10 THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEPRESSION!




Depression and mental health awareness is trending on social media platforms, and it is labelled as a new health issue among teenagers and young adults. Many celebrities, public figures and students have committed suicide is the past few years.

Recently, a 34 years old Indian actor Sushant Singh committed suicide and the reason behind it is said to be depression, which left the entire India in the state of shock.



 In these depressing times, we all need to look after our family and friends and be there for them if they are suffering from depression.  In order to help them, we must need to understand the basics of depression.



1.  DEPRESSION IS ON A RISE:
Each year, about 7 percent of adults in America experience major depressive disorder—that’s somewhere around 14.8 million people, according to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America.


2.  PEOPLE OF AGE 30 ARE AT A HIGH RISK:
You can develop major depressive disorder at any age, but according to the National Institute of Mental Health, the average age of onset is 32. There are many reasons behind this, some of them being financial issues, marital and family issues, career issues etc.



3.  HAVING DEPRESSION VS BEING DEPRESSED:
You may be crushed after a devastating breakup. You lose your appetite, sleep a lot, and you don’t want to go out with friends for a few weeks after being dumped. Are you depressed? Yes. But does it mean you are bound to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder? No, not necessarily.
To put out simply, we can feel “being depressed” because life circumstances may have affected you so significantly you’re having severe reactions but it doesn’t mean that you are “having depression”.


4.  DEPRESSION VS SADNESS:
Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful circumstances. All of us will experience sadness at some point in our lives. Depression, however, is an illness with many more symptoms than an unhappy mood. Sadness is usually a temporary state whereas, depression is long lasting. Some of the people battling with depression state that they are sometimes not even sad when depressed rather they show characters of disinterest and disengagement. Other times depression causes anger and frustration, trouble in concentration or unable to enjoy the life.
When sadness turns into depression, there are some signs which can be a distinguishing feature, such as: 
  • Persistent feelings  “empty” mood
  • Irritability and restlessness
  • Feeling anxious, hopeless, or helpless
  • Loss of interested in actives you once enjoyed
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Trouble with concentration, memory, and decision-making
  • Changes in appetite, weight, and sleep patterns
  • Physical symptoms (such as headaches, digestive issues, body aches, and pain) that don’t subside with treatment.


If you recognize these signs, seek help from a mental health professional.
5.  CAN PRAYERS HELP TO COPE UP WITH DEPRESSION?
Totally, we can cope up with it via prayers and spirituality but we need to understand that depression is like any other physical disease. As we cannot get rid of any disease only by prayer and recitation in the same way depression cannot be resolved by these. Proper therapy and treatment is required to control depression. However, in addition to proper therapy; prayers, recitation and spirituality can help to boost up the process of recovery.



6.  IS THERE ALWAYS A REASON BEHIND DEPRESSION?
To someone who hasn't ever experienced depression it can be easy to assume that it's caused by an event in someone's life. Sometimes people become depressed for what seems like a "good" reason maybe they lost their job or a close friend passed away but with clinical depression, there doesn't necessarily have to be a reason for how you feel. The chemicals in the brain that are responsible for mood control may be out of balance causing you to feel bad even though everything in your life is going well therefore, there doesn't always have to be a reason as to why someone is depressed. Depression can affect anyone and it’s an illness.



7.  NO ONE CAN JUST SNAP OUT OF DEPRESSION!
This can be frustrating to hear, and it shows that the person you're speaking to really doesn't understand how you're feeling. You can't just snap out of depression - it’s impossible. Many victims described depression as feeling like drowning - no matter how hard you try to fight back it overpowers you and there's nothing you can do about it. Depression feels like a constant battle and its exhausting. 



8.  EXERCISE CAN HELP FIGHT DEPRESSION:
Exercise boosts serotonin, endorphins. It also stimulates the growth of new brain cells just like antidepressants do.
 If exercise is normally a huge part of your life, and you’ve just kind of stopped bothering to go to the gym, getting yourself back in that routine can help you feel more like yourself. If you're new to working out, it can have a huge positive impact.


9.  BEWARE OF WHAT YOU EAT!
The comfort foods many of us reach for when we’re blue like ice cream and cookies are packed with sugar that bestow a quick burst of dopamine and serotonin, followed by a physical and emotional crash that can leave you feeling worse than before.
Eating small, well-balanced meals during your day at regular intervals will minimize mood swings and help to increase your energy. Avoid high-fat and sugar-laden snacks, and instead, opt for complex carbohydrates such as high-fiber fruits and vegetables. Another mood-boosting choice can be fish and salmon as Omega-3 fatty acids can help to increase neurotransmitters (like serotonin) in your brain.


One recent study also suggests that the way a high-fat diet changes our gut bacteria can actually affect our brains and increase our risk of depression and other mental health problems like anxiety and impaired memory


10.    CHILDREN ARE NOT IMMUNE TO DEPRESSION:

A myth exists that says childhood is always a joyful, carefree time in our lives. While children don't experience the same problems that adults do, like work-related stress or financial pressures, this doesn't mean that they can't become depressed. Childhood brings its own unique set of stresses, such as bullying and the struggle for peer acceptance.


Depression in children often presents differently than it does in adults. While adults with depression tend to look sad, children and teens with depression may look more irritable and angry.


You might see changes in behavior, such as increased defiance or a decline in grades at school.


Your child might insist that they're fine or they may deny that they're experiencing any problems. Many parents pass off their child's irritability as a phase or they assume it’s part of normal development. But, irritability that lasts longer than two weeks may be a sign of depression.

Some children with depression have physical complaints. They may report more stomachaches and headaches than their peers. 






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