Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD) and depression are associated both as two simultaneously occurring diseases, and as the main problem and its symptom.
Disorders of the autonomic nervous system lead to the appearance of neuroses, obsessive thoughts, a depressive state. At times, depression becomes the first symptom of vegetative imbalance.
Therefore, when contacting a doctor with signs of a vegetative-vascular syndrome, it is recommended to check with a psychologist. The goal is to identify deviations, to find an adequate treatment.
It is impossible to equate these diseases. Despite the coincidence of some of the symptoms and the similarity of the causes of occurrence, different treatment is required. For the case when depression is a manifestation of VSD – one thing, when an independent disease – another.
Manifestations of a depressive state
A provocateur of the development of depression against the background of VSD, is increasingly becoming regular stress, depression.
Psychological fatigue, along with the accompanying insomnia, leads to the appearance and changes in the patient’s mood. And regular bouts of poor health, combined with panic attacks, exacerbate the situation.
The main signs of depression against the background of VSD include:
- progressive weight loss;
- slowing down of movements, reducing the speed of work;
- the timbre of the voice becomes quieter;
- hypochondria appears, a deviation from normal health is perceived as a sign of a fatal disease;
- even a little stress leads to a pronounced decrease in working capacity, deterioration of the condition;
- the thread of reasoning is lost in conversations, thoughts become lethargic;
- symptoms of neuroses develop;
- a constant feeling of anxiety, which intensifies when a person is not busy with work or hobbies;
- the quality of sleep worsens – it becomes fragmented, a person wakes up at night, does not feel cheerful in the morning;
- regularly have nightmares or exhausting, plotless passages of visions.
A feature is a decrease in libido. Sexual attraction to a partner is absent, although the physical capabilities for this remain.
Depressive state, at the initial stage, often manifests itself with several subtle signs. Mainly, the patient complains of pain, surges in blood pressure. Identifying the key symptom and understanding the diagnosis is obtained in a conversation with a psychologist, after instrumental follow-up examinations.
At-risk groups
Vegetovascular dystonia is one of the most common syndromes of disruption of the autonomic nervous system. However, not all people who suffer from it are depressed.
Scientists identify risk groups among people prone to depressive disorders, including against the background of VSD:
- adolescents aged 14-17;
- women with hormonal cycle problems;
- alcohol and drug abusers;
- those who have received craniocerebral trauma;
- sensitive people, vividly reacting to stressful situations, changes in their environment;
- people aged 70 and over.
Characteristically, women who are pregnant, or have recently given birth, or have reached a state of menopause suffer from excessively gloomy moods.
The formation of such groups does not mean that the disease is excluded in men and other people who are not included in the risk category. In fact, even optimistic individuals are not immune from such a state. Since the mechanism of the onset of dystonia does not necessarily depend on the psychological state, temperament of a person.
How to distinguish VSD from depression?
To clarify, the patient’s VSD or depression, to identify the differences, the psychologist will be able to after conducting psychophysiological tests and research.
Trying to distinguish between these two conditions on your own is not worth it. Being engaged in self-diagnosis, a person plunges into the negative, tends to focus on the negative. The altered state of the psyche makes it difficult to impartially analyze your state.
It is necessary to differentiate the two diagnoses. Since, if a depressive state is a symptom of VSD, then you can get rid of it only by normalizing the work of the autonomic system. In the case of “independent” depression, treatment takes place under the guidance of a psychologist or psychiatrist. And it requires the use of special means, psychotherapy.
Typical manifestations of depression, in contrast to VSD, are:
- anticipation of trouble;
- irritability;
- sleep disturbances, insomnia;
- decreased sexual desire;
- deterioration in intelligence;
- apathetic state, reduced social contacts;
- tendency to abuse alcohol, drugs;
- a constant overwhelming feeling of guilt or self-worthlessness;
- anhedonia – lack of positive emotions in severe cases.
A psychotherapist is able to distinguish between the two states. Attempts to diagnose yourself, start treatment without additional examination, will lead to a deterioration of the condition, progression and the appearance of new deviations from the norm.
Methods of prevention and treatment
In the process of diagnosis, it is critically important to separate the VSD with depressive symptoms from pure depression. Since these pathological conditions require a different approach to treatment.
At the disposal of a professional psychotherapist, there are ways to distinguish VSD from depression. If physical manifestations of unstable work of the body systems are detected, a complete examination is mandatory.
Additional instrumental techniques and consultations with narrow specialists make it possible to remove questions of diagnosis. And choose the appropriate treatment for the case.
After an accurate diagnosis is made, therapy is prescribed. To begin with, if the disease is mild, they try to cure the patient without the use of medications:
- individual, group psychotherapy sessions;
- trainings on getting out of a painful state;
- art therapy, dancing, sports section.
Medicines are used in case of severe symptoms. Then, when the manifestations of either VSD or depression, significantly worsen the quality of life.
- Antidepressants prescribed by a doctor are not recommended to take such drugs on their own.
- A constant feeling of fear, regular panic attacks, sleep problems are a reason to prescribe tranquilizers.
The speed of recovery is influenced by the establishment of the cause of the condition, finding the right motivation to work on oneself. In some severe cases, inpatient treatment is necessary.