Depression: The silent killer

Depression is a silent killer, whose symptoms in most cases are obvious but the idiosyncrasies of each case may not make them apparent until it's too late. It is often ignored and sometimes realised only after it is too late.

CJ: Tristan

Tue, Sep 15, 2009 15:31:59 IST

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Effects of Depression :

WHEN THIRTEEN-year-old Nupur's parents found their daughter with her wrists slit and no pulse, they could not believe what had happened. A pleasant child, she was doing well in school and was loved by all. In retrospect though, they did realise that for the past few months, she had started talking less and spent more time in her room.

We have a silent killer in town, Depression which has gradually been reaping such tragedies as a benefit of our ignorance.

With an increasing number of people falling prey to depression, why is it that we still do not hear public service announcements about it. Even though its symptoms are glaring and the prognosis definite, everything is marked by the idiosyncracies of a case.

Depression comes in many forms, namely:

Postpartum Depression: when it effects the new mothers, or even fathers sometimes.
The Winter Blues: Depression caused specifically in the winter season.
Dysthemia: mild depression which is cyclic in nature, yet can be highly dilapitating.
Adjustment Disorder: caused due to major life changes like shifting, marriage etc.
Major Depression: the most ruthless of them all.

With a culture and a media which propagates the myth that only mentally unsound persons visit a a psychologist, it is difficult to detach the stigma from the ailment and provide comfort and help to those in need. Medicine in depression is known to work, but the key to a long term healthy prognosis is psychotherapy. The sessions are held once a week to everyday, depending on the profound nature of the case.

This might seem time consuming, but the fact is that depression is a state that does not have a one shot cure, makes it worth every penny and every minute.

Some common symptoms of depression include:

fatigue
anhedonia, i.e lack of pleasure or interest in anything
sleeplessness/ oversleeping
loss of appetite/ overeating
thought of suicide and death
feelings of helplessness
unwarranted crying or tearfulness
headaches
pain in the shoulder or neck

More than anything else, a depressed person needs the love, care and most importantly the support of his friends and family. Most importantly, it should not be ignored.

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