Depression, a mental health disorder characterised or associated with symptoms or feelings such as sadness, loss of interest, changes in the sleeping pattern, appetite, energy level, focus or concentration, low self-esteem or behaviour. Depression may also be largely linked with suicidal thoughts too.
During different times in our lives, we all may experience the symptoms of Depression such as, feeling sad, not having interest in anything happening in our daily lives, not enjoying anything we do at all.
For the majority of us, these symptoms may occur as nothing but a natural or normal result or reaction to something negative or unpleasant, such as a heartbreak, financial issues, the loss of someone close to us, losing a job and other such stressful, anxiety giving events. These are usually too much for a person, too overwhelming, yet short-lived in nature. As the time passes, the negativity fades too, it becomes less intense and eventually, dissipates.
However, if these feelings seem to linger or persist for longer than usual, they may affect people in a much more severe manner, causing what is known as, Depression. A painful, painful disorder, many a times ignored. It can be observed in most places, ranging from a child in a classroom to someone putting their life at risk for their county. Recent researches have stated that the US is the most depressed country in the world, with an estimated 17.3 million adults. Higher among adult females(8.7%) to males(5.3%).
It is a well known fact that women are more susceptible to Depression than men. According to people with a conservative attitude, it is because of the fact that they think that men are stronger than women, for women are weaker and emotionally unstable. But what they and most of the people forget, are the circumstances that give rise to such a disorder, they are innumerable. Some are forced into getting married at any early age, or at times when they haven’t even completed their education or before they even get the chance to become financially stable. In a few countries, especially countries like India, parents think of their daughters as a burden, mainly financial, because of the smallest things such as paying dowries. If a person, no matter the gender, is not given the basic rights and liberties to sustain a living, or not being able to live the way they want to, has a very high chance of getting exposed to Depression, and that too severely.
When we talk about children or the elderly, it is very important for us to know that they are as exposed to Depression as much as a young adult. In case of a child, Depression may be caused by fear of parents, burden of things such as socialising, which may at times lead to Bullying, which may cause the child getting bullied go into Depression, burden of choosing desired streams, the struggle of getting into good colleges, while getting good or decent grades, things such as body-shaming, which knowing or unknowingly, at times may be done by the closest of people such as the peer group or parents and family. Now, talking about the elderly, factors such as not being emotionally, psychologically, physically or financially stable may lead to Depression. A lot of times, the younger people in the family think that the elderly in the same family are a huge burden, the reasons may be financial, physical etc, and ultimately, they end up putting them into Old Age Homes or just simply make their lives difficult and make the elderly feel as though they are a burden. There is huge guilt that they are not fit and cannot look after themselves, but most of all, the feeling of shame and of horror, for those they brought up and raised, simply just showed their backs and are well-off without their support.
Depression, is a terrible and deadly disorder. It is a lot of times, ignored and not given any heed to. People think it is temporary and prefer to ignore it, though that is not the wisest option, for it can kill or at the very least, do a lot of mental damage. Depression can professionally be treated and made better with medicines and professional help. And it is very important that Depression is diagnosed early, and treated as soon as possible, for if too late, can do a lot of harm. It is important to convey that it is not okay to feel sick, it is not okay to feel miserable at all times. It is important to also know that having a disorder like Depression is not a sign of weakness, but of strength and most of all the determination and willingness to overcome it and keep going.
Sadness hurts too, but it is very different, a healthy feeling, an emotion important to have and possessed by everyone, but Depression is entirely different, it is unhealthy and very important to overcome and fight.
Ahana Sehgal