I Thought It Was Dementia, but It Was Depression
Korean title: 치매인 줄 알았는데 우울증
This summary is available in English. The reader opens in English, and you can switch to Korean, Japanese, Chinese, or French at any time.
Summary preview
Perhaps Happy Dementia, Depression Scarier Than You Think
Depression: The Illness That Takes Away Desire, Appetite, and Laughter
Heavy Today, Heavy Tomorrow: When depressive symptoms persist, the body feels heavy and sluggish. Patients with severe depression say they feel as limp as if they were running a 39-degree fever. With a cold, there is at least the hope that it will pass, but with depression there is no telling when the symptoms will strike again, which makes it all the more hopeless.
The Joy of Eating Is Stolen: Depression suppresses the appetite. You do not want to eat anything, and even when you force yourself, you cannot taste the food. Some people complain of nausea. Even the most basic pleasure of enjoying a meal disappears.
No Matter How Much You Sleep, It Never Feels Like Enough: People with depression sleep poorly at night. The basic patterns are shallow sleep, waking several times during the night, and early-morning awakening, waking at 3 or 4 a.m. and being unable to fall back asleep. Even after sleeping, the fatigue does not lift, and patients plead that they just want to sleep deeply.
Nothing Is Enjoyable: People with depression find no joy in anything they do. Whether they play a game or watch a variety show, it is not fun and they cannot get excited. Depression reduces sexual desire and takes away pleasure in everything.
Contents
- Perhaps Happy Dementia, Depression Scarier Than You Think
- Why Are We More Prone to Depression as We Age?
- How to Tell Apart Depression That Is Easily Misjudged
- Depression Is a Problem of the Brain, Not of Willpower
- Ways of Rethinking That Lift the Shadow from the Mind
- If Someone Precious to You Has Depression in Later Life
- Habits That Prevent Aging of the Mind