How to behave correctly?

Look after yourself. It is well known that you don’t need to look a wild animal in the eye. Anyone holding a machine gun in their hands should not give a damn about their shoes. If you see a drunk crowd on a dark street, at least cross to the other side of the street. That is, do not provoke. And anything can be a provocation, including your very existence in this world.
Specifically - correspond to the time, place, circumstances. Set an example of kindness and humility. If you are a warrior, fight valiantly, but do not stab him in the back. If you are a teacher, moderate your teacher's verbal fervor - teach by example. If you are a moderator, also show an example of strict adherence to the rules and an unbiased attitude towards users.

Remember, peace on the planet depends only on you. It is this position that will make you invulnerable.

Comments

If only it were all like this, and not like brotherhood. And so, everything is fine. Men respect strong people.

That's how it is, by and large. And the chickens are counted in the fall. The fruits of some of our actions will come much later, and we will not always be able to evaluate them correctly. And we will bless: “For what-oooo???!”)))

★★★★★★★★★★

Exacerbations of mental illness caused by weather factors are usually observed in spring and autumn. They are called seasonal.

When a seasonal exacerbation occurs in a mentally ill person, those around them should treat this type with caution and in no case provoke it, since the disease from a sluggish form can go into a violent stage, when the patient no longer controls his behavior, commits inappropriate actions and simply rushes at others. Such a mental patient poses a real danger to others

The patient’s relatives must urgently and urgently arrange for him to see a psychiatrist. The sooner you contact a psychiatrist, the greater the chance of putting the disease into remission (it is impossible to cure a mental illness).

During periods of risk of exacerbation of mental illness (spring, autumn), it is advisable to take measures to protect the patient from intellectual activity, prevent the patient from watching television, and take away his computer.

Despite the fact that during a seasonal exacerbation of mental illness the patient is inadequate, he knows perfectly well when and where he can allow himself to rage and attack others. Mentally ill people feel physical strength very well, and as soon as they encounter sharp reactions to their behavior, they quickly subside, as they are afraid of physical violence from a physically stronger opponent. The same can be said in the transfer of norms sense.

That is, when you meet a person whose behavior makes it clear that he is mentally ill and his illness has worsened, it is best to refrain from contact with him. But if contact has already taken place, then it is necessary to show the psycho that you are not afraid of him at all. As soon as the psycho feels that there is a chance to “get”, he quickly calms down and tries to leave.

Instructions

Schizophrenia is one or a group of polymorphic mental disorders involving thought processes and emotional reactions. This mental illness manifests itself in the form of hallucinations, delusions, social disorientation, behavioral reactions and other signs indicating a mental disorder in the personality of a particular person.

It is curious that these are not always clearly manifested. There are people who work, go on vacation and just live a full life, and those around them do not suspect anything. Typically, patients with mild cases are prescribed outpatient treatment: special medications that need to be taken under conditions. However, there are also “pitfalls” here: some people with schizophrenia stop taking them after some time, and with the onset of cold weather (autumn) they experience an exacerbation of their illness.

When does autumn exacerbation of schizophrenia occur? As mentioned above, it occurs in the fall, namely in September. There are two factors that cause an exacerbation of schizophrenia in the autumn-September: this, of course, is a lack of certain vitamins and a noticeable deficiency of sunlight. Since the exacerbation of mental illness begins already in September - a period still rich in vegetables, fruits and sunlight, the factors influencing this can be completely different. By the way, at the same time, some people suffer from various depressions.

It is worth noting that an exacerbation of this disease can occur not only in the fall, but also in the spring. Some doctors are confident that during these two periods, attacks of mental disorders pose a clear threat to the patient’s life. That is why medical workers strictly warn: at this time you do not need to stop taking certain medications prescribed by the doctor. There is no escape from this - you need to come to terms with it, otherwise you can make a mess.

By the way, if you delve into the details of the causes of exacerbation of mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, you will notice that not everything is as simple as it seems. In addition to vitamin deficiency and lack of sunlight, there are other factors that influence the autumn exacerbation of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses: changeable weather, climate change, changes in human biorhythms, hormonal changes in the body, pressure changes in the atmosphere, etc.

No self-medication! If a person is at risk, then he should not self-medicate at all. In case of autumn exacerbations of schizophrenia (and other mental disorders), it is necessary to urgently visit a doctor! The fact is that often, due to the autumn exacerbation of this disease, a sick person begins to be soldered using all sorts of witchcraft methods. This will only make the situation worse.

Video on the topic

With schizophrenia, as with other mental disorders, it is very important to stabilize the sick person. Since this disease is currently considered incurable and inevitably leads to personality deformation, maintaining remission and reducing the number of relapses is paramount.

For schizophrenia, a change in “light periods” and exacerbations is typical. When the disease is just beginning to develop, the moments of relapse may not be very bright and cause insufficient anxiety in the person. However, over time, the problem becomes obvious, and constantly occurring exacerbations lead to serious consequences. If you do not try to correct the condition, do not treat schizophrenia, if you ignore any suspicious signs even at first, you can provoke a very rapid deterioration of the condition.

What are the dangers of constant exacerbations of schizophrenia?

The more often a person falls into a state of psychosis, the faster personality changes begin to increase. Rapid progress leads to a noticeable deterioration in life, threatens physical health and can result in death if at one moment the patient, unable to cope with everything that is happening, decides to commit suicide.

Regular relapses lead to more frequent hospitalizations. On the one hand, being in a hospital can help bring the patient into long-term remission. On the other hand, a constant stay within the walls of a hospital does not benefit a person’s state of mind. In addition, with frequent hospitalizations, including compulsory ones, financial costs may also increase.

When a person with schizophrenia regularly experiences exacerbations, he becomes more and more withdrawn into himself. Painful anxiety, irrational fear, constant worry, negative thoughts and obsessions become increasingly stronger and worsen overall well-being. Often, frequent exacerbations become the causes of severe depression in schizophrenia. Detachment from the world and others leads to loneliness and further fuels the disease.

Also, the negative aspects of regular relapses include:

• difficulties in achieving complete remission;
• reducing the time of “light intervals”;
• difficulties during the recovery period;
• faster loss of skills, abilities, abilities;
• a sharp decrease in self-esteem and the dominance of suicidal thoughts in the patient’s mind;
• tendency to self-harm (intentionally causing physical harm to oneself).

What can provoke frequent exacerbations

The reasons why the well-being of a patient with schizophrenia rapidly deteriorates are most often the following:

1. refusal of therapy;
2. independent adjustment of the dosage of medications or their complete elimination (refusal to take them);
3. excessive physical activity or, on the contrary, an apathetic and passive lifestyle;
4. various types of intoxication;
5. use of psychotropic substances, alcohol, various nervous system stimulants;
6. somatic diseases, there are times when even a simple cold can cause an exacerbation of mental illness;
7. moving to another country, changing climate and time zones;
8. sudden changes in normal life, abandonment of the normal daily routine;
9. stress, severe emotional shock, prolonged nervous/psycho-emotional tension;
10. overheating or hypothermia.

Signs of an approaching relapse of the disease

As a rule, the signs look the same at the beginning of the disease, with the development of pathology and in a situation of sluggish schizophrenia. However, their severity can gradually progress and increase.

A common sign of an impending relapse is changes in the usual daily routine. A person may begin to sleep poorly, and then even experience persistent insomnia. Taste sensations change, hunger is not felt or, conversely, an uncontrollable appetite appears.

Before an exacerbation, the patient may become very twitchy, agitated, overly anxious and restless. However, there are cases when schizophrenia also manifests itself through a complete loss of strength, constant drowsiness, apathy, overly expressed depressive thoughts and thoughts about imminent death (independent of the patient himself or achieved through suicide). Any sudden changes in behavior and relationships with the world and other people should alert you, since this can also be a sign of approaching psychosis in schizophrenia.

The following points can also indicate an upcoming relapse:

• strange – on the verge of delirium – reasoning, ideas, stories;
• difficulties in formulating thoughts, problems with writing (letters falling out, changing endings, loss of words in a sentence, and so on);
• changes in emotional background;
• difficulties in carrying out daily activities and responsibilities, problems at work or school, inability to focus, concentrate, or be attentive.

Often, when an exacerbation approaches, schizophrenics flatly refuse to continue treatment for their illness, do not take medications, and do not visit their doctor. Gradually, the patient may become violent, aggressive, irritable and angry.

In spring, nature begins to awaken from a long winter sleep. Very often at this time there are sharp changes in air temperature and atmospheric pressure. All these changes in weather conditions have a great impact on the physical and emotional state of a person.

Body aches, headaches, feeling tired, frequent colds, bad mood - all these are consequences of the arrival of spring. And if colds and headaches can be dealt with quite easily with the help of medications or medicinal herbs, then with mood swings and depression everything is much more difficult. So, let's answer two questions: why do mental illnesses worsen in the spring and is it worth contacting a specialist at the first symptoms of these diseases?

Why do they arise?

In spring, mental illness occurs for the following reasons:

Overvoltage. As a rule, it is in the spring that people begin to actively make plans for the future and implement those that have already been outlined. These include household (washing winter clothes, washing windows, replanting plants, etc.), and financial (where to go for the summer, how much money to spend on buying new things for the summer), and work issues. With increasing daylight hours, people usually begin to work more actively, their working hours increase, as a result of which sooner or later such work zeal results in chronic fatigue, overwork and depression.

Bad environment. Dirty water and polluted air can greatly undermine a person’s physical and emotional health. Of course, most germs and viruses are destroyed by the immune system, but in the spring this defense is especially vulnerable. During periods of sudden temperature changes, people are especially susceptible to various diseases. After another fight with bacteria, the immune system becomes weaker, and the nervous system is very tense, which can cause the onset or exacerbation of mental illness.

General apathy. A person's mood is greatly influenced by the emotional mood of his environment. If all his relatives, colleagues and even passersby walk as if half asleep and are in an apathetic state, then these feelings will be transmitted to him. At the same time, the mental state becomes worse also because a person often uses alcoholic drinks and drugs as a cure for depression and depression, which in fact only worsen the situation.

Who is exposed to them?

Experts are confident that everyone can survive the spring exacerbation. But there are certain categories of people for whom this is not easy. These include:

Pensioners. In older people, the immune system is weakened, and mental illnesses actively take advantage of this “weakness.”

Teenagers. The hormonal background of young people is very unstable. Hence the frequent mood swings, outbreaks of aggression, apathy, and irritability. All these negative factors cause the development of depression.

Sick and physically weakened people. There is no point in talking about the weakened immunity of a sick or recently ill person. During and after illness, the body experiences a deficiency of vitamins and microelements, so hunger strikes, diets and other abstinence from nutritious food are unacceptable here.

People whose profession involves communicating with people. Business managers, customer service managers, cashiers, sales consultants and representatives of some other “social” professions are most susceptible to stress. Very often, some kind of disputes and disagreements arise between people, which in the language of psychologists can be safely called work stress. And such stress gradually accumulates and leads to the development of depression.

What are we dealing with?

In spring, the following mental illnesses most often worsen:

Depression. A depressive state is provoked by insufficient production of certain hormones during periods of changing daylight hours, as well as changes in air temperature and atmospheric pressure, excessive physical activity, fatigue and overexertion at work.

Symptoms of depression: insomnia, decreased libido, apathy, lack of appetite, anxiety, general weakness, feeling tired even in the morning.

If no measures are taken to treat depression, it will become chronic over time.

Psychosis, paranoia, neurosis, schizophrenia. These and some other diseases, which, as a rule, worsen in the spring, are chronic, that is, they cannot be completely cured. The manifestations of these diseases can be reduced and the symptoms can be suppressed only under the supervision of a doctor in a special clinic. Psychotherapy and drug therapy are often used to treat these diseases.

Exogenous mental disorders. The cause of an exogenous disorder is not an internal, but an external (exogenous) factor, namely: alcohol, drugs, medications, toxic substances, head injuries, radiation, etc.

In the spring, you should completely abandon or minimize the use of substances to which a person may become dependent.

How to eliminate the aggravation?

Depression and some non-chronic mental disorders can sometimes be managed at home. In spring, you need to spend more time in the fresh air, play sports, get good sleep, and eat more vegetables and fruits. If the symptoms do not subside, then you should visit a doctor, who will formulate an individual course of treatment.

For clarification, we contacted psychotherapist Boris Suvorov.

What is spring to blame?

The concept of “spring exacerbation” really exists. But the use of this term is more appropriate among specialists, doctors say. In the popular imagination, the significance of this phenomenon is exaggerated. Yes, some mental illnesses have a pronounced seasonality, for example, bipolar affective disorder (or so-called “manic-depressive psychosis”), cyclothymia, and some forms of schizophrenia. But there is no pronounced seasonality in the manifestation of most emotional disorders. People are accustomed to attributing a lot to the “spring exacerbation”, while the patient’s condition is affected by any stress, and not just that which he experiences with the onset of spring.

By the way, what is spring to blame? It would seem that this is winter, when it is cold, cloudy, short daylight hours can lead even a healthy person to depression. And in the spring there is more sun, nature awakens - there are so many reasons for joy!

In fact, spring stress is associated not so much with the onset of spring, but with the winter being too long in our latitudes. As a result of the long winter, we have a lack of vitamins and general exhaustion of the body. In addition, during the off-season our metabolism changes, affecting the release of neurotransmitters. If in the fall the body prepares for winter and all processes in it slow down, then in the spring they accelerate, and often quite sharply. The healthier a person is, the easier he adapts to these changes. Sick people (not only mentally, all chronic diseases in general worsen in the spring) suffer them more severely. Much also depends on the characteristics of the nervous system: the more mobile it is, the more emotionally unstable a person is and the worse he tolerates stress.

Keep your distance

How can mentally ill people and their loved ones prepare for a spring exacerbation?

Patients who are seen by a psychiatrist usually go to the hospital themselves at this time. Those who, being in an inadequate condition, refuse hospitalization are forcibly admitted to the clinic. In mild cases - for example, with cyclothymia - hospitalization is not necessary, but a sanatorium, preferably located somewhere in a warm region, will be useful. In general, in relationships with the patient, taking into account the peculiarities of the period of exacerbation, it is better for loved ones to temporarily increase their distance - in order to avoid unwanted excesses. And if a person is clearly mentally ill, but has not yet been seen by a doctor, it’s time to contact him.

How likely is it to meet a person in a state of exacerbation of mental illness in the spring on the street or in transport? Doctors believe that the danger should not be exaggerated; patients in this condition are most likely in a psychiatric hospital. But, if you still notice a person nearby behaving inappropriately, it is better to step aside and under no circumstances enter into discussions or arguments with him.

Is there any way to protect yourself from emotional disorders? Those people who have already been diagnosed need to consult their doctor. Others who are simply emotionally unstable can be advised to drink natural sedatives, sold in pharmacies without a prescription. They will help normalize the overall emotional background without causing unwanted side effects. In general, any person should pay more attention to their health in the spring: do general strengthening procedures, exercise, take multivitamins, and monitor proper nutrition. If your state of mind does not improve, you can always seek psychological help.

On autumn days, old people who have lost their minds hurry to leave home to visit their long-dead relatives. Schizophrenics stop taking their medications and soon relapse. What drives people crazy?

It is traditionally believed that there are two main reasons for autumn exacerbations. This is a lack of sunlight, due to which the body produces little melanin and a deficiency of vitamins. Almost everything is not so simple - the autumn exacerbation of depression and mental illness begins in September, when it is still quite light, fruits and vegetables are plentiful and cheap. Lack of melanin and vitamin deficiency should not be discounted, but it’s not just them.

Nowadays, the climate is changing; sharp weather changes, changes in atmospheric pressure, strong winds and rains are increasingly occurring at the boundaries of the seasons. Psychiatrists know that during a storm, thunderstorm, or cold snap, patients become more restless, experience anxiety and fear. With age, up to a third of the adult population begins to suffer from weather dependence - it is not surprising that they get worse in the fall.

The biological clock also plays a role - in the summer the body is in an active phase, storing nutrients, preparing for reproduction, in the winter it does its best to save resources so that it has enough strength to escape from cold and hunger. The transition from summer to winter is inevitably accompanied by hormonal changes, and any change in hormonal levels affects your mood. We should not forget that the cold itself has a depressing effect on a person.

If we consider the psychological aspects, autumn reminds people of approaching old age and inevitable death. Until recently, everything around was green, blooming and bearing fruit - and now, instead of a feast of colors, a dull slush sets in, the gentle warmth is replaced by a dank cold, and ahead is a “little death”, hibernation. Dull weather, bare tree branches, nasty rain - all this awakens a feeling of loneliness and hopelessness. But such an unbalanced state also has its strengths - for people of art, a certain imbalance of emotions leads to bursts of creative activity, and scientists, more often than not, manage to look at a problem from an unexpected angle and make a discovery.

Who should be wary of autumn exacerbation, depression and blues? At risk are people suffering from weather sensitivity, vegetative-vascular dystonia, bipolar disorder, chronic depression, hysteria, those recovering from severe operations and illnesses, those who have recently suffered a severe concussion, meningitis, encephalitis, severe stress, the loss of a loved one, pregnant women, women in labor and breastfeeding. A slight “seasonal” decrease in mood can be observed in people with a melancholic temperament, asthenia, schizoid and epileptoid personality traits.

It is useless to fight autumn depression - you will only waste your energy. But, of course, you can protect yourself from troubles. The best medicines are warmth, light and bright colors. Try not to freeze, dress for the season, and don’t skimp on electricity for heaters. Fluffy shawls and blankets, soft sweaters and scarves, knitted granny socks and warm slippers are wonderful antidepressants. Cover the bed with a red blanket, place a yellow vase on the nightstand, hang garlands of peppers, colorful onions, and small pumpkins around the kitchen. Light candles in the evenings - our ancestors knew for sure that living fire drives away anxiety and fear.

Be sure to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner - no snacks. Strong coffee can be replaced with hot linden tea with honey and a sunny slice of lemon - the sweet smells will immediately remind you of summer. Fiery soups and borscht give strength and warm you in bad weather. Sea fish contains precious Omega-3 fatty acids - no blues are scary with them.

To find peace and confidence in the future, try to turn to the experience of your ancestors - start stocking up. Slowly, without rushing, cook several varieties of autumn jam and pour it into the bowl with your own hands. Preserve several jars of cucumbers or honey mushrooms, lay out mushrooms, apples or plums to dry, and put a bag of selected potatoes in the pantry. This will create a feeling of security, the subconscious will no longer be afraid of hunger. And painstaking, meditative manual work will help you relax and take your mind off bad thoughts.

Try to provide yourself with as many positive emotions and vivid impressions as possible. In good weather, take a walk in the beautiful parks, admiring the rich colors of the foliage. Visit gyms and gyms, ride a bike, dance - movement stimulates the production of endorphins. Pet fluffy cats and shaggy dogs, ride a horse - communication with a horse, according to hippotherapists, stabilizes the psyche. Watch comedies and cartoons, good fairy tales with your children. Read good books, science fiction novels and funny detective stories. Go to the circus and admire real magic. Finally, try to turn autumn into Boldinskaya - write poems, stories, draw, compose music. Creativity will help you express your overwhelming feelings.

Avoid whiners, complainers, emotional vampires, insensitive and cold people. Avoid conflicts, especially with close friends, and sort out grievances and disappointments alone. Avoid idleness, aimless pastime, boring and lonely evenings. The more active you spend your days, the harder it is for the blues to get to you!

Read the questions and mark which point you agree with.

1. I quarrel with friends, colleagues, relatives

a) never – I adore them!

c) almost every day;

d) several times a day.

a) small and restless;

b) 7-8 hours, no problem;

c) 6-7 hours, restless;

d) I feel either insomnia or drowsiness.

3. I have a hard time waking up in the morning and feel sad or angry.

a) never - I’m like a cucumber in the morning;

b) only on weekdays;

c) quite often;

d) I hate the morning!

4. While working (both in the office and at home), I get distracted by trifles and take unnecessary breaks.

a) why – it’s better to finish quickly;

b) happens if the work is boring;

c) I pull to the last;

d) I have already started to get into trouble because of such delays.

5. Lately I get tired easily

a) except to sit still;

b) no, everything is as usual;

d) I don’t have time to rest at all.

6. I have dark, heavy thoughts.

a) I only heard about them from whining friends;

b) occasionally, if there is a reason;

c) unfortunately, quite often;

7. Something hurts or aches – my head, stomach, back, joints

a) no, I’m not complaining about my health;

b) happens occasionally;

c) yes, it often hurts;

d) all the time he worries about one thing or another.

8. People around me think badly of me, discuss and judge me behind my back.

a) everyone thinks well of me;

c) noticed occasionally;

d) they constantly whisper behind my back.

9. I've been hearing voices in my head lately.

a) why are you asking about this?

c) no, but I am visited by obsessive, seemingly alien ideas;

10. From hopelessness and autumn melancholy I want to say goodbye to life

a) it is better to kill someone;

c) yes, such a desire arose;

d) often, I struggle with this.

6-15 points - you are completely healthy, the maximum that threatens you is a slight autumn blues.

16-24 – you have autumn depression. Consult a psychologist, especially if you scored high on questions 6-10.

25 or more – your mental health is in great danger. Be sure to consult a psychologist; you may need the help of a psychiatrist, sanatorium or medication treatment.

5 points or less - your optimism is impressive, but most likely you are in the manic phase of bipolar disorder - a person cannot be so happy without a reason. If you are not a newlywed or an enlightened monk, consult your doctor.

Seasonal exacerbations of psychiatric diseases

IsraClinic consultants will be happy to answer any questions on this topic.

Causes of autumn and spring exacerbations

Disease Prevention

Paranoia is a state of constant anxiety, suspicion, pathological jealousy, crazy ideas and hallucinations. The first signs of the disease are manifested by minor oddities in behavior, changes in character - the patient shows aggression towards others, spoils relationships with loved ones, begins to get carried away by unusual ideas and isolates himself from the whole world. Relatives of the patient turn to specialists when the symptoms become acute and the patient can harm himself and others.

The problem of children's fears is quite common; almost all parents face it. Fears can be real and groundless - a child can be influenced by environmental factors (family violence, difficult relationships with peers) and neurotic disorders (fears are free-form, arise without a real threat or preconditions). Experts note that if a child is afraid of something, it is important to consult a psychologist; ignoring the problem can subsequently lead to deviations.

Patients with borderline personality disorder quite often show a tendency towards deviant behavior and the use of alcoholic beverages and drugs. They are also prone to self-harm and may threaten suicide. It is necessary to understand that such a disorder cannot be cured in one session with a doctor - constant monitoring by a psychiatrist and the use of psychocorrective medications are necessary. Also, considerable importance should be given to psychotherapy. A psychiatrist selects pharmacological medications and prescribes psychotherapy depending on the current clinical picture.

Panic attacks can hardly be called a specific disease; it is rather a state of consciousness during which a person feels intense fear, anxiety and excitement. There are many methods to combat panic; home methods are also quite effective. In particular, it is recommended to take a contrast shower, engage in meditation, exercise, massages and practice proper breathing techniques. Healing herbal infusions, such as those made from chamomile, also have a good effect. It is advisable to exclude harmful foods and alcohol from the diet.

Causes and symptoms of exacerbation of schizophrenia

When schizophrenia worsens, characteristic symptoms appear. Often exacerbations are seasonal, but can also occur for other reasons. In this case, the patient should be hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital as soon as possible.

Schizophrenia: general information

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that is endogenous in nature. This means that certain internal reasons are a factor in its development.

This disease is characterized by a continuous or paroxysmal course, as a result of which a change in personality occurs.

The following symptoms are characteristic of this disease:

1. Positive. This group includes signs that are unique to a sick person. We are talking primarily about delusions and hallucinations.
2. Negative. This group includes signs that, on the contrary, are inherent in a healthy person, but are absent in the patient. These include emotional disorders (decrease or complete disappearance of emotions), lethargy, the desire to protect oneself from any contact with the outside world, loss of interest in life, mood swings, catatonic syndrome, indifference to one’s appearance, and inability to adapt to society.
3. Disorganized. This is the loss of the ability to think, act and speak logically. In patients, these signs manifest themselves in slow speech and movements, jumping from one topic to another in conversation, incoherent or meaningless thinking. Often a person does not understand the meaning of what he sees and hears every day and cannot make decisions.

Schizophrenia is the most common of all mental illnesses.

Period of exacerbation of schizophrenia

The exacerbation phase of the disease is marked by the entry of the sick person into a state of acute psychosis. In turn, psychosis is a sudden change in the emotional background (state) and behavior of the patient. These disorders are destructive, affecting not only the patient and his quality of life, but also the people around him. In a state of exacerbation of schizophrenia, patients:

• cannot adequately contact the outside world and themselves;
• lose touch with reality;
• do not understand what is happening around them;
• are not oriented in space and time;
• don't understand their place in the world.

In general, patients do not understand what is happening to them. The condition is aggravated by the inconsistency of emotions, delusions, and hallucinations, which are the patient’s guideline according to which he acts. It is also important that in a state of exacerbation all mental changes that occur with this disease intensify. A person becomes even more withdrawn, distrustful, suspicious, and absolutely loses the ability to critically evaluate what is happening, including to himself.

In this state, patients cannot make adequate decisions, so people from their immediate environment must take responsibility. They must respond adequately to the exacerbation of schizophrenia in the patient and hospitalize him in a psychiatric clinic as soon as possible. This is explained by the fact that in this state, patients pose a potential danger both to themselves and to the people around them, since they are even capable of antisocial actions.

Symptoms of exacerbation of schizophrenia

It is worth noting that in a state of psychosis, characteristic signs appear that make it possible to notice the onset of an exacerbation. These signs include:

1. Behavior change. The person behaves pretentiously and eccentrically, drawing attention to himself.
2. Hallucinations. Usually voices with a hint of criticism or commentary.
3. Closedness. The patient focuses only on himself and what is happening inside him.
4. Emotional background. On the one hand, a person experiences increased anxiety and helplessness. On the other hand, his emotions are mutually exclusive. The same goes for desires and actions.
5. Feeling of external influence. It seems to patients that someone is influencing their body, thoughts, and motives from the outside.

As a rule, the exacerbation phase begins with characteristic signs. The following symptoms will help recognize the onset of a relapse:

1. Emotions. The person feels anxious, restless, and suddenly begins to rush about.
2. Ignoring. The patient isolates himself from society, for example, locks himself in a room, does not react if other people approach him, etc.
3. Catatonic syndrome. The patient may freeze in unnatural and uncomfortable positions for a long time or, on the contrary, remain in a state of excitement.
4. Aggressiveness. A person becomes irritable, even the slightest reason can cause anger and aggression.
5. Sleep and appetite disturbances. The patient may suffer from insomnia, suffer from nightmares, and lose appetite.
6. Bad habits. If the patient smokes or drinks alcohol, these habits get worse. If they were not there before, a person may start drinking alcohol or smoking.
7. Speech activity. The patient begins to talk to himself and comes up with meaningless words. Speech becomes incoherent and illogical.

Patients during an exacerbation often feel that they are endowed with some kind of superpowers, for example, they can read minds, see the future, etc. They may also feel that they are in another world or dimension, ascribe to themselves a different social status; to feel that someone is following them, watching them, trying to do something bad.

Patients experience sudden mood swings. Anxiety can, for no reason, be replaced by unbridled fun and joy; feelings of omnipotence and chosenness can suddenly change to feelings of guilt, etc.

The duration of the exacerbation period is from 6 to 8 weeks, but can last longer. The sooner the patient receives qualified care in the hospital, the faster his condition will stabilize.

Causes of exacerbation of schizophrenia

Even the most insignificant cause can lead to a relapse of the disease. This is the difficulty of preventing exacerbation. Among the most common reasons, doctors identify the following:

• stress;
• conflict or instability in the family;
• alcohol abuse;
• external stimuli, for example, sharp sounds, too bright light.

That is, factors that a healthy person does not even pay attention to can seriously unsettle a patient. The disease can also worsen during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes in the body.

Another factor is seasonality. Medical statistics have already proven that in the autumn-spring period the number of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in special medical institutions increases.

Patients with a fur coat-like or paroxysmal-progressive form of the disease are more susceptible to autumn and spring exacerbation. When the length of daylight hours changes, the body’s biorhythms and habitual way of life change. This reaction of the body of a sick person is explained by the fact that jet lag immediately affects the functioning of the central nervous system and the production of hormones that regulate the functioning of the entire body.

Even healthy people are susceptible to seasonal mood swings. The only difference is that a healthy person can control his emotions, switch to interesting activities, without allowing himself to become discouraged. Unlike healthy people, mentally ill people are not capable of this.

In autumn and spring, patients experience mood swings.

This is explained by the fact that fur coat-like schizophrenia is precisely characterized by a mood swing from a depressive to a manic state. The seasonal factor further enhances the manifestation of these conditions. In psychiatric practice, these seasonal changes are called seasonal affective disorder or SAD.

Why does mental illness worsen in the autumn-spring period?

A person is, first of all, a biological being and the vital activity of his body is subject to circadian rhythms. The change of day and night, seasons - affect the course of internal processes, including the mental activity of the human body.

Cyclicity of mental processes

The cyclical nature of the human psyche is observed not only normally, but also manifests itself in the form of exacerbation of various endogenous diseases. With the onset of cold weather and shortening daylight hours in the autumn, the number of mental patients in hospitals increases. Mental illnesses are chronic in nature, with phases of exacerbation in the autumn-spring period.

According to statistics, since the beginning of October the number of patients in psychiatric clinics has increased by a quarter. People with increased emotionality perceive more painfully the transition from hot weather to cold and rain, and a reduction in daylight hours. The autumn exacerbation of mental illness is also due to the fact that under the influence of sunlight, people produce serotonin (the pleasure hormone), and when cloudy days occur, the amount of serotonin decreases. Many people experience irritability and emotional instability. The bright colors of summer give way to gray shades, the heavy cloudy sky “presses”, changes in atmospheric pressure and daily rains lead to a person having a feeling of hopelessness, melancholy, and anxiety for his future.

Autumn is a season of exacerbation not only of mental illness, but also of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Fluctuations in atmospheric pressure affect the human vascular system and the neurovegetative regulation of internal organs and systems. In autumn, diseases such as depression, schizophrenia, affective psychoses, and epilepsy worsen.

Seasonal relapse clinic

In the autumn period, not only the number of hospitalizations of patients with endogenous diseases increases, but also outpatient service doctors note an increase in the flow of patients. Some diseases that occurred in a hidden (latent) form, mental disorders manifest themselves fully in the fall. The economic crisis, analysts' forecasts that people's lives will worsen by the end of the year, and the risk of losing jobs and personal savings are causing a wave of mental disorders. Patients with neuroses and panic attacks feel their condition deteriorating, and seizures become more frequent in epileptics. Autumn “blues” are normal for all people; in mental patients, a depressive state can result in suicide.

Patients with depression and various types of psychosis can be dangerous during the autumn period of exacerbations not only for themselves, but also for others. Some patients have ideas that a great danger threatens the entire family or society as a whole. There have been cases in psychiatry where mentally ill mothers could harm their children.

Autumn exacerbation of schizophrenia occurs more often in men. Their productive symptoms increase - delusions and hallucinations. Considering that men drink alcohol more often and in larger doses, the exacerbation of mental illness in them is more pronounced. By their biological nature, men are more aggressive and therefore exacerbation of schizophrenia in the fall is associated with the commission of illegal acts and an increase in the number of traumatic brain injuries.

Some patients with schizophrenia complain to doctors in the autumn that they were attacked by alien voices. Police officers note an increase in citizens' complaints about “a UFO landing in the yard of a house” or “verbal contact with aliens.” It is mentally ill men who become active participants in various demonstrations, revolutions and coups in the country.

Relapse Prevention

The participation of loved ones and relatives in the life of a sick person plays a large role in the prevention of autumn exacerbations. People with mental illness cannot adequately assess their condition, some patients stop taking medications, and men with schizophrenia are prone to alcoholism, which worsens the course of the endogenous disease. Relatives of the patient should refer him for inpatient or outpatient treatment when the first signs of worsening of a chronic mental illness are detected.

Patients with depression, psychosis, and neuroses are often afraid to consult a psychiatrist and try to cope with the symptoms and signs of the disease on their own. Many patients self-medicate, take various medications that were recommended to them by friends or they read information on the Internet. The most important thing is to contact a specialist in a timely manner. Some patients require psychotherapeutic rather than medication assistance.

To prevent seasonal exacerbations of depression and psychosis, a person needs to adhere to a sleep and rest schedule, a balanced diet and take multivitamins. Moderate physical activity (running, swimming) and physiotherapy (relaxing baths, Charcot shower) are recommended. You should refrain from psychostimulating drinks - tea and coffee. The psychotherapist must convince the patient that a depressed state is simply the result of the influence of natural factors on the human body.

During the autumn period, it is recommended to spend more time in the fresh air, take a walk (if the weather permits), change the environment, leave the house more often, do not isolate yourself and your thoughts, go on a visit or to the theater. Chatting with friends and acquaintances will help distract you from negative thoughts. Some people escape from depressive autumn cities and buy a week-long trip to warm countries.

The psychotherapist must help the patient find a way to relax, switch to positive thoughts and active activity in the autumn period.

Why do mental illnesses worsen in the fall?

Doctors say that in the autumn months, especially people who are emotionally sensitive feel worse. Their psyche suffers from the fact that in nature there is a “change of scenery”: the days become cool and rainy, the weather becomes “capricious”. Mental illnesses worsen during this period, which is associated with biological factors.

Seasonal exacerbations: who is most prone to

Psychiatrists say: very emotional people of both sexes face this problem. It is generally accepted that ongoing stress is to blame for the increase in the incidence of mental illness. Many people are afraid of their future; their psyche has difficulty coping with thoughts about the precariousness of their financial situation, lack of stability in society, etc.

The cause of future problems can form in childhood, when a person suffered from an infectious disease, or even earlier - when he was injured during childbirth. In the future, he may be emotionally unbalanced. The psyche is also influenced by operations performed under general anesthesia. Generally speaking, a disruption of the blood supply to the brain of any nature can have such consequences as instability in the emotional sphere.

Why do we react to the changing seasons?

The emotional depression of patients, according to psychiatrists, is due to changes in the state of nature and the length of the day. Experiencing the influence of a number of factors, the nervous system becomes more sensitive. Decreased sun activity, shortened daylight hours, radiation, and changes in the magnetic field lead to poor health and hormonal processes being inhibited.

People's lives proceed in cycles - daily, seasonal, annual. In any case, they will somehow react to the change of seasons, regardless of whether they have mental problems. In the autumn months, the body seems to protest against the fact that there is less sun and more clouds, that nature is slowly dying. The person becomes more emotionally unstable and irritated.

Of course, much is determined by individual psychological traits. If a person has problems with self-esteem, then in the fall he may feel a worsening state of depression and perceive his life as gray and devoid of meaning. However, even completely healthy and self-sufficient people at this time of year begin to feel anxiety and fear, apathy, and turn into more irritable and nervous individuals.

How to prevent exacerbations

An exacerbation of any mental illness is a classic “sign” of autumn. Patients with schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis can experience serious experiences, which sometimes lead to bad consequences. When the exacerbation phase begins, the course of the disease becomes so variable that the behavior of patients is practically impossible to predict. A considerable number of mental illnesses are accompanied by aggression. It can be hidden or open, directed towards oneself or to the outside world.

For preventive purposes, psychiatrists prescribe treatment. If someone close to you has borderline disorder, i.e. suffers from psychopathy or neuroses, diseases the cause of which lies in brain damage, then he should be given increased attention.

Qualified help comes first

If a person does not tell anyone about his problems, he will not be able to solve them. A psychiatrist should come to the rescue, whose task is first of all to establish an accurate diagnosis. Then treatment is prescribed, which is usually complex. Along with medications, procedures aimed at generally strengthening the nervous system and the body as a whole will alleviate the condition. Any contact with water, aromatherapy, massage course are useful. Any stimulating drinks, including black tea and coffee, are undesirable during an exacerbation. The daily routine should be orderly.

Autumn exacerbation of mental illness

Conditions of neurotic and schizophrenic psychoses, which are accompanied by aggression, occur in the autumn period and are temporary. Moreover, all these mental illnesses can last throughout the fall.

Fluctuations in mental state during the autumn exacerbation are due to biological factors. Solar activity decreases, daylight hours are shortened, and the physiological rhythm is disrupted, which affects the nervous system. The activity of the hormonal process decreases, the body's vulnerability increases, and it begins to malfunction.

Many chronic diseases, as well as a number of mental disorders, are characterized by seasonal outbreaks of symptoms. Psychotic disturbances, experiences such as hallucinations and irrational ideas lead to unpredictable behavior. Exacerbations are considered especially dangerous. Where the sick person is at this seasonal time does not matter. It is impossible to predict the course of the disease, since the patient’s condition is not static and varies.

Exposure to stress is the main reason for the increase in the number of mental disorders. The psyche is influenced by many factors, both external - aggression, military operations in the world, terrorist threats, unstable economy of the country, and internal - conflicts with others, fear of the future, anxiety, outbursts of anger (both obvious and hidden), which may lead to aggression. Moreover, such an aggressive state negatively affects others and the patient himself.

Signs of mental disorders

The manifestations of symptoms of a mental disorder are varied and even individual. They can be identified by a person’s appearance and behavioral characteristics. It also happens that the condition does not manifest itself in any way, but at any moment a person can harm himself or others.

People suffering from mental illness cannot control their actions because they live in a world of their own images. Biochemical processes occurring in the brain do not change at the request of a person. The most difficult cases are when the patient hears a voice inside himself that pushes him to take wrong actions, and the person cannot resist obeying.

A clear sign of a change in mental health is a loss of understanding of reality. At these moments the person is not aware of the reality of what is happening. A rich imagination can form ideas and plans, the reality of which a person is unable to evaluate.

How should you react if a loved one begins a period of exacerbation?

Underestimating manifestations of inappropriate reasoning or beliefs is risky. If a person, for example, claims that “two times two equals five,” and begins to prove that he is right. In such a situation, you should not aggravate the conversation with clarifications, but you also cannot argue or change your mind. The optimal reaction is protective. In addition, you need to consult a doctor.

Some symptoms of mental health disorders are easy to identify for loved ones. But, unfortunately, relatives are not always sensitive enough to such human behavior. You need to respect your self-esteem, show care, love and understanding. The following changes in an individual's behavior should be a period of concern:

• if one of the family members has become self-absorbed;
• the person has lost his appetite;
• there were problems sleeping;
• the person stopped communicating with loved ones.

Prolonged self-absorption can cause a severe state of depression and lead to serious consequences.

If such behavior has been noticed, you need to try to attract the attention of this person, start a dialogue, and bring him back to reality. The biggest help will be if you convince the patient to visit a medical facility.

What are the causes of seasonal exacerbations?

It is difficult for the brain to cope with weather changes. Exacerbations apply to patients regardless of gender. But women are more prone to emotions, which leads to the fact that representatives of the fairer sex endure this period more difficult. With age, blood vessels become clogged, brain activity is not as high, and character becomes sharper, which makes it more difficult for older people to tolerate seasonal exacerbations.

The body adjusts to cycles by day, season and year. Therefore, in any season the changes are different. In the spring, irritable emotions, fatigue, and decreased concentration appear. The accumulated exhaustion of the nervous system and physical exertion cause a sharp change in mood.

In winter, the sun rarely comes out, the weather is mostly cloudy, there is not enough sunlight, and the body suffers from vitamin deficiency.

On summer days, it is easy for the body to accumulate resources, but being at the peak of activity, it also quickly uses them up. With the onset of autumn, a person reacts to the gradual reduction of daylight hours, changes in nature, the body senses the onset of winter.

Preventive measures for seasonal exacerbation

When the nervous system is exhausted, restorative drugs and special procedures help. You need multivitamins that contain a large amount of group B, nootopes, and also drugs that improve blood circulation. Tranquilizers, antidepressants, and psychotropic drugs are prescribed by a doctor for irritability or anxiety. But not only pharmaceuticals have an effect. Relaxing massages, water procedures, and auto-training help a lot.

Aromatherapy and soothing herbal teas may also be helpful. Listening to music and watching positive films is a kind of therapy. During periods of exacerbation, it is worth excluding strong black tea and coffee from your diet.

It is recommended to create a daily routine in which to properly distribute work and rest time. But it makes no sense to talk about prevention to people who work irregular hours without breaks with endless rush jobs.

It is important to remember that being alone with problems is difficult even for a completely healthy person. Psychiatric specialists can help in difficult situations, and timely consultation with a doctor will prevent depression.

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Seasonal exacerbations

According to statistics cited by Komsomolskaya Pravda, a quarter of visitors to dating sites suffer from various mental illnesses. In the fall, during the period of seasonal aggravation, these people throw out their depressive thoughts and negative emotions on others, and on the Internet it is much easier to do this and, in addition, remain anonymous. “Previously, in the fall, some of these patients would jump out of windows and throw themselves under wheels. Now these poor fellows are having virtual affairs,” says psychologist and sexologist Vladimir Shakhinjanyan.

Chronic diseases, including a whole group of mental disorders, tend to worsen. Psychotic experiences lead to dangerous behavior, especially during an exacerbation, and do not depend on the location of the sick person. These states can be compared to clouds in the sky, when their shape changes every moment. They vary significantly, so the course and prognosis are unpredictable.

The main reason for the increase in mental illness is constant stress. Fear of the future, difficult economic situation, terrorist attacks, wars, aggression from the surrounding world test the psyche, the most valuable property of a person. Every fourth Russian today needs psychiatric help. Anxiety, overt or hidden anger affect mood, the disorder of which is close to the manifestation of aggressiveness. Aggression can be directed both at oneself and at others.

For endogenous diseases, such as manic-depressive psychosis (MDP) and schizophrenia, seasonal exacerbations are common. I think many people have a story or two about meeting “strange types.” The attitude towards them is usually wary, and the first reaction upon direct contact is complete confusion. It is not clear what to do: either calm the person down, or run away, or immediately call an ambulance.

The fact that we do not know how to communicate with the mentally ill is easy to explain. Nobody taught us this. For centuries they were considered outcasts, subjected to lifelong isolation and even physical destruction. Only at the end of the last millennium the situation began to change for the better. At least in the West, mental patients are considered simply peculiar people, whose only problem is that their thinking and actions do not fit into generally accepted norms.

And yet it is not easy to change established opinions. Every crime committed by a mentally ill person causes wide public outcry. And if it is repeated, indignant cries are heard: “Why was such a dangerous psycho released into the wild?!” At the same time, the question of why a recidivist murderer who has served his sentence is released, does not arise in anyone’s mind. But the overwhelming majority of criminals and murderers are completely sane people, acting out of self-interest, envy, jealousy - in a word, proceeding from motives that are understandable to everyone. Most likely, the increased fear of mental patients is caused precisely by the fact that their actions are unpredictable, and their reaction to the world around them is often inadequate.

The symptoms of mental illness are varied. Sometimes you can immediately determine who you are dealing with by the strange or threatening appearance of the person or his behavior. But it also happens that a person does not show his condition in any way, but at any moment he can cause harm to himself or others. A mental patient cannot control himself, he lives in his own world, the biochemistry of his brain changes regardless of his desires. If he begins to hear voices urging him to kill, he has no choice but to comply. At what point this will happen and whether it will happen at all, no one knows. However, the most severe condition in such patients can last 3 to 4 months. After six months of hospital stay, the exacerbation is relieved, and it makes no sense to keep the person in the dispensary any longer. He goes out to people.

And yet, since no one is immune from meeting a mentally ill person, it would be a good idea to listen to the recommendations of specialists who will help you cope with the situation.

Remember that under no circumstances should the conflict be allowed to escalate. You need to behave calmly and kindly with the patient. People with serious mental illness are extremely sensitive to the emotional climate in their environment. Therefore, you need to pay attention to your behavior and gestures. Be respectful, try to be consistent and direct, maintain a friendly distance, take into account that the person is sick and attribute the symptoms not to him, but to the disease. This tactic is based on basic common sense. Shouting and swearing can drive even a healthy person to white heat.

Mentally ill people often take what they hear too literally. They may misinterpret a joke or evasive phrase and react accordingly.

One of the most pronounced signs of a mental disorder is the loss of the boundaries of reality, when a person cannot understand where he is, does not know who he is, and is poorly oriented in space and time. This condition is typical for alcoholics who are in the stage of delirium tremens, and for people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or have received organic brain damage. The more open and simple you are, the more accessible your explanations are, the better. True, this method may not work with alcoholics: in such a state they become anxious and aggressive, so in this case it is better to call a doctor.

Fluctuations in emotions are generally characteristic of people suffering from alcoholism. When they have a hangover, they experience so-called dysphoria: their mood fluctuates from tenderness (which, however, does not last long) to open malice. The main thing here is not to take the words or actions spoken personally. Consider that these are the person's own problems, offer to return to the conversation next time when he calms down.

Among people with a rich imagination, one can encounter such a phenomenon as fluctuation of intentions. They have a lot of ideas, plans and thoughts that they randomly grasp at, unable to assess whether the idea is real or whether they are building a castle in the sand. Try to be consistent, clearly outline your goals and objectives and stick to one plan, without letting the conversation jump from one topic to another.

Mental patients are very obsessive and affectionate. If you often receive calls from a person whose adequacy you doubt, ask directly if he is seeing a psychiatrist. Otherwise, you can become his regular listener. Keep clinical psychiatry phone numbers handy just in case.

If your interlocutor has difficulty concentrating, try to be brief and repeat what was said. If he is overexcited, a conversation with him will not work. You should limit the information, don't try to explain anything, keep it short, and don't escalate the discussion. “Uh-huh”, “yes”, “goodbye” - these are your tactics.

People often underestimate the danger when conditions such as poor judgment or delusional beliefs manifest themselves. Roughly speaking, they differ from each other in that in the first case a person is sure that “twice two is five,” and in the second he can, in addition, “explain” why this is exactly so. You should absolutely not keep up the conversation or indulge your curiosity: you are not a psychiatrist and you don’t know how a story about aliens or ghosts might end. Your reaction should be primarily protective. Do not argue with the patient, do not expect a rational discussion, but try to persuade him to wait for you and immediately call the “sixth team”. There are no more reliable options for ensuring your own safety.

Mental patients are prone to causeless anxiety and fears, sometimes turning into phobias. Having noted the anxiety of the interlocutor, give him the opportunity to interrupt the conversation and leave. If he experiences fear, you must first of all remain calm yourself.

By the way, all of the tips listed can be useful to you not only in extreme situations, but also in everyday life. Do you know what the doctors themselves say? “People are divided into registered patients, unregistered patients and psychiatrists.” Agree, there is some truth in this saying. And, it seems, quite a lot.

The joke about seasonal exacerbations is actually only part of the joke, the rest is true. Some experts are confident that seasonality can even serve as one of the diagnostic signs of a particular mental problem.

In both spring and autumn, exacerbations of diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract are observed. Psychiatrists believe that this is secondary, since mental disorders are to blame for the surge in internal diseases. It is they that lead to the exacerbation of somatic, in other words, bodily diseases.

Do all mental illnesses become more severe in the fall?

All. If these are severe mental pathologies, for example, schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis, then, knowing about the seasonal danger, psychiatrists, in order to alleviate the next attack, try to provide preventive treatment to patients by this time. The same is done if a person has borderline disorders, such as neuroses, psychopathy and diseases based on brain damage.

What usually causes a generally non-sick person to react to the onset of the fall season?

There are many reasons. If a person suffered some kind of trauma during childbirth or in early childhood or suffered from an infectious disease (influenza, severe intestinal infection, chicken pox, measles), accompanied by delusions or hallucinations, then it is quite possible that in the future he will experience symptoms in the fall and spring. emotional imbalance. And not only infection or injury is fraught with such complications. The functioning of the brain, and therefore the nervous system, is affected by past operations under general anesthesia. And states of hypoxia after someone has burned out in a bathhouse may in the future remind of themselves with certain symptoms, including, for example, signs of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

In other words, everything that leads to disruption of the blood supply to the brain usually subsequently manifests itself as emotional-volitional instability and can lead to seasonal exacerbations. The reason is that the brain may not be able to cope with sudden changes in weather during the transition from one season to another.

How does all this affect a person’s life?

Like any psychological problems - first of all, they depend on communication. For example, depression manifests itself as a hidden refusal to live. And if we see a protesting, irritated person who does not control his emotions, this is nothing more than a nervous breakdown. Psychoanalysts call it clogging of communication channels. For people suffering from one or the other, the peak of exacerbation usually occurs in autumn and spring.

So, if a person suffered something in childhood that affected the functioning of the brain, he will suffer from emotional imbalance all his life in the fall?

Not at all necessary. The child's brain has great compensatory capabilities, and everything can return to normal. But if such emotional instability already exists, parents need to be very attentive to the child and help him.

Who is more susceptible to seasonal exacerbations: women or men, young or elderly?

Seasonal exacerbations do not depend on gender. But since emotional people often suffer from them, and there are more of them among women, it is more difficult for women. As for age, by old age the brain’s resources are exhausted, blood vessels change, and character traits become sharper. All this can lead to seasonal changes in health status.

What is the reason for this reaction of the human body to the change of seasons?

Man generally lives in cycles - daily, seasonal, annual. In this regard, each season should be discussed separately. In the spring, the school and work year ends, and fatigue accumulates. Children this season are affected by increased stress due to the end of their studies and passing exams. It doesn’t even matter whether the child has mental problems at all, his body still reacts to the season.

In winter, daylight hours are shortened, the weather is more often cloudy, and the lack of sunlight affects. The body is also not indifferent to the notorious vitamin deficiency. Spring is the time before the holidays. Irritability, fatigue, and emotional instability accumulated over the year are more common, and the ability to concentrate on something and cope with physical and emotional stress decreases. Nervous and physical exhaustion causes frequent mood swings. Negative thoughts prevail.

As for autumn, at this time, after the summer holiday, fatigue and vitamin deficiency are usually not observed. But in summer the body is at its peak of activity, and just as quickly as it accumulates resources, it also spends it quickly. When autumn comes, we react to even a barely noticeable shortening of daylight hours, to the withering of nature. And this is understandable: the body feels: winter is ahead...

How can a person with such a seasonal reaction manifest himself at home and at work?

It depends not only on certain existing psychological characteristics of the individual, but also on character and upbringing. If a person has low self-esteem and is susceptible to depressive reactions, then depression may begin in the spring and worsen even more by the fall. Emotional, unrestrained, intolerant of others, in the fall he becomes even harsher and more irritable, it is even more difficult for him to curb his emotions, he is even more easily offended, looks for those to blame, and is inclined to make claims to others. In autumn, fears, anxiety, and anticipation of something unpleasant, sometimes frightening, intensify.

I really want summer to never end.

How does all this affect your work?

There are times when performance decreases and even is completely lost. Do you know why most people plan their vacation for the so-called velvet season, late August - early September? This is nothing more than a desire... to prolong summer, to enjoy the sun and warmth.

Does this mean that the polar night increases emotional instability more?

Without a doubt, the northerners have it the hardest. After all, the polar night does not have the best effect on health, including mental health. Many northerners try to relieve stress, anxiety and depression with alcohol. And it is no coincidence that in the north there are higher salaries and pensions and longer vacations.

Pills alone are not enough

How are seasonal exacerbations treated?

There are several approaches. If the nervous system is exhausted (in the spring, before the holidays), then restorative drugs and procedures will help. These are multivitamins with a high content of B vitamins; nootropics - facilitating the work of brain cells under hypoxic conditions: pirocetam (nootropil), glycine, picamilon, pantogam; drugs that improve cerebral circulation, such as Cavinton (vinpocetine), stugeron (cinnarizine). They are usually prescribed to the elderly and those who have had brain disorders.

But you shouldn’t limit yourself to medications. Massage and water procedures (underwater shower, Charcot shower, swimming) provide an excellent effect. Automotive training also helps. But it is better if a specialist chooses the self-hypnosis formulas. Aromatherapy using lavender and peppermint oils may be useful; baths with oils or herbs, soothing teas: with chamomile and mint. Listening to good music or a good movie is also a kind of therapy, especially if you watch it with the whole family.

During periods of exacerbation, stimulating drinks should be avoided: strong black tea and coffee.

It is recommended to adhere to the correct work and rest schedule. Work without emergency, with breaks, at the same time. If a person has gone two years without a vacation, then talking about any other prevention is almost pointless.

“The soul must be treated with feelings, and feelings with the soul”

Is it better to take all your vacation at once or break it up into parts, vacationing twice a year?

It all depends on how you relax. If a woman, while on vacation, exhausts herself every day by preparing set meals, serving her husband, children and guests, then she will not rest. In addition, treatment of emotions must be emotional. It’s good to go out into nature or travel - see other cities, get vivid impressions. Several such days will help a tired body more than a monotonous long vacation. Even if you relax in nature on weekends and communicate with friends, you are already benefiting your health.

As for resting twice a year, it has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

Don't be afraid, I'm with you!

What is the best way to relieve daily stress, stress and fatigue after a working day?

The same water procedures, walks, physical activity. Only walks and exercise should not be exhausting, but pleasant.

If one of your friends or colleagues suffers from emotional instability, how can you help them?

It is advisable to see them in the full sense of the sufferer, and not the attacker. Although it’s not easy when a person accuses you, makes claims, makes trouble. It’s good if others understand that even aggression usually comes from a feeling of one’s own discomfort. Move away from the person at the moment of an emotional outburst, wait until he calms down. Don't respond to insults. You also shouldn’t instruct a crying girl who is depressed and everything is falling out of her hands: “You shouldn’t cry! You have to pull yourself together! Be strong! Moscow doesn’t believe in tears!”

It’s better to offer your help, say that together you can overcome everything, ask what worries her, let her talk it out.

Not everyone can find the right words at such a moment...

You can say: “No matter what happens, you can count on me” or “We will be together when things are difficult for you. I'm on your side (even if the person is wrong). I will protect you. We will find a way out." But you need to be careful when speaking to a person who is in a state of imbalance, so as not to offend him. We mentioned that nervous stress is a clogging of communication channels. Communication needs to be brought back to normal.

It’s not easy to help yourself and others in such a situation.

But that’s what specialists exist for: psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists. A good consultation can help in a difficult situation and get you out of a depressive state. Not all problems can be solved by being alone with them. It is usually more effective when the whole family is consulted. After all, the problems of children are connected with the problems of their parents, and the emotional difficulties of the husband aggravate the imbalance of the wife.

Good results are obtained from special classes in groups where people learn to communicate fully and effectively. We are going to organize such groups for children and teenagers in the new school year at the city gymnasium. There are many specialists in the city who could organize such courses for adults. But for someone to give you a helping hand, you need to show that you won’t push them away...