DEPRESSION
WHAT IS IT?
This is a type of condition relative to mood fluctuations of extreme sadness, dissatisfactions, and even trauma. This belongs to the variations of mood disorders and is also accompanied by an anxiety disorder. This cannot be called a disorder unless the sadness is affecting day-to-day life by creating disinterest in everything, even living life!
Hence it is such a condition that demands immediate help and support, and with the right kind of treatment can be overcome easily. Depression causes a lower mood pole, a constant lingering sadness that the affected human cannot easily overcome. Hence he remains utterly unaffected by external life activities or any situation of happiness. He often tends to complain chiefly about how he lacks to feel anything at all, except melancholy. So he finds it very difficult to fully enjoy his life which again makes him feel guilty about himself.
Biologically speaking, depression is mainly caused by low levels of brain chemicals or “SEROTONINS” which are found on the vital storage memory of the brain called the “HIPPOCAMPUS” and which are responsible for neurotransmissions called the ‘emotions’. Hence it tends to give a low mood balance, thereby there is a decreased ‘dopamine’ level as well which overall causes depression in humans.
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION:
This is another such variation of ill-feeling that has no exact underlying cause so it can be called complex. But if we carefully take up few life events then we can get a connected situation that might be responsible for the cause. We can write them down as follows:
“ABUSE & CONFLICT” can often occur in emotional and sexual ways which tends to increase depression. It can be any type of life event of either harassment, or guilt of something, or exposing the weaknesses of oneself towards another. These happenings in life change one’s perception towards it thereby increasing fear and other negative issues.
“GENDER ISSUE” is most likely to affect women more than men, as women always tend to be soft-natured and with their easy-manipulative emotions, that can get broken down easily by various issues, thereby risking women to be more depressed than men.
“MEDICATIONS & DRUG EFFECTS” can also lead to depression as the natural physic reacts towards external chemicals and causes an internal release of certain hormone types responsible for overthinking and mood disorders.
“TRAUMA & DEATH” is such an event that completely gives rise to the primary stage of depression. Witnessing the loss of a loved one permanently due to death, or any traumatic incidents of losing someone naturally creates helplessness and distress, and thereby the patient gets traumatized and succumbed to this low feeling which gets difficult to cope up.
“STRESS ISSUES” is such a kind of tension that builds up when a person fails or is not able to acquire something that he is expecting. This can be called the major cause of depression in mankind of today. This issue indeed brings about anxiety disorder as well along with depression thereby worsening a patient’s situation.
“AGING” can be said as an enhancer to depression. As humans age, their immune system and other internal functions get weak thereby they lose the power of retention and staying calm or reasoning out in certain life situations which henceforth results in them getting sad easily. This gives rise to depressions in old people more than the younger ones.
SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION:
“A persistent feeling of SADNESS, & EMPTINESS in the mood”
“PESSIMISTIC ATTITUDE towards life”
“HOPELESSNESS & EXTREME GUILT”
“CONCENTRATION DIFFICULTIES”
“DIGESTIVE TROUBLES”
“Unexplained BODY ACHES, NAUSEA, CRAMPS”
“CHEST TIGHTENING”
“INSOMNIA”
“LOW BODY ENERGY & FATIGUE”
“PALPITATION”
“SHORTNESS OF BREATH”
“Feeling of EXTREME WORTHLESSNESS, HELPLESSNESS & DOOM”
“BODYWEIGHT ISSUES”
“EATING DISORDER”
“DIFFICULTY TO REMEMBER OR REASON OUT”
“LOW SELF ESTEEM”
TYPES OF DEPRESSION/DEPRESSIVE DISORDER:
MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER (MDD) often the most commonly occurring depression among all ages which tends to show up while eating, sleeping, or studying something. The person starts to feel inactive and gets preoccupied with his sad and low mood which tends to interfere with his regular living habits.
PERSISTENT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER (PDD) often known for its reoccurring symptoms that tend to stay for a certain period of time and are not as severe as major depressive disorder. This can be long-lasting with mild or moderate effects. Here the person tends to have a low mood for a longer period with a generalized ability to cope up with it.
BIPOLAR DISORDER (BD) often called the “mood swing” disorder where the mood ranges suddenly from low to very high fluctuations. It is also a maniac occurrence often causing disorganized feelings in one’s mind accompanied by a major depressive state.
POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD) generally occurs after pregnancy or childbirth in most women who feel an intense lethargy or gets too tired both emotionally and physically while doing regular works. Often it is associated with gastric issues as well. Thereby lowering the energy of the overall mind. Even the women find it difficult to have bonds with the babies or in severe cases they can have suicidal thoughts as well.
PRE MENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PDD) is often heard most commonly occurring on teenage girls during and after their regular menstruation periods. This however doesn’t get too severe but causes odd binge eating habits and insomnia, also disturbed mood swings from moderately low to high. Even girls tend to have digestive trouble.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD) is often very associated with seasonal changes like the feeling fluctuate according to seasons and just like seasons! Here the person who feels low in winter can feel much low in the monsoon season due to a constant weather change. It can occur on a day and night changing state as well. Like if the mood remains a little cheerful during the morning then by the evening it gets worse.
ATYPICAL DEPRESSION is a newer form of depression often about some queer behaviors of disinterest or rejection or even reacting to certain events of life but can be changed easily when exposed to something of the patient’s choice, the patient immediately gets happy. So it is not severe, not that mild too, but can change accordingly.
Hence, Depression comes with some adverse effects on both the mind and body, weakening the systems internally, affecting regular lifestyle changes, and an unknown state of confusion and fear.
An estimate of about 264 million people are affected worldwide in depressions as reported by WHO (World Health Organisation) and 800,000 people die out of suicide globally every year. Hence with the proper treatment of ANTIDEPRESSANTS, ANTI ANXIETY, ANTI PSYCHOTICS & talk therapy, this disorder can be brought into control, and a better life can be given to experience and live to all those sufferers who feel imprisoned on their own soul and minds.
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” —Confucius
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