More than a “blues”: How you can recognize an autumn depression

“They also say seasonally pronounced depression,” explains Prof. Ulrich Hegerl from the German Depression help.

This is usually not that severe and also differs somewhat from real depression in terms of the symptoms of the disease.

This is what winter depression feels like

With the typical, often very severe depression, people tend to lose weight because they no longer have an appetite. “You cannot fall asleep either, you are permanently tense.”

Depression changes your whole life

But how do those affected recognize a “real” depression? According to Hegerl, this is a disease that changes your whole life.

“You often don’t recognize yourself anymore,” he says. Often it is very active, responsible and motivated people who suffer from depression.

“And then they don’t even have the strength to stand up and brush their teeth,” describes Hegerl.

“Or every phone call is a huge mountain.” People noticed that something very fundamental was happening here, according to the psychiatrist. Often they could no longer feel any feelings – sadness, for example. “You feel petrified.”

Do not look to blame for the circumstances

The problem: those affected often look to themselves or the circumstances to blame. “You then often have very obvious explanations, but most of them are not the real explanation,” explains Hegerl.

The crucial thing is that you have a predisposition to these diseases have. As a result, those affected slip into this state again and again.

For example, depression occurs a little more frequently in the unemployed. “Because people who repeatedly slide into depression lose their job more easily,” says Hegerl and adds: “Unemployment in itself does not make you depressed.”

Depression can meet everyone

The expert also emphasizes: “It can hit everyone”. Women are affected about twice as often as men. That has something to do with biology and the hormone balance.

The most important thing is that people with depression get professional help – relatives are also asked here, to motivate them to do so. “You have to know,” emphasizes Hegerl: “Depression is a serious illness. If you have this diagnosis, you live an average of ten years less. “It is not a disorder.