Depression

We all know what it’s like to feel sad, because we all have likely experienced it a lot. But our experiences last for 1-2 days at the most, if we are lucky. And if we aren’t lucky, then we may suffer from depressive disorder, commonly known as depression. Simply stated, depression is a state of chronic sadness and despair.

It is a common illness, but it’s quite severe. Most of the patients need to undergo treatment to get better. The main problem with treating depression is the fact that people do not seek treatment. Luckily, if we succeed in starting treatment, the vast majority of them, including the most severely affected, can get better. Some of the symptoms are: •Feeling sad, anxious or empty. •Self-pity and thoughts like being worthless or guilty. •Hopelessness. •Less energy and interest in happenings around you.

The onset of depression can be quite rapid, sometimes happening in a few weeks or days. Depression heavily influences emotions and one’s outlook on life and more than often ends up changing a person’s life in a major way. People experiencing depression often feel sad every day and cry very often. We must open ourselves and talk to someone we trust. It may be a friend or relative, or a group of friends even. What we need to understand is that the more we suppress our feelings and attempt to hide them under a mask of “everything’s fine”, when it’s not.

Depressive disorder is often seen in adolescents and young adults. A major cause of this is the lack of interaction that seems to have taken over the adolescent population. When I say lack of interaction, I refer to the genuine talks related to our thoughts and feelings. The way we interact on the internet is mostly based on attempts of invoking a particular feeling in the reader, such as amazement or awe (from what I have come across myself).

Mild depression can be treated without anti-depressant drugs, if it’s not too severe already. Some alternatives include: •Exercising – There is strong evidence that any kind of regular exercise is one of the best antidepressants. Exercise combats depression by enhancing endorphins, prompting our mind to be happy. •Being grateful – Expressing gratitude has been shown to have a positive emotional effect on people with depression. This simple process can increase activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, the brain region often associated with depression. •Socializing – Even though it is extremely difficult to interact with people while suffering from chronic depression, one possible solution is volunteering for a cause you really believe in. This will keep you motivated and you would get to know more people, and as an added bonus, others will also benefit from this activity.

But in the case of persistent or severe depression, such as: 1.Major depression –When you feel depressed for most of the time most days of the week. 2.Persistent depressive disorder –If the depression has lasted for 2 years or longer. 3.Bipolar disorder–Which is also sometimes called “manic depression,” has mood episodes that range from extremes of high energy with an “up” mood to low “depressive” periods.

These require medical intervention, quite obviously. And are likely to be cured with the help of anti-depressant drugs and counselling, paired with lifestyle changes