Depression: Something more than just feeling Sad 

Being human it is a part of life that sometimes we feel sad or low but talking about depression, it is much more than sadness. It is a serious mental health condition that affects our daily life. It affects how a person thinks, feels and functions. Sadness doesn’t fade away when someone has depression because it drains our energy, our sleep affects our appetite and creates a feeling of hopelessness, which can stay up to weeks, months or even years.

Depression is a complex disorder which is not easy to understand. It can ruin a person’s overall personality. It is a silent struggle which is a persistent feeling of sadness, nervousness, fatigue, tiredness and hopelessness. Depression also creates a change in appetite. Despite being in this modern world depression stays in the stigma and it has not been openly talked about in public. If someone is suffering from depression he is not able to talk about it even with his friends and family. It gets tough for a person to openly express himself in public or even when he is surrounded between his own people. Depression drains a person’s ability to do daily chores or focus on important things. Depression is a major public health concern which must be addressed. WHO (World Health Organisation) has also emphasized to consider depression as a concern which must be addressed. 

Causes of depression 

• Depression could be caused due to biological factors i.e. imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine. 
• Depression can also happen to teenagers due family issues. Broken families are also a big reason behind depression as parents think less about their child’s mental health while going through divorce or family problems. 
• Peer pressure is an emerging reason for teenage struggles. These modern days schools have this culture of bullying each other and mocking and making fun of each other.
• There can be psychological factors which could lead to depression. It could be lower self-esteem or or sometimes constantly criticising yourself. Personality traits could also affect depression. It could be understood as being a perfectionist or being highly sensitive about things.
• Sometimes due to life stress in the form of divorce job loss and not doing good in your career could lead to depression.
• Even in childhood when there could be any abuse which would have been neglected which turned into trauma could be a reason for depression. 
• People who socially isolate themselves become prone to depression issues. 
• Sometimes absence of a supporting social environment could also lead to depression.
• Consumption of alcohol drugs or any unhealthy substances could also contribute to mood regulations which could lead to depression.

Types of Depression

1. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

This type of depression could last up to weeks or even longer. Interfere our daily job routine, our sleep cycles, our appetite and our relationships.

2. Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)

This type of depression could last up to two or more years. Symptoms of this kind of depression will be less in  number but they are long lasting.

3. Bipolar Depression

This type of depression is a type of bipolar disorder which links to manic episodes which are intermixed.

4. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

This type of depression is kind of according to seasons and generally it occurs in winter months most frequently.

5. Postpartum Depression

This type of depression happens to new mothers who have given birth and after birth new mothers suffer from these kinds of depression if not taken care of properly and generally the good last upto two years.

6. Atypical Depression

This type of depression is generally mode regulated. It presents as changes in mood in a week and having another mood in a different week but the other symptoms of this kind of depression could be bad sleep cycle, appetite or even fatigue which remains the same.

Depression Symptoms

Symptoms of depression varies is from person to person but some of the most frequent symptoms which could be found in people in general are:

• Emotional Symptoms

One could feel extreme sadness or loneliness which could be termed as emptiness. Losing hope in anything we do and feeling helplessness and not being able to take help from anyone. There could be a feeling of guilt or shame or feeling worthlessness as we are not worthy of anything. Getting irritated in normal situations for feeling frustrated when you are doing something.

• Physical Symptoms

One could always feel low energy or even fatigue. Sleep disorders could also reflect a symptom of depression. It could either be insomnia or hypersomnia. Bad appetite issues can also become a symptom of depression. It could either be weight loss or weight gain. Headache, body pain or stomach pain can be symptoms of depression.

• Cognitive Symptoms

One could feel a lack of concentration in doing any work. There can be poor retention of memory at the time of making decisions as  there would be an inability to make decisions.

• Behavioral Signs

One could feel withdrawal symptoms from friends and family, losing interest in activity one use to like or any kind of hobbie, avoiding to do any activity or attend any event, having suicidal or self injurious thoughts.

Conclusion

Depression is treatable but we could say it is the most pervasive sickness in the world today. With the support of near and near ones, one could survive and recover from depression. By realising the symptoms and taking actions of our bad mental health could help us leading towards our road to healing. Breaking all the barriers of stigma and talking about our mental illness openly could help us recover and also not to think about being judged.

Healing from depression and being able to balance and achieve things we could have done earlier and moving forward to our life is what makes our healing journey successful. Depression is a big black cloud which with hope time in therapy can become clear skies. So if you see someone suffering from depression try to be their stepping stone to a healing journey.