By Melancholy is characterized by an exacerbated lack of pleasure, despair, bad mood and discouragement. We invite you to read this article to learn more about the subject.
Melancholy is often confused with nostalgia or sadness, but it is different from them. Over the years, there have been many debates about its position within the field of mental health: is it a unique disorder or just another symptom of depression?
Because of its similarity to depressive disorders, the melancholic state shares many of the causes of these, which makes it more complicated to understand. In order to go into more depth, in this article, we will present one of the possible definitions, its causes and also give some general guidelines for dealing with it.
A little history about melancholy
The term melancholy comes from the Greek µέλαινα χολή ( melaina chole ), meaning ‘black bile’. It has its origins in the theory of the four humors of Hippocrates , who maintained that illness was the product of the imbalance of substances (blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile) or liquids that pass through the body.
Later, in the 2nd century BC, Galen would take up this notion to give form to his theory of temperaments . He postulated that these were the product of the integration of these humors and the predominance of one in particular. In this sense, black bile prevailed in the melancholic and he was characterized by being a sad, introverted, nostalgic, reserved, dreamy person.
During the Middle Ages, melancholic disorder took on a religious and artistic tone; it was even classified as a capital sin. With the arrival of the Renaissance, it was embraced as a symbol of genius, sensitivity and imagination. Today, the DSM-5 classifies it as a specifier for depressive disorders.
In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) conceives of melancholia only as an archaic word it used to designate what is now known as depression. Its position within psychology and psychiatry is highly debated, with some arguing that it is a form of depression, while others claim it is a different type entirely, known as melancholic depression.
Despite institutional and disciplinary differences, there seems to be a common consensus: melancholic disorder is associated with depression. This link is possible because it is considered an integral part of depression, that is, one more characteristic or symptom, or because it is considered as a separate or distinct depressive entity.
What is melancholy itself?
In this space, we will understand melancholia as a specifier for depressive disorders, as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does. A specifier, in this context, is an additional description that is made to offer more detailed information about a diagnosis.
We are not therefore talking about a psychopathological entity distinct from depression . It is rather a characteristic of some depressive episodes or disorders. According to the DSM-5, the melancholic characteristics of a depressive disorder are the following:
- It’s worse in the morning.
- Excessive or inappropriate guilt.
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation.
- Early morning wake-ups.
- Anorexia or significant weight loss.
- Deep discouragement, despair or bad mood.
- Loss of pleasure from all or almost all activities.
- Lack of reactivity to generally pleasurable stimuli (the person does not feel better when something good happens).
What are the causes
Behind this is a complex interaction of biological, psychological and environmental factors. At a biological level, a disconnection between the insula and the attentional networks is observed . This alteration is linked to the poor affective quality of the thinking of melancholics. A study published in Molecular Psychiatry also found that these people have hyperactivity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and higher levels of cortisol.
Regarding psychological variables, this specifier, like any depression, is associated with low self-esteem, excessive self-criticism, pessimism, negative thoughts , maladaptive coping styles, altered perceptions and distortions about oneself, the world and others.
The environment also plays an important role in its appearance. Traumatic experiences, lack of social support, loss of a loved one, interpersonal conflicts and financial difficulties are some environmental factors.
What is the relationship between melancholy and sadness?
Both generate a state of depression and loss of energy that makes the person feel unmotivated to do things. In addition, the two are closely related, to a certain extent, because they cause demotivation, attention problems and lack of interest.
The unhappiness of those who suffer from them is a typical trait that connects them even more. The sad and the melancholic immerse themselves in their pessimistic thoughts and do not see an encouraging future for themselves. Likewise, they can affect, to a greater or lesser extent, social, professional and personal performance.
Although they have some things in common, there are more aspects that separate them. In this sense, a key difference between them is that being sad is a healthy, natural and normal emotion; if it is well regulated, it is not problematic in the long term. Whereas melancholy, understood as a specifier of depressive disorders, is a mental health problem .
Apart from the above, the intensity and negative impact they have on people’s lives is different. While melancholic is more serious and intense, sadness is not as strong and usually passes more quickly – this also depends a lot on the person.
How to deal with a melancholic state
Because it is a specifier of depression according to the DSM-5, the best way to deal with it is to seek professional help. Mental health experts are prepared to design intervention plans against depression and its effects. In addition to that, and with the approval of the psychiatrist or psychologist in charge of your case, it is possible to apply the following recommendations:
- Talk to people you trust: Family and social support networks provide you with resources to help you move forward. The company of people who love you helps you to be more resilient.
- Have a routine with goals: a clear goal in your days provides a greater impetus to get out of the demotivation, disinterest and lethargy of melancholic states. In addition, this way you will be able to focus on something other than your sadness.
- Do pleasant activities: even if you don’t have energy, try to do some activity that connects you with happiness, with people and with yourself. In this way, you will encourage the appearance of pleasant emotions that replace the melancholy.
- Avoid resisting the emotion: It is better to accept emotions , observe them, not judge them, criticize them, and much less regret experiencing them. When you accept them, you let them go and allow them to complete their cycle. On the other hand, the more you resist, the more they persist.
- Take care of your body and mind: do exercises that protect your physical and mental health, eat healthy, sleep well. If your body is not healthy, you will not have the strength to cope. Being in good health not only prevents illness, but also helps you to have greater well-being.
When to consult a professional
You should consult an expert if melancholic disorder significantly impairs your functioning in different areas: personal, relational, professional, academic, etc. If you feel empty all the time and see no meaning in your life, seek help, especially if your emotional well-being is reduced.
Another way to know when to go to a specialist is to examine the quality of your relationships and bonds. If this dimension of your life begins to be disturbed because you isolate yourself, you do not want to spend time with your friends, partners or family and, in addition to that, you have frequent conflicts with them, it is time to go to a professional.
Likewise, if your performance at work is affected because you are unable to concentrate due to feeling blue, ask for support. Lowering productivity may bring negative consequences such as dismissal, which will worsen your condition.
In short, examine the degree and intensity of the negative influence it has on your life. Do not allow it to rob you of the possibility of living fully and enjoying a pleasant relationship with yourself, with others and with the world.
Take care of your mental health!
There are multiple mental health problems that affect people’s lives. One of them is melancholy, a state associated with depressive disorders that is characterized by loss of enjoyment, sadness, agitation or psychomotor retardation, etc.
Behind it there are various psychological, biological and environmental variables that interact with each other and form a problematic network for the well-being of the person. Do not hesitate to ask for help. Fortunately, there are professionals trained to treat this problem and the mood disorders associated with it.