I will refer to an uncertain and hypothetical resurgence of reactive depressions; for, perhaps, in the present circumstances, in theory, they will increase in frequency and intensity. I do not intend to alarm, worry or add to your worries; nor do I intend to point out preventive remedies. I only intend to disclose the symptoms in order to, if necessary, act safely and effectively.

I will use an image to illustrate the affective phenomenon I am trying to describe. Let's imagine that we are hiking with a heavy backpack. At the beginning, the backpack makes its weight felt. After a long stage, fatigue floods us entirely, it seems to envelop us and the load becomes a whole with it. We stop to rest and the first spontaneous gesture is to get rid of the backpack. A gesture that produces a great relief. When resuming the march, already rested, again the backpack lets feel its weight.

This is what happened during the confinement: we recharged our psyche with strong and intense emotions, uncertainties, fears, discouragements, despondencies, blurred and somber thoughts... A backpack full to the brim! The de-escalation brought with it a sudden feeling of relief, of relief; the mood cleared and the backpack became lighter.

In the intimacy we breathed a light freshness, like a cold cloth sprinkled on the forehead after a day of fever. Even more, we long to dive into the small daily pleasures with the illusion of the premiere, and to satisfy contained desires: a little walk, the terrace of a cafeteria, discovering friendly faces, children on bicycles, the hairdresser... Even in the midst of turbulence, life is smiling again; and the hunger to enjoy the wellbeing of the old normality grows, encouraged by an optimistic affectivity.

But months go by, and that bubble of illusion and softness fades little by little. The hopeful forecasts do not seem to be fulfilled... And, in addition, perhaps seduced by that laughing intimacy, we forget that the daily hustle and bustle also has its own... Who remembers the emotional tone of late February or early March?The morning rush to take the children to high school, the traffic jams, the stress of work, the hustle and bustle of schedule, the unfinished chores, the fight over homework..., and exhausted... we still have to bathe the children, prepare dinner, pick up... How far away the vacations seemed, and how much we wanted to disconnect! And it was still March...

That's right! The longed-for normality becomes elusive... and when we return to our daily routine, the problems are accentuated, lived as naturally as always. Once again we have to carry the backpack of living! Tiredness and urgencies cloud the joyful laughter of a few days ago. And in the face of this emotional contrast, questions arise: What's wrong with me, why this listlessness, so much discouragement, what's next, am I getting worse? Getting entangled in these questions leads to further problematize the status.

And here lies the crux of the matter: to understand what happened. The jovial mood arises as an effect of the abrupt liberation of constrained psychic tension; a pleasant sensation when draining the emotional recharge. That is why it has a reactive and transitory character: a simple oasis, very pleasant, while we transit from the inner heaviness to the realistic space of living.

A simple psychological equation that has a single common thread, with three successive moments: first, an unusual and disproportionate psychic tension; second, a sudden release of this tension, which refreshes the psyche; third, a gradual re-engagement with the inevitable frictions of everyday life. It is a common psychic process, relatively frequent, before existential changes of certain entity: transfer of residency program, work new, an unexpected heartbreak, the end of a bereavement, the diagnosis of a limiting disease... This subject of experiences, after an initial adjustment, usually lead to a low mood (according to the popular saying), which usually remit spontaneously with the simple passing of time. They are not likely to produce psychic traces, although this convulsive season is a fertile ground to agitate the oscillations of the mood. These affective turbulences should be endured with serenity, without giving them excessive attention: to combat this turmoil of moods, the best therapy, and the right prevention, is to cling to the chores of today, to enjoy what today allows.

And I will finish with a pertinent clarification. When, sometimes, the duration of the depressed mood or the intensity of the symptoms lead to suspect a possible psychic injury, then we are already talking, possibly, of a reactive depression. And the treatment of reactive depression is a matter exclusively for clinicians. At final, go to the medical professional at the slightest sign: it is up to him/her to prescribe the timely and appropriate action. And, therefore, avoid knowledge dissemination, well-meaning advice, self-diagnosis or self-medication like the plague.