What is Depression?
Feeling of continuous misery, melancholy and sadness is broadly categorized as depression.
I am not a Psychologist nor do I have a degree in any type of Psychiatric field, however, I am surrounded by people from all walks of life that are suffering from Depression in some form or the other. Getting irritable, not being able to control your emotions, breaking down in any situation, not being able to face people as you would like to, getting slowly into your own shell, etc. are few of the signs that people showcase when they are depressed. There are some others who express themselves so well in public but are unable to put on that mask when they are alone. No one knows the real cause of Depression getting triggered in teenagers or adults, but, what we know is that the term exists and the symptoms are at times very hidden. We have seen big celebrities across the world who have gone through depression and come out of it OR some who have simply succumbed to it.
To name a few who are known to have suffered from Depression in Tinsel town- Deepika Padukone, Manisha Koirala, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Anushka Sharma, Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, Late Robin Williams (our favorite comedian growing up), the handsome hunk Owen Wilson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Princess Diana (world’s favorite Princess), and Many more…
As a child I was a tomboy and felt very content with my friends, did all the crazy things that all kids my age do, but all that changed when I moved into a highly conservative Co-Ed school. I will not name anything here, but the fact remains that I am aware that my personality became completely different as I evolved from that institution. I became a girl with an inferiority complex than someone with a fully evolved out-going personality (looking at me now, you would not feel the same, however, I have been through that phase of regret and complexity that probably everyone in their teens goes through) I was easily offended and never felt in-charge of any situation, anytime, while I was growing up. This actually dominated my personality for a majority of my life, however, the different surroundings and people as well as cities, changed that over a period of time. Today, I am a different person and pretty happy with the way life has evolved for me. Had I over-analyzed the situation at that time OR felt incompetent (though I did think that) OR gone in my cocoon, that would have been termed as Depression? Should I have taken my life in this situation? I doubt that is or will be an Answer anyone wants to hear.
We all go through various types of #Depression in our lives-
Marital Depression- Stuck in a marriage which is abusive or mentally and emotionally disturbing, can lead to depression. Not being able to give an opinion to your spouse or in-laws, can give way to slow depression. Not being able to cope with kids and their pressure or the anxiety of having to be perfect can also lead to depression. These are just a few of the thousand reasons that can actually trigger Depression.
Postpartum depression: I have been through this and I have no idea I had it. I only realized this at a much later stage, after reading extensively about it, but the support around from my family and friends was tremendous. I did not even know this term existed, but yes it did and I went through it and CAME OUT a Winner. This is a hard reality and almost 20% women who give birth every year have #postpartum depression. It slowly creeps in and you will spend hours brooding and crying, but you need to be strong to recognize it and read well about it. If you have this form of depression, DO NOT PANIC. There is a way to treat this well and it is best to seek help. Your baby if your biggest gift, no matter what. You are a special woman who has given birth to the most miraculous gift on Nature.
Cribbing- It is quite a surprising thing, however, over a period of time I have realized that people who over crib about everything are also slowly getting sucked into Depression. They see things very negatively and even if there is a positive outcome they do come out with a negative side to it. They can complain about everything around them and I have, over a period of time, realized that this is also a form of depression. Why you ask? Well, if you cannot see happiness in small things in life, then it will lead to a severe form of depression that will eventually eat you up.
Failure: This is probably the BIGGEST form of depression plaguing and consuming teenagers more than anybody else. The fear of failure or the fear of losing or not being accepted can also lead to depression. This is probably very difficult to understand for any common person, since you haven’t been through it, you wouldn’t know about it. We cannot ignore this form of depression as it has the highest SUICIDAL Rate across the globe. (About 800000 people commit suicide worldwide every year, of these 135,000 (17%) are residents of India, a nation with 17.5% of world population. Between 1987 and 2007, the suicide rate increased from 7.9 to 10.3 per 100,000, with higher suicide rates in southern and eastern states of India- Courtesy Wikipedia) The pressure that the kids of today are being subjected to, in the form of studies or extracurricular activities or peer pressure, etc. makes it difficult for some children to cope up with this and eventually ends in Depression. Depression can play with the mind in many forms, leading you to take the most drastic measures to end it- like suicides, drugs / drug overdose, exogenous elements and much more.
This is a plague that has taken over the world and crept in the lives of at least 1 member in every family that it is difficult to identify the normal ones from the depressed ones, at times.
How can WE (You and I) collectively Help Each other and help those with this symptom, overcome it? Most importantly, how can THOSE who suffer from this HELP THEMSELVES?
Communicating: We have all heard it before but communicating helps in every way and any way for those going through depression. It is important to try and speak with the person in anyway possible and not let the person close up. Many men, who go through this phase, often do not want to talk about their feelings and hide them deep down inside. If you notice any of the symptoms, please do talk to the person. He / She may not want to communicate at all with you, please DO NOT GIVE UP. They are not comfortable talking about and hence you need to have all the PATIENCE in the world to deal with them. Please be PATIENT (even the most impatient ones)
Internal Drive: Get behind the drivers wheel, before the wheel runs over you. If, as an individual, you can experiencing this phase, please speak with someone. It will help. Don’t let the world smother you. Write down all your emotions and feelings in a journal. Journaling has helped a lot of individuals to become focused in life again and also sort out troubles that YOU have. If you see yourself being drawn in the cocoon or a getting withdrawn in your shell, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT.
Seeking External Help: If you feel speaking to someone you know may not help or you feel too embarrassed to speak to your close ones, try talking to your best friend. If that too is not a viable option, then please do seek external help from a reputed Psychologist. Kindly understand that seeking help from a professional is not going to hurt your reputation or your standing in the society. Do not let external sources bog you down mentally to confront the most inevitable. It is good to get help before it is too late.
Exercising: Getting involved in mind exercises along with breathing techniques can help you battle depression. This will not act as a distraction but also help you connect with your inner-self without any qualms. Realizing toxins from your body will lead to lightening your mind and senses, eventually and gradually moving out of Depression. Any form of physical exercise is a great way to battle any deterrent in your life.
You need to recognize these traits in you or your loved ones before it takes them or you over. If you think there is no purpose in life, please think again. Shitty things happen in life, but let it not be that ONE single cause to Define us. WE understand it is not easy to feel what I write, however, it is an earnest appeal to everyone to make the best of this world that you have been brought into. You Do Not want to be remembered as that HEADLINE on One Date of a Month When You Decided to NOT come out. Don’t let your near ones to become one of this headline, that doesn’t exist anymore. Strive hard to get over it and come out stronger than before.
“MORE YOU SUPPRESS, MORE YOU GET DEPRESSED”
WE ARE ALL THERE TO HELP YOU! SO COME OUT AND SPEAK BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.
Help people with Depression around YOU and DO NOT make fun of the situation, as you do not know what it is to deal with Depression.
BE STRONG
