DEPRESSION

With the downturn in the economy and the emotional outburst by a beloved celebrity on social media this past week,

it has become even more imperative to understand what depression is all about, the causative factors and how best it can be treated.

Depression is a medical condition that makes you very unhappy and anxious and often prevents you from living a normal life. It is more than just sadness. Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed people don't feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel angry, aggressive, and restless.

Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness because it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with hardly any relief in sight.

Signs and symptoms of depression

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness as everything seems to be getting worse

Loss of interest in daily activities or former hobbies.

Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of bodyweight in a month.

Sleeping activity reduces drastically (insomnia), especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or  increases resulting to oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent.

Loss of energy as your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks would feel exhausting or take longer to complete.

Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt as you harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.

You take to substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports as a means of escape from this ‘prison’.

Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain

Suicidal thoughts creep in as you begin to feel that is the permanent solution. The deep despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain.

Please note that depression varies from person to person, only the common signs and symptoms  are highlighted above. The more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted—the more likely it is that you’re dealing with depression. When these symptoms are overwhelming and disabling, that's when it's time to seek help.

Road to Recovery

Just as the symptoms and causes of depression are different in different people, so are the ways to feel better. What works for one person might not work for another, and no one treatment is appropriate in all cases but it all starts from this step

If you recognize the signs of depression in yourself or a loved one, take some time to explore the many treatment options. In most cases, the best approach involves a combination of social support, lifestyle changes, emotional skills building, and professional help.

1.Social support

If even the thought of tackling your depression seems overwhelming, don’t panic. Feeling helpless and hopeless is a symptom of depression—not the reality of your situation. It does not mean that you’re weak or you can’t change! The key to depression recovery is to start small and ask for help. 

The simple act of talking to someone face to face about how you feel can be an enormous help. The person you talk to doesn’t have to be able to fix you; he or she just needs to be a good listener.

Having a strong support system will speed your recovery, not isolation as isolation fuels depression, so reach out to others, even if you feel like being alone or don’t want to feel like a burden to others. The truth is that most people will be happy that you chose to confide in them; they’ll be flattered that you trust them enough to open up. So, let your family and friends know what you’re going through and how they can support you.

2. Make healthy lifestyle changes like

Cultivating supportive relationships

Getting regular exercise and sleep

Eating healthfully to naturally boost mood

Managing stress

Practicing relaxation techniques

Challenging negative thought patterns

3.Build emotional skills

Building emotional skills can give you the ability to cope and bounce back from adversity, trauma, and loss. In other words, learning how to recognize and express your emotions can make you more resilient.

4.Seek professional help when all else fails.

Depression is not a death wish. Please do well to reach out if you are suffering from depression as help is always available.

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