Understanding Depression

Depression is one of the most widespread diseases of modern world. According to World Health Organisation, globally around 350 million people are suffering from depression. According to many experts almost all of us suffer from depression at 1 or more occasions in our life. Some experts also argue that due to its widespread presence, depression should be added to the World Health Organisation list of diseases that are considered pandemic.

Before we discuss any further let us first understand what is depression? As a human we have different feelings like happiness, sadness, excitement etc. Many times our reaction to a situation depends on how we are feeling at the moment, which means emotions play a very important role in our life. These feeling or emotions are generally momentary and they change with time.

But sometimes due to some conditions in our life or some particular incident, these mood fluctuations tend to become more common and more long lasting. These fluctuations can be both for negative emotions such as sadness, hopelessness, dullness etc and for positive emotions like happiness, excitement, etc. But, we generally associate only negative emotions with depression. Depression is that state of mind in which we are unable to cope up with sudden surge of emotions, as a result of which we start to feel sad, unimportant, worthless, unmotivated or any such negative emotion, which makes us unable to live a normal life. But physicians generally consider the condition as chronic, only if the above symptoms last for more than two weeks.

Symptoms of Depression

Although in psychology we cannot generalize, as whenever brain or emotions are involved each case is a unique case. But, still there are some common symptoms, which can be alluded towards presence of depression. Some of the symptoms commonly found in depression include feelings of intense sadness, feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless, feeling unmotivated, feeling uninterested in otherwise pleasurable activities and feeling tired all the time. Also it has been noted that there is also a sense of guilt present among people , they tend to find themselves guilty for almost all small or big incidents of their life.

Depression also affect our sleep pattern, either the person suffering from depression will have insomnia or Hypersomnia. Depression also causes loss of concentration or impaired concentration which makes people suffering from depression restless and leads to a state of indecisiveness, making it difficult for them to conclude to decisions.

Other symptoms like loss of interest, not finding anything delightful, disturbed eating habits like excessive eating or loss of appetite and either significant weight loss or weight gain. There are many more symptoms like feeling life is useless, in some extreme cases even thoughts of suicide, causing self harm etc can also be found.

Neuropsychological Analysis of Depression

Our brain is made up of neurons, whenever we do something or even when we think something; signals are transferred from one neuron to another. During this process some chemicals are exchanged by the neurons. There are receivers and transmitters at both ends of a neuron. Whenever a signal is sent, some chemicals are released by the transmitter and the same are received by the receiver. Once the signal is received by the receiver neuron, these chemicals are sucked back by the same transmitter, then some part of these chemicals is thrown away and some is recycled by the brain.

For proper functioning of our neuron system, a ratio is to be maintained for the amount of the chemical released. If more chemicals are secreted that the amount that can be accommodated by the receiver, then the person starts to show symptoms of Schizophrenia, in which the person starts to have hallucinations and irregular social behavior. Similarly, if these chemicals are released in lesser number, than what required by the receiver then the effected person starts to show, symptoms of depression and hypertension.

What studies say?

There are many research teams across the globe, working on finding more about depression, so that we can fight against it, in a better way. Many research teams have found different causes and effects of depression on human body. Some of them are significant breakthroughs, while some have increased our knowledge about depression.

In one such study it has been found that genetics also play a major role in growth of depression. The length of Serotonin transporter gene, present in our DNA, is considered to play a very important role in how a person reacts to stressful conditions. Our DNA structure consists of 2 sets of Serotonin transporter gene. Depending on the length of its strands, this gene can either be considered short or long. If both genes are short then individual is more prone to getting depressed under difficult situations, when compared with a person with both long or one long and one short gene.

Another study suggests that depression is a state of prolonged stress response. Stress response or hyper arousal or acute stress response is a physiological response system which is used for quick responses under life threatening or harmful conditions. It is controlled by our autonomous nervous system. This response system is designed in such a way that it will try to keep our body alive at whatever cost it has to pay.

Stress response is designed in such a way to be active for a few minutes and in some extreme cases a few hours. But it has been observed that in depression patients, their stress response to be active from a few weeks up to a few years, which adversely affects our senses and brain.

How to deal with Depression?

Although depression has many types of treatments but, it is recommendable to consult a physician, if symptoms of depression lasts for more than two weeks. There are many proven medications available which when taken under proper guidance can easily keep depression under control. There are also many psychotherapies available, generally called talk therapies or psychological therapies.

Depression is something more psychological, rather than being just physical. The physical symptoms are generally the after effects of psychological effects. These therapies help to determine the state of mind, the negative beliefs, different insecurities and other causes associated with the patient, so that help could be provided where it is required.

Proper diet, proper sleeping habits, exercising and meditation can also be used for treatment. If the condition is not too severe then these can also be used as a standalone method for treatment of depression, otherwise it can compliment with other treatments.

Exercising and meditation can help body relax and feel relieved from physical, mental and emotional stress. It also helps to keep negative energy under check and increases positive energy. A half an hour walk each day is enough to recharge your mood. It also helps in maintaining proper blood circulation.

Proper sleep and proper diet makes sure that your body remains properly nourished and healthy. Although sleeping and eating pattern is disturbed in depression, but with proper exercises and a strong will you can maintain proper eating habits and sleeping pattern.

Generally its treatment not only requires your own will, but also a lot of support from your family and loved ones. Their support and encouragement plays a major role in the treatment. In depression one starts feeling unwanted and hopeless, if there is support from family and friends, then with proper efforts, they can make the person feel important and motivated.