Let's talk about depression

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the world. Almost everyone feels down from the time to time. Getting a bad grade, losing a job, having an argument, even a rainy day can bring on feeling of sadness. Clinical depression is different. It's a medical disorder and it won't go away just because you wanted to. It lingers for at least two consecutive weeks and significantly interferes with one's ability to work, play or love. Depression can have a lot of different symptoms: a low mood, loss of interest in things you'd normally enjoy, changes in appetite, feeling worthless or excessively guilty or recurrent thoughts of suicide and many.

Depression has physical manifestations inside the brain. Neuroscientists still don't have a complete picture of what causes depression and because depression symptoms are intangible. It's hard to know who might look fine but is actually struggling. According to International Institute of Mental Health, it takes the average person suffering with a mental illness over 10 years to ask for the help. But there are very effective treatments too. Medication and therapy complement each other to boost brain chemicals. And in extreme cases, electroconvulsive therapy is also very helpful. Other treatments like Transcranial Magnetic stimulation are being investigated too. So, if you know someone struggling with depression, encourage them gently to seek outcome of these options, or the best if you suggest them to speak out whatever they have inside them to any of their trustworthy. Talking to yourself or anyone for a few minutes in a day to clear your head is the best way to relax.

Lina Sharma,

Tihu (Nalbari).