What is depression, How to fight and treat depression?

According to World Health Organization close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, that is one person every 40 seconds [1]. Depression has often been the cause of these suicides. Today hundreds of millions of people suffer from it and alarmingly women are affected by it more. Women, as compared to men, are twice as likely to develop clinical depression. Therefore, it is high time that people recognize depression as an illness and don’t treat as a taboo subject. The stigma and lack of awareness prevents help from reaching to people, especially women; around two third women suffering from depression do not get help. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent and long-lasting feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to everyday challenges in life. Thus, it becomes vital to differentiate it from a usual sadness that people can snap out of. It affects how one feels, thinks, and behaves and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Depression may occur with other mental disorders and other illnesses. These include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain. Depression can make these conditions worse, and vice versa. [3]

Forms and Symptoms of Depression

Although it may occur only once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes; and depending on the number and severity of symptoms, a depressive episode can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. An individual with a mild depressive episode will have some difficulty continuing with ordinary work and social activities but will probably not cease to function completely. However, during a severe depressive episode, it is unlikely that the sufferer will continue with social, work, or domestic activities, except to a limited extent. Since women often attend the duties as the head of the household, their plight caused by depression often goes unnoticed. Symptoms of depression may include -outbursts of emotions, usually anger, frustration, loss of interest in normal activities, insomnia, lack of energy, weight loss, and reduced appetite or weight gain, anxiety, restlessness, self-blame, etc. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are mainly six forms of depression –major, persistent, perinatal, Seasonal affective disorder, Depression with symptoms of psychosis and people diagnosed with Bipolar disorder also suffer from depression [3]

It’s important to understand that a person does not have to necessarily go through adverse circumstances in life to be diagnosed with the disorder. However, people who go through adverse events in their life are more likely to develop it. Another vital consideration is to comprehend that depression doesn’t look the same for everyone. While children may be cranky and anxious, teens may show symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, low self-esteem, and eating disorders. Young adults may have a negative view of life and the future, hyper-insomnia, and panic disorders. Adults may have decreased libido and more depressive episodes; finally, older adults may feel grief, sorrow, or lack of any emotion. If any person is going through such symptoms for more than two weeks they should see a doctor or mental health professional. Often times, it is extremely hard to understand the causes and symptoms of depressions since they vary from age group to age group, gender to gender, and culture to culture. For instance, in a conservative environment women are hindered from expressing emotions; therefore, instead of emotional outburst, symptoms for women consist fatigue, anxiety, and an empty mood.

Treatment and Prevention of Depression

Depression treatment typically involves medication, psychotherapy, or both. In case symptoms are not reduced by these treatments, brain stimulation therapy may be another treatment option. In milder cases, treatment might begin with psychotherapy alone; medication can be added if the individual continues to experience symptoms. For moderate or severe depression, many mental health professionals recommend a combination of medication and therapy at the start of treatment [3]. A healthcare professional may prescribe –antidepressants, anti-anxiety, or antipsychotic medications. Psychotherapy or talk therapy consists of speaking, conversing, and discussing with the health professional regarding one’s status quo; this helps in reducing the negative feelings that one may have. Furthermore, the doctor teaches the patient new ways of thinking and behaving and helps them change certain habits and routines that contribute to the illness. Phototherapy is another method that can be used to tackle depression, especially seasonal. Brain stimulation therapy is another option for some people when other depression treatments have not been effective. It involves activating or inhibiting the brain directly with electricity or magnetic waves. With regards to eating habits, it is advised that two vitamins are useful for easing symptoms of depression, namely vitamin B and vitamin D [4].

Along with the treatment, it is essential to keep in mind that the friends, relatives, and partners of a person diagnosed with depression also play a significant role in their recovery. Instead of using phrases like –‘be positive’, ‘cheer up’, etc, people must remind them that they are not a burden. Other ways would be making them feel loved, telling them they are strong, giving them space and not forcing them to talk, and making them understand that there is light at the end of the tunnel. A person suffering from this illness is constantly fighting a war with himself, due to which they are often exhausted and tired. Unlike popular belief, they don’t choose death as an option; they are pushed to a corner where they don’t have any choice left at all. 

There is no definite way to prevent depression, because, as mentioned above, it can happen to anyone. However, people can adopt certain habits and policies into their lives; these will make them healthier and relatively less prone to depression. Firstly, they should not take too much stress and cultivate methods to control it from time to time. Women, especially homemakers, should make out time for themselves from house chores. Secondly, if one is feeling low self-esteem, sorrow, or has gone through some adversity, they should consult a counselor/doctor immediately; thirdly, one shouldn’t feel any shame or discomfort and connect with their family and friends in times of crisis. Sometimes changing their locality, city, workplace, and room colors can do wonders. Certain lifestyle changes may include proper sleep, regular exercise, and healthy food. 

Depression and most mental health illnesses and disorders are stigmatized in India. Since, unlike the conventional physical and bodily diseases, it neither has definite causes, preventive measures, or symptoms, people often don’t take it seriously. Depression has become one of the biggest health crises of the 21st century, partly because of the ignorance of the general public. It’s treatable, but more importantly, it requires support from the people around. The treatments vary from the severity of the disease and certain preventive measure can protect people from developing the disorder altogether. Along with destigmatizing the subject matter, it is crucial to adopt a sensitive and sensible vocabulary while talking with a depressed patient. There are several governmental, non-governmental, and inter-governmental organizations that are working to provide aid and assistance to people diagnosed with mental illness.

Readers can access helpline numbers and connect with NGOs through this link

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