What is Depression? Meaning, Causes and Treatments

~Sakshi Desai (@sakshi_desai)

They’re not dead,
But they’re not alive,
They’re not happily living,
Just trying to survive.

The modern world is tremendously fast paced. With tons of responsibilities, deadlines and taxes to pay, people completely ignore their mental health. Almost all of us have heard about the term depression. Even, one or the other amongst us faces this depression. But exactly, what is depression? What is its meaning? What are the causes and treatments?

• Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression.

• Depression is a 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.

WHO

This article is a brief overview of what is depression and its actual meaning.

What is depression? Meaning & Overview

Depression is the feeling of extreme sadness, anxiety and hopelessness. It is also scientifically defined as a mood disorder that may affect an individual’s life.

There are many types, i.e stages of depression.

Depression is not being sad in the times you really have to be sad . It is being sad, anxious, and negative most of the time. This disorder has severe impact in one’s life. Let’s discuss these below.

Understanding how one feels while undergoing depression.

 It is really difficult to completely understand what a depressed person feels. One feels really sad, is stressed, silent and prefers to behave like an introvert.

On the other hand, one gets easily frustrated, feels despaired, and completely loses interest in things. It is exactly not like always being in your bed and weeping all the time, but like feeling sad, lonely and guilty.

A general example portraying what is depression and what causes it

Pravin is a hard-working HSSC student.He likes to play football and is excellent in academics. Let’s suppose, there takes place an unpleasant incident where Pravin is severely mentally shocked.

As a result, he loses all his interest in his hobbies and eventually stoops down in academics. He prefers to stay in his room and doesn’t talk much. He prefers to stay in the dark. Not only that, he also has suicidal thoughts in his mind. 

These are some of the symptoms that appear in any individual suffering from depression. The example briefly provides the meaning of depression in real life.

In general, we can say a person feels very regretful, anxious, and starts losing interest. He/she may also feel that he/she’s not worth being loved.

In addition to that, certain other feelings might arise in any depressed individual. Those include the feeling of being nauseous, lack of interest and lack of self-worth.

It starts becoming difficult to deal with people. It becomes very arduous to make a strong decision about a simple situation. Life stars to seem complicated and irrational.

What causes it?

Now that we have a general idea on what is depression, its meaning and what a depressed person feels like, it’s time to know what its causes are. Typically speaking, certain traumatic events such as the death of a loved one or distancing from loved ones might be one of the causes. In addition to these, there are other incidents that cause a person to be depressed. Some of them are family or social issues, problems at work or education life or an unhealthy relationship.

Now, talking specifically of teenagers, depression in early stages is too critical. The pressure of studies and competitive exams, the constant pressure of achieving good results seem very burdensome. This makes the students feel low and unworthy. In severe cases suicidal thoughts invade, nevertheless sometimes causing death!

In case of office-goers and employees, among other things, depression is caused due to work load, stress and the constant pressure of meeting the deadlines. Again, for a family person (say, a house wife), depression is caused by the feeling of being stressed out due to the overloaded responsibilities of the and family.

Treatments to tackle depression

Many foundations and NGOs work helping people tackle depression. One can approach the psychologists or psychiatrists to avail counselling sessions.

On the other hand, practicing different kinds of yoga poses and meditating can also ease the mind. The best solution would always be to cure the cause of depression. Opening up and sharing feelings or problems to loved ones, friends or family or to a psychiatrist can be the most effective of solutions.

Last but not least, the depressed individual must try vigorously to get rid of the problem. Most importantly, the one suffering from depression must enhance the spirit and the want to get cured ignoring all the negative thoughts. Support of the family, friends and the loved ones is highly necessary.

Conclusion

So, this was a simplified overview to a pretty serious issue, i,e, “What is depression“? Along with the meaning, the causes and a few ways of treatment are also explored in the article.

Concluding the article, in my opinion, depression is a disorder that one can change by will and desire of the mind. All the negativity sadness, anxiety, unworthiness, can be overcome by the the victim himself/herself. We must remember that this is a disorder that can happen to any of us, any day. We must support those that we know are the victims of this disorder.

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air;
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Solitude by Ella Wheeler Wilcox