Depression : A complex and multifaceted illness

Depression is a common yet complex and multifaceted illness. It creates impact on  millions of people in the world and a huge amount of people are affected which is increasing day by day. Approximately 300 millions of people face depression. It is more than just feeling sad or down , as it can significantly impact a human's life, affecting their emotions, behaviors ,mental and physical health.

Now a days it is a very crucial problem in the world. Everyone now thinks about this problem to solve it. Depression can create daily life difficult for both the person who is suffering from it and also their loved ones. It can cause feeling of worthlessness , hopelessness and emptiness, Leading to a loss of interest in activities which were once enjoyable .It can hinder relationships, work, performance and daily activities. It is also making  difficult to function their brain . Depression can occur at any age . Adults are facing this problem too much. Sad about the depression is that many people have been motivated to harm themselves even they want to end their lives.

The causes of Depression

People are having depression in many ways . Some of people get depressed very easily and it is not their fault. Problem is the culture and their trend which actually creates huge impacts on people . If you are not follow the culture and their trend ,you will face many problems as mental and physical which you can not tolerate. People who can not tolerate those problems or situations they suffer from depression . So depression is caused by a combination of environmental, cerebral factors. family history, hormonal imbalances and traumatic life events which similar as abuse neglect or the loss of a loved one, toxic  relationships as friend or lover can increase the risk of developing depression. 
Other factor, similar as family problem , economical problem,  habitual stress, substance abuse, or a lack of social support can also exploit to the development of depression.

Depression can affect people of all ages , races, and backgrounds. It is more common in women than men. some people may be more vulnerable to depression due to their personality traits or coping mechanisms. For examples, those who tend to ruminate on negative thoughts or avoid confronting problems, they  may be  get easily into depression.

symptoms of  Depression

Depression can manifest in different ways and can vary in severity, duration , and frequency. Some common symptoms of depression include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, on hopelessness.
• Loss of enjoyment or interest in the better part of everyday deeds.
• Sleep disturbances such as insomnia or oversleeping.
• Changes in appetite on weight.
• Fatigue or loss of energy.
• Difficulty to concentrate and make decisions feeling of worthlessness or guilt.
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

The severity and duration  of those symptoms can vary from person to person. Not everyone with depression experiences all of these symptoms. A teenager has different symptoms and adults have another symptoms. One thing is common that they all suffer pain which a normal people can not relate. Click here for more details.

Diagnosing Depression

Diagnosing depression requires a thorough evaluation by an inward health professional, for example a psychiatrist or psychologist. They both are professional. Psychiatrist is a specialist who has trained as a medical doctor and psychologist is also a professional who studies the human mind. They will find the person's symptoms, medical history , and any medications or supplements they are taking. They may also conduct laboratory tests like blood test, hormone test or  or imaging studies to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms.

Treatment for Depression

Depression is a treatable illness . There are several effective treatments available in the world .The most common treatments include:

Medications: Antidepressants are medications can help alleviate the symptoms of depression by increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. They are usually prescribed by a psychiatrist on primary care physician.

psychotherapy: Also known as talk therapy, psychotherapy involves meeting with a trained therapist and it could be one or more then one to explore the underlying causes of depression and develop coping skills to manage symptoms. Normal types of psychotherapy include cognitive - behavioral remedy , interpersonal remedy, and psychodynamic remedy.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): ECT is a treatment that involves delivering electrical currents to the brain while the person is under general anesthesia. it is usually reserved for severe cases of depression that have not responded to other treatments.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): TMS is a non-invasive treatment that involves delivering magnetic pulses to the brain to stimulate nerve cells that are thought to be involved in mood regulation. It is generally used when other treatments have not been effective.

In addition to these treatments, lifestyle, eating and getting enough sleep can also help alleviate the symptoms of depression.

Does treating depression always require medication ?

one of the most prevalent mental illness is depression. People who are depressed often feel as though they are trapped in a dark , deep pit with no way out for weeks or months at time. The signs and symptoms of chronic depression persist for years. The symptoms of depression can be reduced and eased with treatment. Just you have to follow the whole process.

One thing is to wait and see if the symptoms go away again without treatment if the depression is mild or has just started. However, this "watchful waiting" strategy does not imply that the symptoms are disregarded or that nothing is done. It's crucial to maintain contact with physician and schedule routine appointments so you can  explain how you are feeling and how to cope with the situation.

Family and friends also play a vital role to support you on this situation. Therefore, it is typically crucial to seek immediate medical attention for depression because the symptoms can be extremely distressing and lost for a long time , especially in cases of moderate or severe depression . This holds true even if a person experiences persistent depression or has thoughts of harming or killing themselves .The person who is depressed he always struggles with himself to find a peaceful environment . Only his family and close members and friends can help them to come out from this situation .

Md. SHOURAV ANSARY

Md. SHOURAV ANSARY is a student at BRAC University . Currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering. His ambition to become an Entrepreneur. He loves to spend time with nature. HE is a Dog lover. He spends his leisure time to watch movies and listen songs and he loves to travels.