Depression is a common mood disorder that affects more that 264 million people globally. It can be described as a persistent feeling of sadness, loss of interest, hollowness, anger and interferes with one’s daily life activities. Depression is not as simple as feeling sad that one can snap out of. It can be moderate, severe and long lasting in nature and negatively affects one’s behaviour and lifestyle. It can lower productivity rates and lead to poor chronic health conditions. Depression is a major cause of suicide as well. A majority of the population do not seek help in such instances due to social stigmas and lack of proper mental health care facilities. Treatment and proper assistance can help cope with depression, therefore one should not get discouraged not hesitate to reach out for help.
Common Symptoms:
Feelings of hopelessness or loss of optimism
Feelings of sadness anxiousness or hollowness
Loss/ increase in appetite
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating or oversleeping
Loss of sexual desire
Loss of interest in activities which were previously enjoyable
Deteriorating physical well being
Digestive problems, fatigue, headaches
Delayed responses, difficulty completing work or making decisions
Feeling worthless/guilt
Recurring suicidal thoughts/ self harm /attempts of suicide
irritability/anger
Causes:
The actual causes is not definitive but the risk factors are:
Genetic factors
Environmental factors
Psychological factors
Biological factors
Existing disorders
Treatment:
Psychotherapy
Medication
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Exercise
Brain stimulation therapies
Depression if diagnosed early can be quite beneficial for the individual since coping mechanisms make life for someone with depression much easier. Always remember, it’s okay to talk!