Types of depression.

The sources of depression, as well as its course, are so diverse that it is quite often confused with other disorders. Both the severity and duration of symptoms vary for different types of depression. The way a patient experiences depression makes an individual approach during its treatment necessary.
Each type of depression requires slightly different therapeutic methods that can be found in Krakow. In the case of trauma-related depression, a psychologist decides to start therapy aimed at mitigating the effects of trauma, rather than activities focusing on typical symptoms of depression. The situation is similar in the case of discrimination: better results are obtained when therapeutic methods are aimed at treating mental health, which also results in alleviating the symptoms of depression. Depression associated with the loss of a loved one requires a different approach. Therefore, it is very important to accurately determine the causes of depression and to be able to distinguish the type of depression that the patient has from other types of depression. A huge variety of therapeutic methods is available in Krakow. Consultation with a psychologist-psychotherapist may become the first step to understanding the causes of depression and finding an effective way to eliminate the ailments associated with a specific type of depression.

In cases of severe symptoms, a psychologist may recommend a visit to a psychiatrist.

How does self-critical depression differ from other types of depression?

A special type of depression is depression that occurs with self-criticism. Depression associated with self-criticism is described by many patients as the most painful and significantly hindering normal functioning. Therapists, on the other hand, describe it as one of the most difficult to work through.
One possible explanation for the specificity of self-criticism depression is its intrinsic origin. In most types of depression, symptoms are aggravated by external factors (life events, discrimination, stress, trauma, etc.), and improve when the negative factor disappears. In the case of self-criticism, the factor that triggers depression is in the person, it is constantly present and does not go away on its own. On the contrary, the longer the patient delays going to a specialist, the more the disorder deepens.
Very often, a high level of self-criticism is a learned mechanism, not a permanent personality disposition. It can arise as a reaction to bullying in childhood, exclusion by peers, discrimination, difficulties in the child-parent relationship. It is a permanent pattern of behavior, difficult to modify, while the latest research shows that there are effective methods aimed at regulating excessive self-criticism.

The effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating depression associated with high levels of self-criticism.

Despite the similarity of the symptoms of depression associated with self-criticism to the symptoms of other types of depression, therapeutic methods differ in effectiveness depending on the cause of the disorder. Numerous studies have shown that cognitive therapy in the case of people characterized by self-criticism gives significantly worse results compared to other patients. Cognitive therapy can be counterproductive; patients using cognitive therapy often blame themselves for their own emotional condition, it seems to them that they are not adapted to reality.
Very often, an increased level of self-criticism is associated with other disorders (e.g. anxiety, eating disorders, addictions, suicidal thoughts, phobias) and can significantly hinder normal functioning.

An effective treatment in such cases involves working with a psychologist using a psychodynamic approach.

Therefore, the work of a therapist at the Synapsa Lesser Poland Psychotherapy Center in Krakow is based on an individual approach to the patient, active listening, taking into account the patient’s preferences. Currently, it is believed that true involvement in therapy, and the resulting effectiveness, are possible only when the patient feels responsible for its course. A very important element of therapy is making independent decisions, including decisions related to the choice of a good psychologist and a good psychiatrist with whom the patient will feel safe.