5 things about depression you need to know today.

Major depressive disorder is one of the commonest mental illnesses and is one of the major contributors to disability due to disease. It is quite sad that, despite all the scientific advances, a large number of people fail to understand the implications of  mental health problems. In our glorious country, opening up about one’s own mental difficulties is something which is still considered taboo.

Being silent about mental illness does not abolish it. Millions of people around the globe constantly suffer, not knowing  that help is available. Mental health professionals constantly struggle to clear up misconceptions about mental illness, here are our two bits to improving awareness.

Here are 5 essential things that one needs to know about depressive disorder.

1. Depression is very common – Very conservative estimate 10 million people in India suffer from depressive disorder. A number of unofficial reports have cited numbers as high as 36 %. On average, each reader of this post will personally know  a few people suffering from depressive disorder. Depression is twice as common among women when compared to men. The threat of loosing productive years to depression is a very real threat..
2. Depressive disorder and sadness aren’t the same – Depressive disorder is a syndrome characterized by a number of symptoms, one of which is sadness. Sadness is usually situation dependent, as  a reaction to stress or loss. Whereas depression is a disorder stemming from the abnormal functioning in neural networks. Please read the articles in the bottom of this page for more info.
3. Depression does not stem from a weakness of the mind – Just like anyone could get the flu, depressive disorder may afflict anyone. Depression may arise from hormonal disturbances, like in hypothyroidism and during pregnancy and childbirth. Further, abnormalities in chemical communication between neurons, vitamin deficiencies and myriad of other causes can lead to depressive disorder.
4. One cannot snap out of depression – Those who are depressed often have a sense of helplessness over the way they feel. When your loved one’s cant make you happy anymore, there is already a sense of guilt. Statements like “you have everything, why are you sad?” or “come on, snap out of it” may worsen the guilt, and may not serve any productive purpose.
5. Depression is treatable – Depression is an illness, and requires expert treatment. A number of treatment options are available that include a huge number of psycho-therapeutic measures and effective medication. A number of lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise and healthy eating can help lift depression.

Here are a few more articles that could be of help in identifying depressive disorder.

• Depression FAQ
• Depression – the burden
• Depression sucks !
• The depression quiz.
• How can i manage depression

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