Depression is a mental state of feeling low, sad or blue either constantly or periodically. Millions of individuals worldwide are affected with depression and some of them are even clinically diagnosed by mental health specialists. Depression can range from mild, moderate to severe and is usually associated with one’s day to day life and the challenges associated with it. The individuals affected can experience varied mood swings, instances of feeling very sad, low, wanting to cry and can suffer from poor outcomes at work. Depression can affect individuals from adolescent to older age groups and depression amongst younger children is rarely noted.
Some individuals may experience constant episodes of depression for a year or two (persistent depressive disorder), some women develop depression after delivery/after the baby is born (perinatal depression), some please experience depression along with delusions and psychotic behavior, whereas others can feel depressed during seasonal change. Depression is different in different individual and hence it is important to individually analyse and seek help from a trained professional to treat depression.
What are the risks factors for depression ?
Depression can be a genetic condition and hence can run in families, depression can also occur in individuals who go through minor or major transitions in life or career or have suffered through emotional or physical trauma. Certain medications can also pose as a risk factor for Depression in some individuals.
What are the signs and symptoms of depression ?
Below mentioned can be a few signs and symptoms which could help you understand depression better.
- Sad and empty mood
- Feeling negative and hopeless
- Irritated behavior
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Wanting to cry
- Feeling of guilt
- Feeling worthless
- Feeling weak
- Loss or gain of appetite
- Feeling lonely
- Loss of interest in hobbies and recreations
- Suicidal tendency
An individual who is depressed may experience the above-mentioned symptoms, either a few of these or most of them at varied intervals.
Is depression treatable ?
Yes, depression is a treatable condition, but only when it is diagnosed correctly. Depression from mild, moderate to severe cases can be treated by psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication and electroconvulsive therapy if the former two fail to treat the symptoms.
Why talking about depression is need of the hour ?
Depression is a clinical state of mind which affects the overall health of the individual, but it goes unnoticed as the society does not completely accept it. Many adolescents and adults face this problem of depression but are scared to accept it and reveal it to seek help. It is very important for an individual or the society to accept mental health as a very important part of our overall health.
Increasing work pressure, life transitions, failures and heartbreaks can be causes of depression amongst any one of us and unless we open up and talk about it, we won’t be cured. The society has to work towards eliminating the social stigma of depression and help the individuals who are affected by increasing awareness and making them talk about it. Depression is preventable and curable only if we understand the same and make others aware about it.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
