can help with this, such as breathing exercises or meditation.