Depression and daily life ....
Depression yes by mouth it seems to be a small word but it's meaning is very vast .In our daily lives turning points come and go away some
people face it and behave like a normal person but some stuck there and results in a negative impact on their lives.
Depression is a serious mental disorder and common medical condition ,which negatively affects the way you feel ,act and think .Different people
experience this condition in different way ,it might influence your relationship with people ,might interfere with your work leading to less
productivity and can lead to some chronic health conditions.
It is not a condition that people can recover from like a stomach bug and simply a cold. There are millions of people with depression who just
think that they are feeling sad and believe it will go away with time . However there are Lots of people whom depression is a constant drain.
Therefore extra support and help for those people are essential .
According to WHO depression is the second most common reason for disability in the world and only10 percent of the people who encountered
this problem recieve peoper treatment. .since it is a serious health disorder , so it is very difficult to differentiate between sad mood and
depression even some people compare it with bad mood . Therefore following article focuses on depicting the main aspects of depression
and describes the common treatment and awares people regarding the disorder.
What is depression ?
An illness that involves the body ,mood and thoughts and that affects the way a person eats ,sleeps ,feels about himself or herself and thinks about
things . Depression is not the same as a passing blue mood ,it is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away .people
with depression cannot merely ' pull themselves together ' and get better .
Undoubtedly ,life can bring sad events that will make you feel down at times .however if you are feeling sad and hopeless for more about 2
weeks you are probably dealing with depression .Appropriate treatment ,however can help most people with depression .
What causes depression ?
The causes of depression can vary from circumstantial to biological .some main causes are :
Genetics .A family history of depression may increase the risk. It's thought that depression is a complex trait , meaning that there are
probably different genes that each exert small effects ,rather than a single gene that contributes to disease risk .
childhood trauma .some events in childhood may effect the way your body reacts to stressful situations .
Brain structure .there is greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe is less active , however scientist donot know if this happens before
or after the onset of depressive symptoms .
Abuse. Past physical,sexual and emotional abuse can increase the vulnerability to depression in later life.
Major events .Even good events such as starting a new job , graduating or getting married can lead to stress and anxiety .But some events
like losing a job or income , getting divorced or retiring or loss of loved one can lead to symptoms that are not normal response to stressful
life events .
other personal problems. problems such as social isolation due to other mental illness or being cast out of a family Or social group can
contribute risk of developing depression.
certain medications . Some drugs such as isotretinoin ( used to treat ache ) and steroids can increase risk of depression .
Medical conditions .certain conditions such as chronic illness ,loss of body part or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may
increases the risk of developing depression
Substance abuse . Nealy 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have depressive symptoms .
The causes of depression are often tied to other elements of your health .
In many cases healthcare workers are often unable to determine the cause of depression .
Are you depressed ?
So , how do you know if you are just sad or if you are suffering from depression ? The main thing to remember is that if you have been feeling sad
or depressed for more than two weeks ,you may have depression. Other symptoms include.
Sad or empty feeling for over two weeks .
Feeling hopeless or helpless.
Losing interest in things that you usually enjoy.
Change in appetite .
Change in sleep ( sleeping too much or not sleeping all) .
Withdrawing from friends and family .
Inability to concentrate .
Stressed out or anxious .
Irritability or angry.
Constant fatigue .
Thought of suicide
Self harm.
Loss of sexual drive.
How does depression affect your daily life?
Depression can impact every aspect of your life whether it is physical, emotional,social ,spiritual or intellectual. It can range from headache to
elimination pattern .it can impact your everyday,s activity like sleep,eating pattern ,education ,carrier,health ,relationships and so on .Individual
suffering from depression often have comorbid disorder such as alcohol or drug abuse or other addictions .Depression does'nt occur in vaccum ; it
can affect your loved ones , coworkers and everyone around you .Apart from that ,depression can impact the way you perform work ,your level
of concentration ,thus productivity .
Specialists say that it is very important to treat depression because if you leave it untreated can ruin your life even can lead to death also .that is
why it is very important to seek out help , not for relationship or work but for your own sake.
Treatment for Depression
Living with depression can be difficult , but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to psychologist about possible options .
You may successfully manage symptoms with one form of treatment ,or you may find that a combination of treatments works best. It's common to
combine medical treatment and life style therapies including the following
Medication. Healthcare provider may prescribe : Antidepressants ,antianxietics and antipsychotics .
Psychotherapy .speaking with a therapist can help you learn skills to cope with negative feelings .
Light therapy .exposure to doses of white light can regulate mood and improve symptoms of depression .it is commonly used in seasonal
depression.
Alternative therapies . Ask your healthcare worker about acupucture ,yoga or meditation .some herbal supplements are also used to treat
depression such as SAMe or fish oil.
Exercise .Aim for 30min of physical activity 3 to 5 days a week ,increases production of endrophins that improves your mood.
Avoid acohol and drugs . These subastances can make depression and anxiety symptoms worse.
Take care of yourself .
You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself .this include getting plenty of sleep ,eating a healthy diet ,avoiding
negative people ,and participate in enjoyable activities .
Sometimes depression does'nt respond to medication .healthcare provider may other treatment options if symptoms don't improve. These include
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to treat depression and improve your mood .
Preventing depression .
Depression isn't generally considered to be preventable .it's hard to recognize what causes it , which means preventing it is more difficult.
But once you've experienced a depressive episode ,you may be better prepared to prevent a future episode by learning which lifestyle changes
and treatments are helpful.
Techniques that may help include :
Regular exercise
Getting plenty of sleep and food
Maintaining treatment
Reducing stress
Building strong relationship with others
Self care activities
Listen to music
Supplements
Positive thoughts
About the Author :
Lubnah shabir , student of Govt nursing college baghi dilawar khan srinagar .
