Depression, a mental or a mood disorder, that simply can be described as feeling of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. It is a serious mental health issue effecting millions of people worldwide, and surprisingly it covers all age group be it teenagers, young adults, middle-aged individuals, or the elderly.

People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions like diabetes, arthritis, asthma, cancer, or obesity.

Symptoms Of Depression……

Every individual suffering from depression doesn’t show signs and symptoms. The symptoms of depression vary from person to person, in severity, how often they happen and how long they last.

If you experience some of the following signs and symptoms of depression nearly every day for at least 2 weeks, you may be living with depression:

• feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”
• feeling hopeless, worthless, and pessimistic
• crying a lot
• feeling bothered, annoyed, or angry
• loss of interest in hobbies and interests you once enjoyed
• decreased energy or fatigue
• difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• moving or talking more slowly
• difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
• appetite or weight changes
• chronic physical pain with no clear cause that does not get better with treatment (headaches, aches or pains, digestive problems, cramps)
• thoughts of death, suicide, self-harm, or suicide attempts

Causes Of Depression………..

Some possible causes of depression include:

• There may be a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain that manage mood, thoughts, sleep, appetite, and behavior in people who have depression.
• Changes in female hormones estrogen and progesterone during different periods of time like during the menstrual cycle, postpartum period, perimenopause, or menopause may all raise a person’s risk for depression.
• You’re at a higher risk for developing depression if you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder.
• Some events affect the way your body reacts to fear and stressful situations, especially during childhood years.

• There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe of your brain is less active. However, scientists don’t know if this happens before or after the onset of depressive symptoms.
• Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as chronic illness, insomnia, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, heart attack, and cancer.

Diagnosis & Treatment Of Depression……..

The diagnosis of depression in any individual is carried in two steps. In the first, doctors carry out physical examination. They carry out blood test, examine thyroid hormone levels, body weight fluctuations and other various physical factors.

After that in the second step, a psychiatric evaluation is undertaken, to analyze the patient's responses, thoughts, and emotions to various situations.

After the doctors get the test results, then he/she compares the symptoms exhibited by the patient with the ones enlisted in the DSM - 5 i.e., the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, for better accuracy of diagnosis.

Finally, when the depression in the individual is confirmed, the healthcare provider at first prescribes antidepressants, which include SSRIs i.e., Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.

The dosage of these prescription medications depends upon the severity of depression symptoms in the affected individual. Doctors also advice taking the prescribed medicine dosage on time.

Along with medication, patients are also asked to go through regular behavioral counselling sessions, where experts advises the patient on how to cope with stress and handle tough situations.

Personally, adopting a healthy lifestyle, engaging yourself in activities like yoga, sports, meditation or talking to your family and friends will assist in alleviating low moods and will help you in recovering from depression.

Stay Informed! Stay Healthy! Stay Happy! 

Thank you!