We try to hide depression but we forget our eyes speak

Depression

If you have been feeling down and you just can’t seem to shake it –the things that once made you happy don’t seem to do so now then know that it is not sadness, not letting you go surely something more.

DEFINITION:

According to WHO, Depression is a common mental disorder affecting more than 264 million people worldwide. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities.  It can also disturb sleep and appetite; tiredness and poor concentration are common. Depression is a leading cause of disability around the world and contributes greatly to the global burden of disease.

Why it is something serious to talk about?

Depression can have a profound effect on all aspects of life, including a performance at school, productivity at work, relationships with family and friends, and the ability to participate in the community. Research also shows strong relationships between depression and physical health, including tuberculosis and cardiovascular disease. Depression affects all types of people – young and old, rich and poor – in all countries. Women are more likely to have depression than men. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life.

Does this sound familiar? Are you…..

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Loss of energy or increased fatigue

• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others)

• Feeling worthless or guilty

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions

• Thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression.

If you just nodded your head then know that you are not alone, we are there for you.

It is a mental disease like any other physical one or even worse. It dwells inside you and continues to build up without you even realizing it in the beginning. By being there, it continues to make things around you worse by you not being able to concentrate, negativity surrounds your thoughts and you become hopeless day by day. Depression is a wound that doesn’t show on the body but is more hurtful than anything that bleeds so please I urge you to take it seriously and treat it.

How to get treated?

Therapy, medication, self-help? If you’re confused by all the different treatment options for depression, here’s how to decide the best approach for you.

Therapy

1) Refer to a doctor for therapy and treatment, when you think that your depression is getting worse day by day and self-help is something you have tried enough. There is no harm in doing that, many people feel that going to a psychologist/psychiatrists will lead to them being labelled as mad, lunatic or not normal .firstly, you are going to the doctor to ensure you don’t go mad and there is no shame in addressing those problems of your life that are a hindrance between you and the better version of yourself. Secondly, you are only ought to listen to people when they care about you in this case and clearly they don’t seem to. Always remember, till the time you turn on the volume to all those judgemental comments of others in your life, you will always be one step away from doing what is best for you.

Self-help

2) Don’t let hard times get the better of you, stay strong, and value all the things you have. Try finding happiness in small things, it will make your life amazing and worth living. If you are going through something hard and it seems to not go then think of hard times as ways of increasing your perseverance and strength. It is more like human elasticity as I call it, the harder it gets to bear the greater threshold you develop like that elastic but you need to address it before you reach that breaking point. Find a sincere friend to talk to, make sure he/she is a good listener, this can help you by letting it all out and getting advice as to what to be done next. Now why I said sincere friend, it is because I want you to choose that person wisely, it is anyone who realizes that you don’t seem to be the usual you and checks on you to make sure you are alright. If you have someone like that then be sure to ask for help. Every day with this disorder is different. It’s important to take your mental health seriously and accept that where you are right now isn’t where you’ll always be. Consider writing or journaling about what you’re experiencing. Then, when the feelings lift, write about that, too. Try seeing the good in everything, value, and recognize your small accomplishments as often one ignores them by waiting for the greater good. It is important to value your presence and there is no way that your entire day goes on without even the slightest bit of good happening therein perhaps you brought a smile on the faces of any of your loved ones, that too is enough to call it a day. Try diverting your mind by doing stuff and start having a preoccupied daily schedule. Overcome your depression, by meditating, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

The harder it gets, the stronger you become. This is not you, it is a phase of your life which might not be solely your fault but believe me the end is surely in your hands. As humans, we might not have control over what situation we get in but the way out is always left on us to decide as to how and when.