Depression is a common disorder where you feel ‘down’ all the time.If you think you might have depression, you're not alone. Find out more about this common, treatable condition and what to do if you're affected by it.
We all feel low or down at times but if your negative emotions last a long time or feel very severe, you may have depression.Depression is a mood disorder where you feel very down all the time.Depression can happen as a reaction to events like family breakdown, death of a family member, bad exam results. But it can happen without any preceding cause or it can run in families.Depression is one of the most common types of mental illness. Although it's hard to feel optimistic when you're depressed, there is lots of support available to help you feel better.Celebrities like Deepika Padukone opened up about how counselling and medicines helped her get through her work and how she has learned to accepted her condition.
Most commonly starts between 25 and 44 years old
General population: 1 in every 6
Females are generally twice more likely to have depression compared to males
Depression affects different people in different ways. Symptoms can include:
• Persistent sad, pessimistic, or empty feelings
• Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that you previously enjoyed
• avoiding friends or social situations
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Tiredness and loss of energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening or oversleeping
• Change in appetite and/or weight loss or weight gain.
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive disorders, chronic pain
• Thoughts of death or suicide
Experience one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you’re affected by depression. It’s important to talk a psychiatrist or a general physician to get a full diagnosis.
• Reduction in self care and functioning
• Self Harm
• Suicide
Take the first step – depression can affect anyone, and you deserve help to feel better. Talk to someone you think can guide you, a psychiatrist or a general physician.
Depression can be treated with medication or therapy, or a combination of both therapy and medication. Exercise can also help relieve symptoms. The most likely therapy you will be offered is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to help you manage your thoughts and feelings, although other types of talking therapy are available.
MATERS Trust envision a Bangladesh where every individual has opportunity to gain optimum mental health and where every individual with a mental health disorder has access to necessary facilities for early identification, treatment and management.
