Depression is a broad term commonly used by the general public to describe feelings such as sadness, lack of motivation, or low mood. This state may be short-lived and can be related to everyday life events.

Major Depressive Disorder, on the other hand, is a clinically defined diagnosis in psychiatry and is evaluated according to specific diagnostic criteria. In Major Depressive Disorder, symptoms include a persistently depressed mood lasting at least two weeks, loss of pleasure in life, marked impairment in functioning, and changes in biological functions such as sleep, appetite, and energy.

What Is the Difference Between Major Depressive Disorder and Depression?

In other words, not every feeling of depression qualifies as Major Depressive Disorder; however, Major Depressive Disorder is one of the most severe and persistent forms of depression.

For more detailed information, you may review the article MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER.

A panic attack is a condition that begins suddenly and is accompanied by intense fear or discomfort, along with prominent physical symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, and dizziness. When experienced on its own, a panic attack may occur from time to time in anyone and is not considered a disorder by itself.

Panic Disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by the recurrent occurrence of panic attacks and the persistent fear or worry about having another attack. This condition can severely restrict a person’s daily life and negatively affect work, social, and family relationships.

In other words, a panic attack is a symptom, whereas panic disorder is the condition in which these attacks become recurrent and reach the level of a clinical disorder.

Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of thought, emotion, and behavior. Psychiatrists evaluate both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems and apply the treatment that best meets the individual’s needs.

Throughout the history of psychiatry, the definitions made regarding this field have partly contributed to the development of incomplete or incorrect beliefs about psychiatry. Among all medical specialties, it would not be an exaggeration to say that psychiatry is perhaps the field in which the greatest number of misconceptions have emerged.

The process of naming the discipline has also played a role in the development of these misunderstandings. Although the word “psyche” has many meanings in its translation from English, rendering it solely as “soul” led to the term “Mental Health and Disorders.” This, inevitably, caused some people to develop thoughts such as, “I’m not mentally ill—why should I consult this specialty?”

This perception can lead individuals to develop an undesirable resistance toward psychiatry. Indeed, the belief that consulting a psychiatrist is something to be ashamed of is still widespread in society. Even in today’s information age, the continued presence of people who believe that psychiatry deals only with the treatment of severe mental illnesses—and who maintain this resistance—may stem from psychiatry’s difficulty in adequately expressing itself to the public.

Today, however, it is clearly known that problems in thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors originate from disruptions in brain functions. Scientific studies have demonstrated that such dysfunctions can be treated with medication, a combination of medication and psychotherapy, or psychotherapy alone.

PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS MAY NOT BE SOLELY PSYCHOLOGICAL IN ORIGIN…

Psychiatrists, through the entirety of their medical training, learn to evaluate patients in a holistic manner. Over time, this training is further enriched by the clinical experience they gain from their patients.

When assessing the causes of a patient’s psychiatric condition, psychiatrists adopt a very broad perspective. For example, a psychiatrist evaluates holistically whether the patient’s symptoms are psychological in nature, secondary to difficult life experiences, or caused by another condition that impairs physical health.

It is well known that some psychiatric symptoms and disorders arise not solely from an individual’s psychological state, but also as a cause or consequence of other conditions related to general physical health. For instance, thyroid disorders, neurological diseases, certain tumoral conditions such as brain tumors, rheumatological disorders, immunological diseases, cardiovascular conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, and musculoskeletal diseases may all progress insidiously by producing symptoms that resemble psychiatric complaints.

In some cases, psychiatric symptoms may emerge as a result of the presence of these medical conditions. Certain symptoms of psychiatric disorders (such as fatigue, loss of appetite, palpitations, headaches, and back pain) may either be warning signs of serious medical illnesses or manifestations of purely psychiatric conditions. When patients present with such complaints, specialists in the relevant medical fields may, at times, refer them to a psychiatrist once they conclude that the symptoms are psychological in nature. However, in many cases, these physicians initiate psychiatric pharmacotherapy themselves (most commonly antidepressants).

In fact, the appropriate approach is that when a patient realizes that a medication prescribed by a non-psychiatric specialist (such as internal medicine, cardiology, dermatology, etc.) is a psychiatric medication, the patient should seek consultation from a psychiatrist—the specialist qualified to prescribe and manage such treatments. This approach increases the effectiveness of treatment.

Once it has been determined that symptoms related to organ systems (i.e., with an organic basis) are not present and that the complaints are psychological in origin, the subsequent phase of treatment should be managed by a psychiatrist.

Patients who do not benefit from antidepressants prescribed by non-psychiatric physicians often return to psychiatrists afterward, which leads to a loss of valuable time. What must be remembered is the principle that “There is no disease, only the patient.” Every individual is unique; not every antidepressant is effective for every symptom or every disorder.

The belief that psychiatrists will necessarily prescribe the same medications even when they consider psychological causes is incorrect and stems from insufficient knowledge about the field of psychiatry.

Moreover, we are in agreement that psychiatric medications should not be used solely based on the recommendations of non-psychiatric physicians, nor on the advice of acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, or similar sources; therefore, no further explanation is needed on this matter.

Although this belief has partially diminished due to the steadily increasing number of psychiatrists who practice psychotherapy, it still maintains its place in public discourse. After diagnosing disturbances in a patient’s thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, a psychiatrist determines which treatment method the patient will benefit from (medication, medication + psychotherapy, or psychotherapy alone) and implements the appropriate treatment model.

Some psychiatrists who do not personally provide psychotherapy may refer patients they deem appropriate to another psychotherapist. When evaluated within this framework, it becomes clear that the belief that every psychiatrist always or only prescribes medication to every patient is incorrect.

The notion that psychiatrists constantly prescribe medication to all of their patients is persistently kept on the agenda by certain circles. While there may be many reasons for this perception, one of the most important is the insufficient understanding of the field of psychiatry.

Indeed, it is observed that reactions against psychiatric medications are generally not as intense as reactions toward medications prescribed in other branches of medicine. Although it is acknowledged that the science of psychiatry still has a long way to go in fully understanding how the human brain functions, the existing scientific knowledge cannot be disregarded.

Some of the knowledge gained about how we think and how we experience emotions shows that, in certain cases, symptoms can be alleviated solely through pharmacological treatment. Psychiatrists frequently encounter this reality in their professional practice.

The belief that many psychiatric symptoms can be corrected by individuals on their own merely through thinking often does nothing more than delay patients from seeking professional help. Therefore, the belief that “PSYCHIATRISTS ALWAYS / ONLY PRESCRIBE MEDICATION” is a false one.

The accurate statement should be: “PSYCHIATRISTS PRESCRIBE MEDICATION WHEN NECESSARY.” This is because psychiatrists, as medical doctors, never lose sight of the famous principle of Hippocrates—one of the leading figures of medicine—“Primum non nocere” (“First, do no harm”) when examining and treating each of their patients.

Anxiety is a state of worry, distress, uneasiness, or an unpleasant emotional tension. Normally, anxiety is an emotion that can be experienced by everyone. It serves as a signal that alerts the individual to a potential danger and indicates that precautions should be taken.

Fear is an emotion that serves a similar function. Fear emerges in the presence of a frightening event or object—that is, in a situation of threat—in order to enable the person to take precautions against a possible danger.

Although these two emotions resemble each other, they differ in terms of their underlying causes. In anxiety, the source of the fear that is felt is not clearly identifiable. This makes it difficult for individuals to cope with this emotion, because unlike real fear, there is no concrete cause against which they can take direct action.

The bodily sensations associated with fear and anxiety are very similar. However, the presence of anxiety, over time, begins to lead to behavioral and functional impairments.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in society. In anxiety disorders, the content of the anxiety usually appears in the form of anticipating a threat that may occur in the future.

Patients describe this state as, “I feel as if something bad is going to happen, and I am afraid.” This sense of distress—often without a clearly identifiable cause—is commonly accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, changes in blood pressure, feeling faint or fainting, paleness or flushing of the face, a sensation of not getting enough air, feeling as if one is suffocating, gastrointestinal complaints (gas, indigestion, bloating, nausea, etc.), inability to sit still for long periods, restlessness, trembling in the hands and feet, excessive sweating, a lump-in-the-throat sensation, difficulty swallowing, pressure in the chest, muscle twitching, muscle tension, and pain.

Symptoms may appear suddenly, or they may occur in a gradually increasing and intensifying manner. Individuals often interpret the symptoms they experience in a realistic way and may conclude that these could be signs of a physical illness.

In most cases, patients initially try to cope with these symptoms on their own. However, when they have difficulty overcoming the problem, cannot manage the symptoms, or notice that their social life has begun to become restricted, they may apply to other branches of medicine with the belief that these findings are symptoms of an illness originating from their organs.

When specialists in other medical fields are unable to identify a disease that could explain these findings, consulting a psychiatrist becomes the most appropriate step in order to find a definitive solution. According to current psychiatric knowledge, it is well established that in such conditions, the combination of medication treatment and psychotherapy is far more effective.

Which Disorders Are Included Under the Heading of Anxiety Disorders?

• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Specific Phobia
• Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Anxiety Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition
• Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder

Mindfulness refers to a person’s ability to notice and become aware of their own thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as what is happening around them, by paying attention.

As many of you read this text, I can almost hear you saying, “I am already aware of myself and my surroundings.” However, if I were to say that this is not actually the case—that due to our faulty thinking patterns, while becoming aware of ourselves and our environment, we interpret things not as they are but according to our own perspectives; that we make judgments based on these interpretations; and that as a result we often feel anxious and unhappy—would your opinion change?

Now, I feel as though some of you are saying, “Actually, yes.” In fact, mindfulness is a system that operates together with attention. While many of us claim, as mentioned above, that we are aware of everything, we also complain about distractibility and difficulties with concentration. In this case, it must be acknowledged that many of us do not truly experience mindfulness, which is the key to living in the present moment.

Thus, the way to remain in the present moment and to free oneself from thoughts about the past and the future can be achieved through psychotherapy techniques aimed at increasing mindfulness. Following the psychotherapy process, efforts are made to support the individual in being able to live in the present moment.

Every person encounters both hardships and ease in life. Seeking help during difficult times is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is an indication that the person has the strength within themselves to overcome adversity.

Psychiatry and psychotherapy are treatment methods applied on an individual basis, aimed at improving quality of life by reshaping the distressing aspects of a person’s thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors.

There are many thoughts and emotions that negatively affect our daily lives. Negative thoughts and feelings related to ourselves, our environment, our relationships, our profession, and so on significantly reduce our quality of life.

Labeling the pursuit of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment as weakness is one of the barriers that stands in the way of improving our quality of life. Therefore, seeking ways to address the distressing aspects of our thoughts and emotions within the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy is, in itself, a true expression of strength.

With the hope that you will integrate the belief that seeking help is strength itself into your life…

The human mind is constantly occupied with thoughts about the past and the future. People frequently talk to themselves and to those around them about the negative memories from the past that they cannot forget and about their anxieties regarding the future. However, many individuals tend to give self-judgmental answers to the questions they ask themselves about negative life experiences they have had in the past, rather than producing responses that would help them feel more at ease.

One of the most important points that should not be forgotten is accepting that we cannot know which of the answers we give to questions about our past-based experiences is truly correct. It is precisely at this point of acceptance that, through psychotherapy techniques, we aim to help individuals work through their past life experiences and to develop a “HERE AND NOW” way of thinking.

With the hope that you can become someone who is able to live in the present moment, instead of remaining stuck in negative thoughts from the past, through the “HERE AND NOW” approach…