Can you bell Depression
- WHO on Depression
- Depression is a common illness worldwide, with an estimated 350 million people affected
- Over 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.
- Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
- More women are affected by depression than men.
August 11, 2014 world woke up hearing the suicide news of actor, director Robin Williams. It was unbelievable. Can a man who could make us laugh out loud with movies like Mrs Doubtfire could do this.
In 2016 Hollywood actress Kristen Bell spoke openly about her fight with depression
‘There’s nothing weak about struggling with mental illness’
In the year 2015 Deepika Padukone stated that she was battling depression
“There were days when I would feel okay, but at times, within a day, there was a roller-coaster of feelings. Finally, I accepted my condition. The counseling helped, but only to an extent. Then, I took medication, and today I am much better.”
The year 2016 saw two violent episodes of mass killing at Orlando, US and Nice, France. Both the cases in addition to killers showing support to IS, they both suffered from ‘Depression’.
Millions Diagnosed With Depression Every Year
Courtesy@ happierhuman.com
- 10% of people were affected by anxiety in North America, Western Europe, and Australia/New Zealand
- 8% of people in the Middle East were affected by anxiety
- 6% of people in Asia were affected by anxiety
- 9% of people in Asian and Middle Eastern countries, such as India and Afghanistan, had major depression
- 4% of people had major depression in North and South America, New Zealand, Australia, and East Asian countries like China, Thailand and Indonesia (These facts are based on study published by Queensland university, couple of years back)
Depression Clinically defined
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.
The best way to understand what depression is and what it does to one’s life is to read the book
“I Had a Black Dog” by Mathew Johnstone
Breaking the cycle of depression
The key to break the cycle of depression is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day.
Step 1: Stay connected
Social support is essential to depression recovery. Staying connected to other people and the outside world will make a world of difference in your mood and outlook.
Step 2: Get going
Research shows that regular exercise can be as effective as medication for relieving depression symptoms. It also helps prevent relapse once you are well.
Step 3: Reignite your passion
Do things that relax and energize you. This could be a hobby, job or simple task like cooking. This can lift your mood immediately.
Step 4: Stay healthy
Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy a meal with your friends. Ensure you get good sleep and find time for relaxation.
Step 5: Take care of your diet
What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel. Reduce your intake of foods that can adversely affect your brain and mood like excess sugar, fried foods etc. Try to include food rich in Vitamin B and Omega 3 fatty acids.
Help yourself:
Depression foundation powered by Deepika Padukone : Live Love Laugh Foundation
Live Love Laugh Foundation : Deepika Padukone
Depression @ Apps:
Daily tools for stress and anxiety alongside a supportive community. Available on IOS, Android and Web.
MoodTools is designed to help one to combat depression and alleviate negative moods, aiding one on road to recovery. MoodTools is free, contains no advertisements, and is a purely non-profit venture aimed at helping people suffering from clinical depression.
A self-help app aimed at those dealing with mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety.
An app developed by nSmiles founder Teju, a counselor and engineer by herself. The Happy Being App has got more than 1.5L downloads and was on global top charts.
Act now. If you are a silent sufferer or you know some one who suffers from depression, start immediately, before you loose them for ever……
