How to tackle Depression?
Once you start down the slippery slope of depression, it’s hard to climb off of it. And, sometimes you don’t want to climb off of it.”
– Keary Taylor
Dr. Ram Tirath Agarwal, 69, Psychologist for almost four decades and retired from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) shared, “It’s mostly the youth who faces depression, to be precise, those working in multi -national companies (MNC’s) because they have a lot of work pressure on them.” He further added, “As per my experience, the best way to tackle a depressed person is to keep him away from another depressed person because if they both are together, it will increase their depression level. Apart from allopathic medicines, homeopathy and ayurvedic treatments are also advised.”
Dr. Garima Mehta, 28, Psychologist and a Child Counselor for depressed children at Sukhayu Bhava, Gurgaon, has an experience of five years shared few important queries:
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When and why people face depression?
Depression is lowering of our mood and energy. Every one of us faces depression at some moment of our life but some cope up but others get drained into it. Person gets into depression because of any tragic life situation which has had a heavy impact on his or her psychological and emotional balance leading to excessive negative thinking.
A report on Global Burden of Disease estimated depression to be more common in women as compared to men, statistically described to be 1.9% in men and 3.2% for women. A deep concern and attention needs to be attained for the depressed people because if the current status remains so, the rate will increase to 5.7% by the year 2020.
Should people take anti-depressant pills?
No, keep yourself away from pills, as unhappiness can never be cured by medicines, so it is better to go for natural processes.
On the other hand Dr. Rekha Deshmukh, 62, who has experience of more than two decades in psychology and is presently practicing at Sukh-Samvad Counseling, New Delhi, informs about necessary details like:
Should people take anti-depressant pills?
Counseling is first mode of therapy but psychiatrist’s consultation is advised for the people who:
1. Face suicidal attempts or imagine committing suicide.
2. If they face depression on daily basis.
3. If symptoms of bipolar depression, postpartum depression etc. is chronic, counseling along with medicines are is a must
4. Medicine/pills are prescribed for minimum/necessary duration and should be moderated by the psychiatrist and the dosage should be tapered off only after taking the psychiatrist’s advice.
5. Antidepressants are designed to boost mood and relieve sadness. In India there is a widespread fear of taking medicines with a thought of getting addicted to it.
6. So, as to avoid it, proper education should be imparted in the schools. Unfortunately, few clients quit taking the pills soon after experiencing the side effects like- weight gain or drowsiness.
7. So, it is advisable for depressive patients to take pills but they should not quit taking prescribed pills before the duration told by psychiatrists otherwise depression symptoms will return.
8. People should consult their psychiatrist and inform them about whether the effect of pills is there or not for an alternative.
9. I have observed few individuals who continue to take prescribe pill unnecessarily for years .So, family members should be alert. This is where addiction to the pills sets in.
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What are the signs and symptoms of depression in teens?
1. Constant feeling of sadness.
2. Frequently crying for no reason.
3. Prefers staying in isolation.
4. Has no proper eating or sleeping habit.
5. Feels restless, guilty, worthless and agitated.
6. Faces difficulties in concentrating.
7. Ponders over thoughts of death or suicide.
8. Shows lack of enthusiasm and motivation.
9. Fatigue.
10. Feels hopeless regarding everything.
If you are unsure whether an adolescent in your life is depressed or just ‘being a teenager’, consider the proximity in the symptoms that he or she shows, how severe they are and how different the teen is acting from his or her usual self.
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How should people tackle their children with depression and vice versa?
1. By talking to them about their problems and offering support to them.
2. Advise them to keep in touch with their good friends.
3. Engage them in some activities and then talk to them.
4. Make them feel that they are important.
What is the importance of black color in depression?
There is a separate branch known as color psychology. The color black relates to the hidden, secretive and the unknown, as a result it creates an air of mystery. It keeps things bottled up inside, hidden from the world.
In color psychology, this color gives protection from external emotional stress. It creates a barrier between itself and the outside world, providing comfort while protecting its emotions and hiding its vulnerabilities, insecurities and lack of self confidence. What black covers, white uncovers. Some of us use it to hide our weight; others use it to hide their feelings, fears or insecurities.
Share with us a case you remember which was difficult and different to tackle?
# Presently, I am handling a case of female veganism (a female unable to involve in any sexual activity). A young couple opted for love marriage and knew each other for five years but never got involved in pre-marital sex. After six month of marriage, frustration took space in their lives rather than love due to the lack of sex life. They approached me for counseling, the man was very depressed and so was his wife. A lot of therapy and counseling for communication problems and sex life was provided; as a result they got a breakthrough from their depression and divorce issues.
# In past, I have handled a case of a young man whose wife died during childbirth and left behind a six year old son. He was taking help of his parents to take care of his child but he was not acknowledging the death of his wife. In his mind, she was still alive and he used to refer to her as if she was still around and alive.
# A Telephonic counseling case came to me where a young unmarried woman, who was having illicit relationship with a married man, did an abortion because she was jilted in love by the man and fell in deep depression.
In India
The World Health Organization identified depressive disorders of adolescence as ‘priority mental health disorder’ which is about 11.2% in India. However, studies have reported that 50% of cases remain undiagnosed. The consequences of depression lead to suicide, school dropout, drug abuse and negative thinking etc.
In January 2010, a cross sectional study was conducted on pre-university students in Mangalore city. The study was assessed using Beck’s Depression Inventory II, which showed an astonishing fact as 79.2% students faced depression out of 308 participants. Majority (41.2%) suffered from moderate followed by mild (26.6%) depression.
In UK
Anti-bullying pressure group, ‘Ditch the Label’ conducted a study on 3,600 youth in April 2014, where 45% of thirteen to eighteen year olds experienced bullying by the age of eighteen and the majority said that the primary reason of bullying them was their physical appearance. The bullying was not merely verbal as 61% were physically attacked and 10% sexually assaulted. This bullying had an impact on 83% of the youth affecting their self-esteem.
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Bullying not only results in low self-esteem but also leads to social exclusion as faced by 63% of the disabled. The fear and loneliness showed its impact as 30% of those who were bullied did not do well in their exams whereas 41% who didn’t face bullying achieved an A or A* in English.
Depression is not a mood swing which should be taken for granted either by parents or children. If parents turn out to be a strong support to their children by creating a friendly and open relationship with them, then such depression cases will hardly be a matter for consideration. Even though, if some people do face any issues as such then counseling from psychologists and psychiatrists is advised for a better life.
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