Melancholy is a mental state or temperament?

For the first time, the founder of medical science, the physician and philosopher Hippocrates, wrote about melancholia. He characterized this state as suffering, despondency and fear of loneliness. In our time, many psychotherapists and specialists often associate it with a character trait of a person - a temperament. But there are also those who consider the condition a serious mental and psychological disorder. What is melancholia really like? Is it a depression, an illness or a temporary phenomenon caused by stress? Let's try to understand.

Scientific explanation of Freud

Still the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, at the stage of his therapeutic and research activities, tried to give a concrete description of the morbid state. His reflections, he reflected in his correspondence with Dr. Fliess. Melancholy he correlated with psychological sexual tension. He clarified the essence of the disease in his work "Grief and Melancholy."

In his understanding, a person suffering from this ailment constantly demonstrates a diminution of one's own dignity. He ceases to respect and perceive himself as a person, he has lost interest in everything that happens. There is a bad and even morbid mood, all feelings are inhibited, the patient seems to be waiting for punishment.

In the description of the doctor, melancholy is self-torture. The patient considers himself disgusting, immoral, incapable of doing reasonable deeds. He reproaches and humiliates himself before others, extends self-criticism to the past. The picture of such insanity is supplemented by a refusal of food and insomnia.

Characteristic features

Constant groundless fear, self-destruction and self-reproach manifest melancholy. Disease, if left untreated, can lead a person to suicidal actions. The doctors attribute the first signs of this condition to accusations of loving people. Through self-punishment, a person tries to take revenge, as it seems to him, to the object of his love.

In the mind there are unpleasant memories, sad fantasies, gloomy thoughts. The incentives to life's interests are weakened, the patient becomes indifferent, inactive. The only way out is suicide. Some have auditory and visual hallucinations. Psychotherapists believe that this state indicates a depressive psychosis or schizophrenia. Only a doctor can understand why melancholia has occurred.

This oppressed state is extremely dangerous and requires a special approach. Often, the melancholia is disturbed by blood circulation and metabolic processes. He completely refuses food, falls into a stupor. Attacks of fear, excitement, panic, rage and longing can be observed paroxysmally. Sometimes painful manic phases lead to mental insanity.

Therapeutic measures

Individual approach requires melancholy. Treatment depends on the severity of the flow. If the reason for this is a stressful situation, from which a person can not get out on his own, the doctor will recommend psychotherapy, rest and sedatives of plant origin. Herbal preparations, teas and decoctions are good for depression. Drink broth better course - 14 days. It is useful to drink milk or tea with honey daily , cranberry, cowberry, bilberry or currant.

They have a soothing effect. Instead of coffee it is better to drink chamomile, lavender, melissa or strawberry tea. If you feel a breakdown, nervous tension and panic, then try to surround yourself with loving people, do not shut yourself up and do not drive into a morbid state further. It is better to consult a qualified doctor who will tell you how melancholy is treated. This is not an inoffensive phenomenon, remember this.