Depression, symptoms, causes and ways to overcome

What is depression?

It is normal to feel low sometimes in our daily life. But when these feelings last for a long time and they don't leave you, it can be depression. Then, life seems a bit dull, empty and hopeless, and positive things turn into negative.

It is important to understand the symptoms and causes of depression and then to treat it.

There are ups and downs in the lives of all of us. When one fails, the person becomes unhappy. Sometimes people even give the name of depression to minor misery, which is totally wrong. Depression is different from normal sadness. Let's understand it with its definition:

According to Medi Lexicon’s Medical Dictionary, depression is “a mental state or chronic mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation (or less frequently agitation), withdrawal from social contact, and vegetative states such as loss of appetite and insomnia.”

Symptoms of depression

If you see one or more of the following symptoms match you, you are likely to be depressed:

a.    Either you have no sleep or you get it too much.

b.    You cannot concentrate and have difficulty while doing the tasks you used to do easily before.

c.    You feel hopeless and helpless.

d.    No matter how hard you try, you cannot stop your negative thoughts.

e.    Either you have no hunger or you eat too much.

f.     You become aggressive faster than ever.

g.    You drink more alcohol than usual.

h.    You feel that life is not worth living and you have suicidal thoughts in your mind.

Causes of depression

There are precise causes of some illnesses and it is easy to treat them. If you have diabetes, take insulin, have appendicitis, then have surgery. But depression is a slightly complex issue. This can happen because of biological, psychological and social imbalance. In other words, one can suffer from it because of his or her lifestyle, relationships and the way of handling problems. There are other factors which increase the chances of depression, as well:

a.    Loneliness

b.    Lack of social support

c.    Financial problems

d.    Recent stressful experiences

e.    Complications in marital or other relationships

f.     Poor childhood

g.    Alcohol or drugs intake

h.    Unemployment

i.      Work pressure

Understanding the exact cause of depression can make it easier to treat. For example, if someone is going into depression because of his or her job, then any other good job or employment can be much more beneficial for him than getting an antidepressant. If you are bothered by loneliness, spending time with friends or pursuing a good hobby may be more beneficial for you. In such cases, depression can only be relieved by changing circumstances.

How to overcome depression

Just as the symptoms and causes of depression are different in different people, so are the ways to overcome it. In most cases, no treatment method is sufficient. If you experience symptoms of depression in yourself or in one of your well-wishers, take some time to explore treatment options. In most cases, the best approach is a combination of these measures: social support, lifestyle changes, emotional skill building, and professional help.

Ask for help:

If you are depressed, do not hide it. Depression is a very common illness, and its treatment is completely possible. Hiding it is like promoting it, discuss it in your family and consult your best friends. Visiting a psychologist directly can be a good way to get rid of depression.

Here's how you can do this:

a.    By improving relationships

b.    By exercising daily

c.    By eating healthy foods

d.    Using relaxation techniques

e.    By changing negative thoughts