Depression is the name of intense mental disorders that can affect one’s daily life negatively. Basically, it is a mood disorder that makes a person confused about what the person wants or not. Mostly, people intermingle the concept of simple grief with the major depression but these are the two sides of the same coin. In this state of mind, one feels away from one’s close ones. As the result, nobody can easily understand the situations of the depressed person. Especially, the term depression has spread rapidly in the youths as compared to the adult, as there are more societal pressures on youngsters as compared to the adult. Also, day by day, the competitions are increasing among people for getting a stable life. For achieving a stable life, the struggle has been started from a very young age such as many inter or undergraduates are doing part time jobs. So, these responsibilities accelerate a teenager’s transition to adulthood, which can increase the chances of mental instability in youngsters as they are not enough mature. In such scenarios, the growth of depression is increasing day by day due to which people face a lot of challenges in their entire lives. The article is based on what are the main causes and effects of depression, and the solutions for overcoming it.
Additionally, there are many kinds of depression such as persistent depression (dysthymia) or substance or medication-induced depressive disorder, the main focus of this article is the interpretation of the main depressive disorder. So, a question may arise about how to scrutinize the signs of the major depression. Broadly speaking, there are basic two conditions through which one can detect the causes of the major depression, but the condition is if they last more than two weeks. One condition is a low or gloomy mood that lasts over two weeks whereas another condition is the lack of enthusiasm for enjoyable activities regularly for a week. In addition to these two symptoms, other symptoms are insomnia, fatigue, psycho motor agitation, somatic and cognitive changes, Thanatophobia (fear of death), and so on.
Consequently, several factors can lead to the diagnosis of depressions. First of all, Environment plays a huge role in worsening the conditions of a depressed person. To elaborate the previous point, it can be said that there are varieties of people living in a society both positive and negative. Due to different backgrounds of people, there are different impacts of behaviour on each other such as some make a beneficial environment while few make a pessimistic environment. In such cases, the seeds of depression are growing on the basis of discrimination among different sets of a society. Such unfavourable comparisons can low down the self-esteem level of few sensitive people. As a result, the roots of depression are increasing day by day. Additionally, some other root causes of depression include breakdown of close relationships and the loss of one’s closed ones. There is a natural phenomenon that everyone has some attachment with their close fellows or relatives. So, the loss of such attachments can easily trigger the sense of detachment in a person. In such situation of disconnections, a person becomes unable to find a right direction in his/her life ahead.
In addition to the previous causes of the depression, another basic cause is the financial crises in this 21st century. In this 21st century, the majority of middle class people are facing the financial crises due to increasing unemployment day by day. Such financial insecurities can lead one towards hopelessness in every stage of life, either social or personal stage. As a result, a person cannot concentrate on his basic goals because he loses interest in each and every situation. Also, day by day, the competitions are increasing among people for getting a stable life.
In order to expand the discussion on the depression, lets elaborate how depression can affect different variety of people. So, depression manifests differently in men and women. It is often perceived as a universal experience that the chances of depression have been recorded more in women as compared to men because women’s emotional reactions are often more visible and vocal. Moreover, societal expectations play a huge role shaping in these differences such as men are encouraged to be strong and dominant whereas women are likely be dependent on others. Broadly speaking, the shadow of depression has covered more youngsters as compared to the adults due to; academic pressures, intense usage of social media, social expectations, and much more. Because of immature mind-sets, the young generation cannot figure out the proper way of handling such situations of mental instability. Also, the roots of depression can easily catch the life of youngsters in the case when they are facing emotional, social, and academic breakdown. In such cases, many close people may abandon them which can lead a person to depression.
Furthermore, depression can imbalance the hormones which are the reason of enhancing the chances of joyful thoughts in a depressed person. Basically the mental disorders often disturb the serotonin hormones in one’s body. These hormones play a crucial role in promoting the happy thoughts and emotions. So, in such cases, the lower level of these hormones lead to sadness, loss of interest, and reduce motivation. Then, in severe cases, the depression also imbalance the stress hormones which make the condition of the person worsen.
Overall, the effects of depression have grabbed the basic three areas of one’s life that are conceptual, social, and practical. Firstly, the conceptual area contains the memory of a person, emotional attachments or detachments, and all basic concepts about something. Secondly, the social domain may include all relatable skills (communication or apprehension), experiences (physically or mentally), and any other social activities. Last but not the least, the practical domain consists the learning procedures, self-management, concentration in something, and memory (short-term or long-term memory). Along with these effects, the depression strengthens the suicidal thoughts in a person.
As there is an idiom that when there is a will, there is a way. So, the same concept is applicable to the treatment of depression that there are some ways to cure such mental disorders. In the first place, the depressive patient needs to share his/her inner feelings or struggles with a professional psychologist or any closed relative in helping to fight with the disease. Similarly, the patients should take care of their bodies by routine relaxation exercise or avoid the negativity in their surroundings. Also, in such depressive situations, one must seek joy in small or silly things such as watching comedies or cracking jokes that act as a mediation for them. Lastly, if the condition of the person is becoming severe with the passage of time, instead of such exercises and mediations, then the person needs to take proper psychotherapy from professional therapists or medications from psychiatrists.
Likewise, the lack of education about such disease in youth can also lead them to experience such mental disorders, because they cannot recognize the signs of depression easily due to which they consider it lightly. Such ignorance about mental disorders can delay the process of meditation that can spread it in every fourth teenagers (on the basis of WHO survey). Without proper knowledge about mental disorders, depression can be increasing throughout the world day by day. Moreover, this ignorance affects not only individuals, but also their social communities such as family and friends. In such situations of mental disorders, there should be increase in awareness about mental disorders and its symptoms. To address this, we can increase awareness through different workshops, campaigns, and such like. This awareness can promote mental health supports or resources widely, that can create a positive environment.
To wrap up, depression is an alarming mental disorder that can affect millions of people worldwide. If a person is struggling with this disorder, then s/he should know that depression is not a sign of weakness but a signal that you need only a good support. Throughout the journey of healing, one must be enough courageous to find out the spark of hope of healing in the darkest state of mental instability. Through awareness, understanding, and support, it is easy to overcome such mental disorders.
Saba Noor
Islamia College Peshawar
A student of BS English Literature student at Islamia College Peshawar with a deep passion for social activism and writing. As a social activist, I’m dedicated to advocating for the rights and development of underrepresented communities, including my own in swabi. In addition, I’m a writer with a diverse background, skilled in crafting plays, fictional short stories, and news journals, showcasing my versatility across various writing genres. I actively seek opportunities to raise awareness and drive positive change, utilizing both my voice and my pen to make a meaningful impact.