According to merriam-webster dictionary, the definition of depression is,"A psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies".
It is words like 'disorder' that makes depression a taboo in India and the reason why the people suffering from depression end up in wrong places doing wrong things. Depression doesn't just mean the feeling of "End of the world", depression has many other faces. And whether you are aware or not, you too might have been suffering from depression. I researched about depression and realized, I was a victim too and the sole reason for writing this article is to overcome the taboo related to depression.
What are the general signs of depression?
- Guilt & other things: When things go wrong, you tend to give up on everything, be it people, things etc. There is so much hopelessness in you, that you feel nothing is going to work for you. You burden yourself with guilt and self-doubt.
- Change in behavior: You become irritated, angry, restless and sometimes start to live secluded from everybody. Your tolerance becomes zero and you behave like a freak.
- Changes in routine: You start to lose sleep, you think a lot, you start losing interest in activities and spend most of the time thinking about crap (Negative things).
- Psychological impact: Depression is a like a cloud shrouding a mountain. It makes you lose your head, impacts your mental functions like concentration, decision making, memorizing things etc.
- Physical impact: There are visible changes in your body weight in a short time. Also, you get exhausted quickly and run out of energy accompanied with body aches.
Things people do & say in depression:
- Talking about hurting or killing oneself.
- Cut-off ties with friends and loved ones.
- Frustration with hopelessness.
- Living like on a suicide mission.
- Mood swings.
- Extreme cynicism about oneself.
Common reasons for depression:
- Family issues
- Financial issues
- Social issues
- Health issues
- Career issues
- Marital/Relationship issues
- Issues pertaining to work
- Criticism & peer pressure
- Mental or Physical abuse
- Traumatic experiences
There is nothing wrong with depression, but making it look wrong is wrong. It is not in anybody's control. Depression is not a disorder, it is just a phase and a state of mind which can be overcome with some love, care, warmth, and support. Also, depression is not always extreme, there are different levels and types of depression. If you think you are facing any of the symptoms above, if you find any signs of depression in you, don't hesitate to talk about it. There are many NGO's and organizations as well working to help people with depression. There is a government helpline as well for people suffering from depression and anxiety.
We are like a pressure cooker, we have to let the air out regularly else we will explode. I suffered from almost everything listed above. I cut myself from everyone for around 3 months and there was a complete change in me in every sense- physically, mentally, socially. I didn't feel like talking to people, I lost many friends, I didn't go to college and academics sucked. At that time I didn't know I was depressed but thankfully I talked and something helped me rejuvenate. I don't have any pathological condition. That was a phase in my life which is now over forever because I talked. Change your lifestyle a bit, know yourself and talk to people, life is complex but it can be handled. There will be a void, there will be hopelessness, you will think your world has ended, but a war is fought till the last men.
Our lives and lifestyle currently are so unhealthy that we all are prone to depression. Our eating habits, our daily routine, our ambitions, our struggles, our peer pressure, criticisms we face, our needs, our wants, everything plays an important role and we are so fragile that we can succumb to any of these things. We don't talk about these things because we are afraid that people will think of us as mentally ill, also we do not seek help from professionals. Not everyone is lucky to have a support in their life, so put aside the taboo and seek help.
Here's the link to Deepika Padukone's interview with NDTV where she breaks the stigma around depression: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/full-transcript-lets-talk-depression-deepika-padukones-story-748527
You can find all the facts and figures as well in her interview. If she can talk, why can't we? There is more to lose by remaining silent, rather than talking it out.
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