A life was lost to suicide and has taken the entire country by shock. He is not the first, and unfortunately, not the last one to succumb either. While there could be a lot many reasons contributing for an individual to take such a drastic step, we often find the roots in psychological disorders like depression. Having said that, it is important to understand what depression means since it is a widely used and equally misunderstood term.
On a daily basis we hear a homemaker say she is “depressed” because the domestic helper did not turn up, or an employee saying he/she is “depressed” because the monthly target doesn’t seem achievable; to the extent where a school going child says exam pressure is making him/her feel “depressed.”
The term depression, which actually signifies a clinical problem, is interchangeably used for a bad mood on most of the occasions which reflects lack of awareness in a large section of our society.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that depression will turn into the second highest cause of death, outnumbering heart attack and diabetes, by 2020, and the present scenario is hinting at the forecast coming true. Among the developing countries, we as a nation still have a lot to achieve in terms of mental health hygiene. It starts with creating awareness among the general population regarding mental health, helping them overcome the stigma attached to it. Making them realize mental health issues like depression is a real problem just like any other physical ailment, say cancer or paralysis, which needs proper course of treatment by a trained professional.
Due to lack of knowledge and awareness towards this mental illness, the symptoms of depression might go unnoticed. There are a couple of warning signs to watch out for if they prolong and persist for two weeks or more.
1. A feeling of hopelessness and helplessness about one’s own life is one of the common as well as early symptoms of major clinical depression. It affects the way he/she feels about his/her life in general. These beliefs are also backed by feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, or inappropriate guilt at times. They gradually adopt a bleak outlook towards life events developing a perception of nothing will ever get better and there is nothing one can do to improve his/her situation. Commonly they word these feelings like “It is all my fault,” or “What is the point?”
2. They display loss of interest in activities which were previously enjoyed. Depression can take the pleasure or joy away from what they loved —hobbies, sports, socializing or going out with friends. They also start avoiding social interactions and prefer being in isolation all by themselves. Another area where one may lose interest is intimacy; symptoms of major depression include decreased sex drive and even impotency.
3. One of the reasons they might stop doing things they enjoyed is because of low energy. Depression often comes with lack of energy and an overwhelming feeling of fatigue. This could result in excessive sleeping, or simply refusing to come out of bed for long hours. However, depression is also linked with insomnia – inability to fall asleep. Depression and sleep disturbance can make each other worse. Moreover, lack of quality sleep can also take a form of anxiety.
4. Changes in appetite and weight are few of the other signs to watch out for in people suffering with depression. This experience may be different for each person. Some people will have an increased appetite and weight gain, while some others might not feel hungry and will lose weight. However, the relation between this shift in appetite and depression will be based on whether it is intentional or not. Only if they’re not deliberate, it may have a connection with depression.
5. Mood swings accompanied by anxiety is also an important cue of clinical depression. One minute they might show an outburst of anger while the next moment they might be crying uncontrollably without any external trigger. While depression hasn’t been shown to cause anxiety or vice-versa, the two conditions often occur together. Symptoms of anxiety can include: nervousness, restlessness, feeling tensed, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing increase, heavy sweating, trembling or muscle twitching, and trouble focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing they are worried about. Research has shown that depression can affect genders differently; men suffering from depression may show symptoms like irritability, risky behaviour, substance abuse, or displaced anger. Moreover, our culture expects men to put up a strong face in every situation and this could be a possible reason for them being less likely to acknowledge and seek treatment for depression, than women.
6. Individuals suffering from clinical depression have a strong feeling that their mental battles have no end. Thinking and looking at death, then, seems as the only possible escape from life problems. They might often express this feeling of meaninglessness in a desire to die. This also puts them at a higher risk of self-harm or attempting suicide.
7. They complain of body aches and pain quite often which may not have a physical cause necessarily.
On a concluding note, it is important to know that depression is a serious mental illness which isn’t age/gender/region/religion specific. Every individual is at equal risk of developing the illness at any point in life. However, being aware of the symptoms and the importance of seeking professional help can help them overcome the problem. There are various interventions available, from lifestyle changes to medications, from counselling to psychotherapies. No matter which path of treatment they choose, asking for professional help is the first step towards getting back to feeling better and enjoying life again. Every small initiative as a community or even at an individual level can bring a big difference and help our country become a depression-less society.
(The author is a Ph.D. Psychology, MBA-HR and Developmental Psychologist, Clinical hypnotherapist, and Arts Based Therapy Practitioner. Views expressed in the article are her own. She can be reached at dr.shambhavisamir@gmail.com)