Depression: a constant feeling of sadness

Managing depression is very difficult nowadays. Depression is one of the leading types of mental illness where there is a constant feeling of sadness that prevails for weeks or months. Sadness for a few days cannot be concluded as depression. It not only makes a person feel low but also affects our ability to do our activities. The person becomes so low mentally that they avoid indulging in any activity.

The symptoms include:

• Sadness for more than two weeks.
• Change in appetite
• Change in sleep pattern
• Indecisive
• Anxious
• Worthlessness
• Guilty feeling
• Hopelessness
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Depression must never be considered a trivial issue as if left untreated, it can lead to further complications, and the person can even harm themselves. A professional’s help is always needed.

How to manage depression?

Depression is a very low phase in one’s life. It not only makes you feel low but also guilty of things that are of trivial importance. The ability to think clearly is lost, and everything around seems grey. It is essential to seek help to overcome this phase of one’s life.

The following things we can do:

• Take help from a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist.
• A clinical psychologist or a psychiatrist helps in accessing the symptoms of depression and helps in the diagnosis of depression also.
• A doctor helps in assessing the cause. This helps in removing the causative factors. The causes of depression are:
  • As a side effect of certain medicines (know more about- GERD- Management and side effects)
  • Deficiency of certain minerals and vitamins, lower levels of vitamin b12 is always linked to causing depression.
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Co-existing diseases
  • Premenstrual syndrome
  • Post-partum depression
  • Family history

In acute cases, talking with the patient really helps; this therapy is also known as cognitive behavior therapy.

Dialect behavior therapy: In this therapy, the doctor also counsels’ patients with unhealthy and disruptive behavior to teach them life skills to adapt to a stressful situation easily, especially in cases of resistant depression.

• Alternative therapy: alternative therapy such as acupuncture is known to show good results.
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Pet therapy, as pets, prevents the feeling of isolation, fills you with positivity, and helps you fight depression.

Lifestyle changes to manage depression

• Sleep well as a good sleep reduces stress and keeps your mind fresh and positive also.
• Exercise regularly as exercise helps to release a natural anti-depressant.
• Eat healthy to avoid food rich in sugar and fructose also avoid fried and processed foods. (know more: SUGAR: IS IT GOOD OR BAD?)
• Groom yourself as it will make you feel good about yourself.
• Talk to people about a good social circle of friends helps people fight against depression better.
• Surround yourself with positive people.
• Keep yourself occupied to avoid negative thoughts to creep into your mind.
• Do things you like to keep yourself happy.
• Avoid negative company.
• Help others that will make you feel good about yourself.
• Write a journal to keep track of your fight against depression.
• Overcome negative thoughts.
• Look for positive things, even in difficult situations.
• Accept that depression can relapse.

How to prevent it?

• Avoid taking stress, look for positive things even in a stressful situation
• Stay connected with friends and family talk to them about how you are feeling.
• See a doctor as soon as possible if you suspect depression
• Take medicines regularly as advised by the doctor to prevent the relapse of depression.