What is Depression and How to overcome it?

There are so many feelings we feel often. Some make us happy, and some make us sad. It’s glad to have good feelings, but the problem occurs when these feelings are opposite. Depression is one of them.

Sometimes we don’t differentiate between being depressed(sadness) and depression because both seem very similar. Therefore, we misunderstood depression as sadness. We refuse to take proper treatment or counseling. As a result, in the future, it made the situation worse.

However, being worried doesn’t solve any problem. The thing we have to do is try to understand depression.
If we know about its symptoms, causes, and classification, then we can easily overcome it.

What is Sadness?

Being depressed(sadness) is a normal feeling which doesn’t last long. When someone loses a job, fails an exam, argues with someone feels sad for some hours or day.

It goes by talking with someone, after crying or spending some time alone. But if it remains the same for more than two weeks, it is a symptom of depression.

What is Depression?

Depression is one of the Mental Health problems. It affects the daily life activities of the person.

Most importantly, the person suffering from depression has the capability of self-harming.

According to the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION –

About 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression globally.

What are the symptoms of Depression:

• feel sad, empty, and hopeless,
• getting angry, irritated or, frustrated without any specific reason,
•  loss of interest in the work or a hobby that they used to enjoy earlier,
• less sleep or too much sleep,
• reduce appetite, weight loss/weight gain,
• lack of energy even doing in routine work,
• feel anxious or agitated,
• the feeling of worthlessness or guilt,
• lack in concentration,
• can’t able to think or behave appropriately,
• trouble in decision making and in remembering something,
• hesitation in speaking or delayed response,
• the feeling of isolation(stay away from socializing),
• physical problems like headache or back pain,
• scared to start a new thing,
• panic attacks.

Its symptoms differ from person to person.

The recurrent thought of self-harming (suicide) is a vicious sign of depression.

What are the causes of Depression?

•  having a family background of depression,
• suffer from any childhood shock or torture,
• taking drugs or excessive consumption of alcohol also increases the risk of depression,
• faces a stressful/traumatic event in the past,
• low self-esteem,
• witness of extreme violence,
• change in the framework of the brain.

A patient who is going through prolonged medical conditions leads to depression. 

Such as – thyroid problems, vitamin deficiency, etc.

How to overcome it?

Self Care:

Self-care is the best treatment than any other.

• regular exercise is a must,
• practice meditation,
• always be positive,
• correct sleep disorder by taking enough sleep,
• quit drinking,
• avoid self-medication,
• reduce stress,
• eat healthy food,
• set daily goals and try to accomplish them,
• explore new places,
• talk with friends and family,
• ask for help.

Go to see a doctor if nothing works out above the following.

Treatment:

Depression not only shows the behavioral symptom, something is going inside the brain as well. Consultation with the doctor is necessary. It is treatable through medication and drugs. The only thing we can do is speak the truth about the condition one’s suffering.

In other words, it is hard to know whether the person suffering from depression only looks fine from the outside and struggling from the inside.

Medication and drugs help to understand the brain’s structure and its chemistry. For instance – Psychotherapy and Light therapy can overcome their symptoms.

Types of Depression:

Peripartum Depression:

The period during pregnancy and after childbirth is the most vulnerable time. Women face biological and emotional changes. For instance – extreme anxiety, sleep disorder, having low or no appetite. Mentioned symptoms lead to health problems in the mother as well as the child. It is treatable.

Peripartum Depression is different from Baby Blues. In Baby blues, symptoms don’t last more than two weeks. It passes with time and doesn’t need any treatment. But the condition of Peripartum Depression is vice versa.

Seasonal Depression:

It is the same as its name suggests. Seasonal Depression generally comes with the winter season. Improves after getting enough sunlight.

Symptoms:

The depressed feeling throughout the day without any specific reason, insomnia, weight loss/gain, loss of the pleasure of doing things once used to enjoy, feeling sluggish, etc.

Treatment: Light Therapy.

Bipolar Disorder:

It occurs when a person suffers from an extreme mood disorder. Their mood swings are either too low or high. At times, a neutral mood.

Symptoms are the same as depression.

Treatment: Psychotherapy.

Persistent Disorder:

Persistent itself means continuous. It is chronic depression. The person who suffers from this type has a depressed mood most of the time. It remains for at least two years.
Daily life activities, work, relationship affects the most because of Persistent depression.

Symptoms and causes are the same as depression.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder:

It is the same as Premenstrual disorder. It usually starts with the onset of the menses. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is much more serious than Premenstrual Disorder.

Symptoms include irritation, tension.
Treatment is possible. Can consult a doctor when necessary.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder:

Children and youth aged between 6 to 18 years mostly become infected with this disorder. It is a chronic disease. Symptoms remain for at least one year.
It affects the daily life functioning of the child. They feel difficult to remain in a friendship.

For instance – irritated and became angry, often temper outbursts.
Treatment is available.

CONCLUSION:

Help someone if you notice them struggling. We have to understand that depression is not a sign of weakness. It is not a stigma or matter of embarrassment.

We have to get rid of it. More than half of the problem disappears if we openly talk about it.

Thank you.