Most of the people think that being physically fit is all enough to be healthy. In the generation of this robotic world, where everything is computerized, people do care less about their mental health maybe some people don’t even care about it. Depression and anxiety makes a person aloof. People must realize “Sound mind leads to a hefty life”.
Depression Vs Sadness:
All of us become sad sometimes like when you don’t get your favourite dish or when we fight with our friends. Depression is a very vague term. Not all who is sad is depressed! Sadness lasts for two to three days or maybe a week. It’s possible for one to get out of her sadness by herself. Whereas in depression she needs a person say a psychologist or a psychiatrist or a counsellor or any other person whom she would confide to share her feelings.
“Realise that you are not alone, that we are in this together and most importantly that there is hope”
– Deepika Padukone, Indian actress
Depression in medical terms:
Depression is a mood disorder. WHO has criteria of 9 signs and symptoms. If the person has 5 out of these 9, she/he is diagnosed to suffer from depression. Those nine include:
1) Depressed mood/ irritable
2) Decreased interest/ pleasure
3) Significant weight loss/loss of appetite
4) Change in sleep
5) Change in activity
6) Fatigue/ loss of energy
7) Guilt/worthlessness
8) Loss of concentration
9) Suicidality.
Depression –“Fortress of solitude”:
Depressed people live in their own world- the solitude world. Her world be like-‘she, herself, her thoughts, her memories, her worries, her tears, her hesitation, her sleepless nights, her loss of appetite, her diminished interest in which she had interests earlier, her shyness’. Sadness is to cry and feel but depression is the cold absence of feeling. She feels hollowed out and empty. Her feelings get numbed. It’s difficult for a person to explain what depression is to the other one unless she has experienced it. Depression not only affects the patient, it affects her whole circle including her family and friends. You lose your identity when you are depressed. You lose yourself and gather lots of negativity. You feel guilty even if you really weren’t. It’s almost a hell to get around.
“With depression, you’re not alone, you’re not the first to go through it and you’re not going to be the last to go through it”
–Dwayne ‘The Rock’
Superman in depression:
Now, let me give you an example of a DC comic hero- The Superman. Both superman and his parents were from a planet named Krypton that was about to be exploded. His parents could build only one pod for his son. They sent superman to the nearby planet- ‘The Earth’. He was the only species from his world to live in earth. He found he was different from the homosapiens and soon started feeling alone and sad. He was desperate, anxious for love and depressed. He was so low that his foster parents realised it and nurtured him and took care of him. He directed his potential to be a superhero. In fact, he became one of the respected superhero. Each and every one of us has the hidden potential. We mustn’t let our hard time ruin it. If superman hadn’t come out of his depression, he wouldn’t be a hero now! It all lies in our hands. Either we have to take steps to come out of it or do nothing and grow weak!
“The darkest nights produce the brightest stars” – English saying
Myths about depression:
People usually feel awkward to go to a psychiatrist. They feel displeased when others say, “Did u go to a psychiatrist? Is something wrong with your mind?” Most of these people don’t approach doctors. They are afraid to say that they suffer from depression as people would tease them. Depression is not a single disorder. It’s going to affect your entire day, your routine works and your physical and mental health. There exists a stigma in the society in getting treated for depression. Some sort of people think depression as black magic and some name them insane. It’s a paradox that due to the effect of depression she wants to speak up to someone, but it is the same depression that hinders her to speak up. It’s important to break the stigma and the myth towards depression. Family and friends should convince and support him/her to meet a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Depression is something that must be treated and not hidden.
“I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. NEVER. What’s there to be ashamed of? I went through real tough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that.”
–Anushka Sharma, Indian actress
Speak out! Come out!:
Depression can be a postpartum depression, post –traumatic stress disorder, depression after love failure or carrier failure. One should stop thinking about the event or person that him to depression. One has to pour her thoughts out of her mind. It’s important to speak up to get away from depression. Sitting alone and pondering over the same thoughts again and again won’t help. Most of the depressed groups are of teenagers and young as for example, love failure or unemployment and failure in their careers. People must come up and speak. If not, this would get worse. Most of the people may develop the intentions of suicidal attempt. When one shares her feelings with others she feels light and free. In case of a physical injury, it shows her and the outside world that she has hurt. It’s obvious. Whereas in case of mental illness, the brain is a closed system and it requires the victim’s voluntary action. Take for example, a girl has been raped and suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder, at first she would even hesitate to lodge a complaint scared of how ‘The society’ would look at her. Unless and until she shares her feeling s out, it’s going to be a hard time for her. It’s not that depression cannot be treated. Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs are useful for these patients but the human touch plays a cardinal role. It may take a while to get out of depression but one can come out of depression. The life can be ultimately refreshed.
“Do not let the past to blackmail your present to ruin your beautiful future.”
-Gaurie Shinde, Director and writer of ‘Dear Zindagi’
Conclusion:
There are lots of people who underwent depression and came out of it. Indian actress Deepika Padukone, J.K. Rowling, The Rock, Manisha Koirala, Shahrukh khan and so many people. It’s high time not to hide these psychological disorders. It’s more difficult to treat mental illness than physical illness unless opened up. He/she must indulge in other activities and keep themselves busy from thinking of it. To get rid of depression, it requires the effort of both the doctor and the patient. Do not hesitate to bring out yourselves from the darkness.
Only when we talk, the problem can be sorted of. Let’s talk and fight depression!
Author Bio: – I am Divyadharshini from Chennai, pursuing my final year MBBS. I love writing. I wanted to create awareness to the people regarding certain issues that are outspoken through my work.
