Reactive depression: what it is, symptoms and treatment

Reactive depression is one of the mental health disorders that manifests itself after having experienced a traumatic experience, such as the loss of a loved one, the breakup of a relationship, etc The symptoms of reactive depression are similar to those of other types of depression, including sadness, anxiety, and lack of energy, among others.

The uncertainty and discomfort generated by reactive depression may lead to the need to know more about this clinical picture. It is important to have a concrete notion about this disorder to understand how it manifests itself and how to treat it. So, in this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the reactive depression: what it is, symptoms and treatment.

Index

1. What is reactive depression
2. Symptoms of reactive depression
3. Causes of reactive depression
4. Treatment of reactive depression and examples

Reactive depression is a type of depression that is produced

Unlike other clinical pictures of depression, reactive depression has a limited duration and ends by the time the traumatic event is over. In generic terms, this pathology lasts a few months, but it can vary depending on the person.

According to the DSM-V^[1] reactive depression can be included within the group of disorders related to trauma and stressors. To establish a proper diagnosis, the following must be met specific criteria:

• Exposure to traumatic situations, real or imagined.
• lingering memories.
• Nightmares about the stressful event.
• Distress.
• Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic moment.
• Difficulty remembering events.
• decreased interest to participate in social activities.
• Duration of a month or more.
• deterioration in relationships social, labor and/or family.
• The alterations cannot be explained by the intake of toxic substances and/or psychiatric medications.

As we have seen, reactive depression is an emotional response to a stressful event or situation in life, such as a separation, work, financial or health problems. Symptoms of reactive depression can include:

• Sadness feelings and persistent hopelessness.
• Loss of interest in activities that used to be pleasurable.
• Changes in appetite and in weight.
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much.
• Fatigue or lack of energy.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
• Difficult to focus or make decisions.
• recurring negative thoughts of death or suicide.

It is important to note that these symptoms can also be present in other types of depression, so it is essential talk to a mental health professional to get a proper diagnosis and proper treatment plan.

The most common causes of reactive depression can be both environmental and genetic factors. We see them below:

• Environmental factors: It can be any situation that the person has not been able to tolerate, such as loss of a loved one or a significant relationship, financial or employment problems, a serious illness or injury, whether yourself or a loved one, major life changes, such as moving to a new city or having a son.
• Genetic factors: neural connections can be altered after exposure to a stressful event. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to whether cognitive functions work correctly after experiencing a complex situation.

It must be borne in mind that not all people who experience stressful situations develop reactive depression. Individual vulnerability, history of trauma and lack of social support may also influence the likelihood of developing reactive depression.

If you want to get out of a reactive depression, there are various effective strategies to remit the symptoms of this pathology. Discover how to treat this depressive picture with these recommendations:

• psychological therapy: there are effective therapeutic methods for the treatment of reactive depression. Before the appearance of symptoms that imply a difficulty in the development of daily activities, it is important to go to a mental health professional to manage this situation.
• psychiatric medication: the taking of antidepressants it decreases the intensity of the symptoms of reactive depression, since it regulates neural circuits, thus balancing emotional responses. However, it should be noted that the intake of this type of medication should be supervised by a mental health professional.
• Writing: Write down the thoughts and emotions you experience after the traumatic event. In this way, everything that causes discomfort is externalized and it is possible to adopt another perspective on life.
• Healthy nutrition: Establishing an eating pattern based on fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole grains and water is essential to maintain a good energy level.
• Physical exercise: releasing muscle tension allows the generation of endorphins, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being, and reduces pain.

This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Reactive depression: what it is, symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.

1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition). Arlington: Panamerican Medical Editorial.

• Álvarez-Mon, M., Vidal, C., Llavero-Valero, M., Ortuño, F. (2019). Clinical update on depressive disorders. Medicine Magazine, 12 (86), 5041-5051.