Depression: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Depression: The disorder that spares the none

Depression Meaning

Depression is regarded as a common mental illness. It is a type of depressive disorder in which a person suffers from frequent mood fluctuations and changing emotional reactions for a short duration of time. It is also called clinical depression and mood disorder. It has affected more than 250 million people worldwide which are huge numbers due to which can be called a global health issue.

 

This becomes a serious health threat when these short-lived mood fluctuations change into long-lasting and severe mood swings. It can affect the overall functioning of our body as well as affecting our daily routine but the serious part of it is the development of suicidal tendencies in a person suffering from this health issue as nearly eight hundred million people die of this disorder.

 

Depression Types

 According to research, there are four depression types common in us:

 

1) Persistent Depressive disorder

 

2) Major Depression

 

3) Bipolar Disorder

 

4) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

 

Why is Depression a big concern for us?

 We usually say in somebody’s death, may his soul “rest in peace”, RIP. But I ask here, why a person would look for peace if he is already dead. In reality, we the living beings are in a desperate need of this very peace while alive but due to some reasons that have been dropped behind in our journey of life, running recklessly to catch up with this fast-moving world.

 

But the question arises here, why is it so? Why we all are leading a life where we pretend intentionally to be happy and content, but we are not. Depression has become such a global threat that no one is spared from its adverse effects whether a man or a woman, older or younger.

 

Yes, most of the cases of depression are coming from youth especially the teenagers, no idea how it is spreading so widely in such an early age but I’m afraid it is going to increase even further in the coming time as per some reports based on scientific analysis. Youth is the future of any nation and we have to save it from this global health threat of depressive disorder.

 

The biggest concern regarding this issue is its ability to destroy a well to do person socially, emotionally and economically in a little period. So, we all have to create awareness among people of this depressive disorder to save our loved ones. 

Depression Symptoms

Depression symptoms consist of some mood fluctuations, behavioural changes, sleep disorders, changes in cognitive abilities, weight-related issues and some other common changes that occur in a person’s daily routine.

 

A person suffering from this issue may experience some mood fluctuations such as Hopelessness, mood swings, low interest in daily activities, anxiety and many more. While there are some behavioural changes too which a person may experience such as isolation of oneself, sudden anger issues, irritation in behaviour, restless behaviour and too much crying.

There are few sleep disorders associated with it such as Insomnia, extreme sleepiness and early awakening. Changes in cognitive abilities include low concentration, laziness while doing any work and suicidal thoughts. Sometimes a person has to go through sudden weight gain and weight loss while suffering from this disorder.

 

Some common changes may occur such as poor eating habits which include excessive eating and loss of appetite, undue fatigue, development of dull attitude and frequent sadness in daily routine.

 

Though, depression symptoms are mostly not visible as it may be the person sitting right next to you might be suffering from this issue for a long time but looking at his smiling face and way of his talking you can’t even imagine what he is going through inside his mind or what kind of disturbances he is facing while sitting beside you.

 

Sometimes we are in a situation where we too face this disorder. Although of low-intensity or of mild nature that doesn’t come in our consideration but it creates too many disturbances in our professional as well as personal life. We all tend to find the cause of these disturbances outside, instead of looking inside us, and that mild one gradually grows up to a higher level that eventually leads a person to end his life on his own.

Depression causes

It is called one of the most complicated diseases as no one knows exactly what depression causes are but they can happen for a variety of reasons such as the death of a loved one, it might occur due to genetics or a family history of depression, the victim of abuse or violence, conflict with someone, serious illness may trigger this disease, personal life issues also force someone to this way and consumption of unwanted materials such as drugs and alcohol overuse.

 

Effects of Depressions

Depression is technically a disorder related to mental health. It can have some severe mental and physical effects on our body. It can affect how you perceive or how you sense anything. It can even end your life if untreated.

 

What medical science says about:-

It is a common illness of the mind, characterized by continuing sadness, anxiety, dullness and showing no interest in doing anything, even what he usually enjoys to do. A mental health condition marked by an overwhelming feeling of insecurity, loneliness, sadness, anxiety that leaves a tremendous impact on a person’s thinking, feelings and the way of his working.

 

It can affect any person irrespective of one’s gender, socioeconomic class, age, physical health etc. Depending on the seriousness of symptoms and its effects on a person’s life it can be characterized as mild, moderate or severe. According to WHO (World Health Organisation) report, one in four people in the world would be affected by some mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives, it may be mild or may be of high level, sometimes does not even come in the notice or sometimes that severe that may lead a person to commit suicide or take such steps which may spoil their entire life.

 

Depression Treatment

The biggest issue with depression treatment is that most of the cases in this disease are not reported due to social stigma related to its acceptance. People fear to accept that they might be suffering from this disorder due to the social stigma attached to it. They feel what the reaction of their near ones or they will be judged. But if treated well it has many treatments available to cure this disease.

 

It can be cured by many antidepressant medicines which are popularly known as depression medicines available in the market which must be taken only after the prescription of a doctor, by visiting or consulting psychiatric or by undergoing different kinds of behaviour & psycho therapies. These therapies are very useful in treating a person with this disorder as they can treat a person emotionally, physically and mentally.

 But still, the most important point is that these cases need to be reported as soon as possible to make sure that no one is left untreated. We all know how medical science has improved in recent times and researches based on curing depression have also given valuable outputs to treat it. So we all should keep our faith in our doctors who can treat this disorder and send you back to your normal life as it was in the pre-depression era. There is one other available depression treatment that is via yoga and spiritualism. 

 

Depression Treatment with yoga and spirituality

The success of yoga and spiritualism in treating and preventing depression might be the reason why people are so much fascinated towards inner fulfilment which is why most of them are keen on doing Yoga and practising Spirituality while being busy in other social tasks and activities. 

 

Most people are mistaken about yoga and spirituality, it’s not like being orthodox and following predefined dogma with blind eyes, it’s all about the science of our inner body and mind. 

 

Many researchers have already proved unequivocally that yoga leaves a positive effect in our body, mind and life, and it must be the reason why 21st of May, accepted as the International yoga day, why in other countries, yoga has become more popular than its own originating country, India. 

 

Yoga and spirituality are not to be practised only when you grow old; it’s not related to being a heretic as many people think so. It’s not related to a particular religion what many people are mistaken, it is a pure science of body and mind.

 Just look at any person who performs yoga, takes part in social events, who is connected to spirituality and nature, they have some different kind of view upon life, life is not a journey for them which is to be completed at any cost, for them life is a festival to celebrate. 

 

People may say here, these are nothing but “empty words”, it is so easy to talk like this for a person who has not yet come across any disturbance, any failure, any massive problem and any sort of criticism in his life. But it is almost impossible to follow such things for a person who is completely broken from the inside, who sees no hope or sees no way out of this trap, seeing no purpose to live anymore. 

 

Yes, it is truly said, what other things you can do besides having pills and appointments of a psychiatrist, even if you visit a psychiatrist, he will also advise you the same in his own words, people can help you to fight with the problem of this disease, but the fight must be led by you only then you & others will be able to subjugate this mighty enemy.

 

As I said earlier, depression is one of the most dangerous threats to our well being, which directly attacks one’s mental strength. If we have to fight, we need to be mentally strong first, we need to be accompanied by good people who are full of life, enthusiastic and optimistic towards their life then it comes to work on our inner self. 

 

Always try to be surrounded by all positive things, engage yourself in doing something you like most, keep yourself busy in doing creative works, if you have some hobbies that are a great way to escape from ‘over-thinking’ when negativity surrounds you go out to have some good time with yourself, talk to your family, your parents, siblings and friends.

 

Many social clubs are formed where people meet, share their experiences, have a good time being free from all work, such things impact our mindset and our lifestyle, the way we think, the way we do, eventually, we become.

Role of Parenting in Depression

Role of parenting in depression is very important as it can prevent this disorder in its origin.

 

We are getting apart from our own family, the dining table is there in almost everybody’s home nowadays but very few care of the traditional custom of eating together as parents are always being busy in their stuff such as work on mobiles, not giving sufficient time to their children, children have so many things to ask in their growing age, they need their company. So, when they don’t find these things in their own home and family they too can choose some inappropriate path for their life.

 

 

This adversely affects them as they start being depressed, isolated and introverted, sometimes they are involved in such activities which affect their lives and the lives of other people related to them. Sometimes they even try to find their company outside and join bad companies which provide another direction to their life, which has no way out.

 

It becomes a must for every parent here to give sufficient time to their children, observe their activity, their behaviour, and their way of thinking and if you find anything odd and unusual ask them, talk to them in a friendly manner so that they don’t feel hesitant in sharing these things that bother them from inside.

 

They will surely put forth their inner thoughts and feelings when being approached positively, try to find out the cause, mostly in teenaged children as many such problems occur at that particular period of life a child needs more attention, but attention doesn’t mean that you are always keeping your keen eyes on their every activity.

 It may also cause differences between you and those in this fragile age of life. Parents should treat their children like a friend, before whom they can easily open up themselves. Always remember, as much stronger as the base, the building will be that much tougher and glorifying. 

 

What you teach your children today and make them learn the small but significant things of life’s journey will leave a ravishing impact on their entire thinking and personality and in the upcoming future, they will pass on the same knowledge along with their own earned experiences to their next coming generation. They will nurture them in the same way you did.

My views on depression

One of the reasons I find this depression to be so prominent these days is due to being in pace with this fast-moving world, we are somewhere going away from ourselves. There is a race everywhere if you visit any social networking site; people are in the race to prove that their life is far better than others.

 

They always try to show their happiness and the beautiful life they are leading but if you notice them you will also find them lonely from inside and this fact is also known to them, they are aware of this fact that they pretend to be something that they are not. People try to escape from this fact what they are needed to fight with.

 

“We have come so far by ourselves; there is no use of being so ahead in the race for success. Our way to live a life plays a vital role in our minds as well as in our physical health. We need to arrange our life in a new and perfect manner where we could also give some time to ourselves along with running in the way of our success and accepting competitions from our life.

 

In this world we all have some desires, dreams, goals and demands, when we are not being able to fulfil or acquire these, we start to feel like being failed, being broken from inside and unsatisfied in our life. We need us to advocate, persuade, motivate and to share some moments of life with ourselves. 

 

It may sound a bit crazy but if you look at people who are enjoying inner fulfilment and happiness. They will advise you one thing that to be in the present, be content with what you have today, feel the moment instead of running for the future and regretting the past.

 

If you are focused today it will make you think about many prospects of your life and certainly bring many improvements for your future goals. And this is the only way to get rid of “overthinking” which is the main cause of being in depression.

Conclusion

At last, summing up the topic in a nutshell life has many aspects some may be positive or negative, but it all relies on us what we choose and what we want to achieve or desire for our future but the way of success passes through many difficult paths, the ‘journey of life’ is not that easy as it appears to be life is as much hidden as much is revealed. 

 

In difficulties, in the ordeal of life, we should look for support and company of others. Also, we need to look at ourselves, if we stand by us in weal and woe of life then only others will stand by us. 

 

Avoid this overthinking, what is destined, is inevitable, thinking over it will not make any change, only our hard work, our perception, our ways to deal & pour views over it can create some differences. When one gate is closed there are many other gates opened and welcoming you. We just need to combat this depression together and throw it out of our lives. Always remember we never fail, we just fall, just need to stand up and move ahead positively against depression.

Written By: Sagar Thapa

Edited By:  Mukul Budakoti.