We hear the term depression more commonly in recent days, especially during the pandemic. It is a mental disorder that happens when a person suppresses their thoughts and emotions. For instance, not venting out your emotions when it's needed the most. It is also, thankfully, treatable. Depression produces unhappiness and/or a loss of interest in previously appreciated activities. It can cause a slew of mental and physical issues, as well as a reduction in your capacity to operate at work and at home.
WHO states that 5.0% of adults suffer from depression and it’s one of the prominent reasons contributing to the overall burden of the disease. Depression is different from mood swings. Dive into this article to know A to Z about depression.
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Depression is a major “depressive disorder”. It makes you feel sad, emotionally weak or you may lack interest consistently in almost everything around you.
Depression negatively affects your thought process, feelings, and actions and you may feel lonely. You may feel low most of the time, you may not be able to enjoy a situation that you have enjoyed in the past. For example, a hang out with friends / a weekend party.
There are many types of depression, out of which the most common are major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder.
Depression is common among women due to environmental/lifestyle-related factors. Apart from this women are more sensitive to opinions than men, so the way of socialization has an impact too.
Studies show that women depression is more prevalent among women due to bodily factors like:
(1)Postpartum
(2)Menopause
(3)Hormonal changes
Societal pressure is also an important reason for depression in women if a woman stays to be a homemaker she gets devalued by society whereas a woman who goes to work might face physical or emotional, or sexual attacks by a co-worker.
You can easily identify depression by observing these symptoms
Feeling sad/hopeless all the times
High level of frustration even for small issues
Lack of concentration in work
Sleep-deprived / affected by Insomnia
Unable to think clearly
Lack of interest in almost all day to day activities
Suicidal thoughts/ suicide attempts
Loss of appetite
Guilt
RISK FACTORS OF DEPRESSION
Depression happens due to various reasons like:
(i)Financial instability / Bankruptcy
(ii)Stressful life with no work-life balance
(iii) Divorce
(iv)Death of a beloved
(v)Prolonged / fatal illness
Though there are a lot of risk factors that can contribute to depression as mentioned above, below is the list of the major factors that prominently causes depression,
Hereditary reasons: You may get affected by depression if there is a history of depression in your family.
The difference in opinion: Personal turmoil within the close circle might lead to depression.
Abuse: Emotional/sexual abuse in the past /present may cause depression.
TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION
Though you can identify depression with these symptoms by yourself, it’s advisable to consult a registered medical practitioner. Preferably a psychologist, who can help you get rid of depression with medications or therapies considering your physical and emotional state.
Generally, doctors prescribe antidepressants to treat depression however depending upon the criticality of depression the treatment differs.
Cognitive behavior therapy(CBT) is the best kind of psychotherapy to treat depression.
Ayurveda states that 3 kinds of doshas in a person’s body
Vata
Pita
Kapa
If there is an imbalance in these doshas leads to illness and depression.
Ayurveda strongly believes that physical and emotional wellness supports and complements one another and so, to have a healthy mind one should have a healthy body.
Ayurveda provides safe and holistic remedies via herbal supplements, lifestyle, and diet to combat depression and stress. Ayurveda helps us get rid of depression with little or no side effects. Ayurveda provides a long-term solution to depression.
It’s always better to get depression diagnosed and treated at an earlier stage so that it will not leave a mark on your life. Hope this article served as an eye-opener to you about depression. Keep the mantra simple, have a healthy and balanced diet. Try to spend quality time with friends and family, and know what’s happening in your kids’ life. Also, hear the kids out every now and then, and have a workout routine. Remember that tough times are like passing clouds, don’t stress upon yourself a lot. Consult a psychologist in case you need and regular counseling could help you avoid depression.
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Writer - Janani Chandrasekhar
Picture credit Freepik
