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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