With everything happening in the world right now we must understand why these things are happening. All the talk on depression got me to realize that people who haven’t experienced it don’t understand it fully.
Depression is a mental issue, it’s not like a wound. The mind does not have a definite state of being, it changes depending on the situations you are in.
Before I talk more on this I want to say, Please don't self diagnose by searching for symptoms on google. We all know a common headache searched on google can tell you, you have a brain tumour.
What is depression?
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It includes feelings of sadness, loss, anger but on a chronic level. It can affect all parts of your life like relationships, work, productivity and so on.
The depressive episode involves periods of symptoms in which an individual experiences an unusually intense sad mood. The disorder's essential element is elevated sad mood which is known as Dysphoria.
Causes
Multiple genes interact in complex ways with environmental risk factors.
If someone in your family history has suffered from depression you are at a higher risk of depression or other mood disorders.
A traumatic childhood event.
Certain medical conditions may put you at a higher risk. Even certain medications can have an adverse effect.
There isn’t always a trigger for depression it can come without any warning. However, certain situations can be triggers,
Stressful situations.
Low self-esteem or being self-critical
Financial difficulties.
Death of a loved one.
A major life change
Giving birth (also known as postpartum depression)
What depression feels like
Depression is not only about feeling low or sad all the time, people who experience it lose all sense to feel anything. Food doesn’t have any taste, your bed does not give you comfort, nothing feels right.
It is mentally draining and physically tiring. It's like being in a constant state of discomfort. Picture this, you go swimming and you go underwater, now you want to come up but you cant. It’s like a weight is pulling you down deeper and deeper and you’re suffocating. You're uncomfortable, you feel helpless, you feel trapped and worthless for not being able to do anything. Now multiple that feeling by 10. This is just what I think it feels like and can best help you understand the pain one goes through. It may not even be half of what they experience.
All one can think of is when the pain will stop, when will all of this end. It’s like looking at life through a blurry glass. When depressed you can’t feel okay very soon, it’s very difficult to get out of that frame of mind.
Symptoms
What makes a depressive episode different from being sad or low all day are showing at least 5 of these symptoms every day for a duration of 2 weeks one can qualify for the diagnosis of depression. (the symptoms here are slightly different from that in the DSM 5)
Low mood most of the day
Feeling worthless or inappropriate guilt
Loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
Changes in appetite
Unintended weight loss
Sleeping too much (hypersomnia)or too little (insomnia)
Restlessness
Difficulty in concentrating or making decisions
Fatigue or loss of energy
Recurrent thoughts of death or having suicidal thoughts
Treatment
Seek out professional help.
Understand you’re not alone.
Talk to your friends and family about what is going on. (Talking to your family or friends is different from talking to a professional. A psychologist will understand and listen to what you say and ask questions and take the necessary actions that can help you.)
Until you don't tackle the core problem also known as the “rural mechanism” you are not addressing the issue directly and it cant be normalized.
There are medication options.
What you can do to help
Try talking to them.
Be patient with them, people facing depression or any issues are more prone to having unstable decisions. Don’t get frustrated with them, they anyway feel like they are a burden.
Help them think positively by encouraging them.
There are different treatment methods but it is better left to professionals as they have a better understanding of this through years of training. Not everyone in depression knows they are in depression, they may not understand why they feel the way they do.
As I end I want to say, if you know anyone who is facing any kind of issues reach out and help them. One person reaching out and showing they care can make a big difference in someone’s life.
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