Untreated Depression can lead to death
A study found that more deaths occurred due to depression than any other ailments.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 264 million people suffer from depression globally; if you think you are one of them then keep reading to know more about it
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses which is associated with the lowering of an individual’s otherwise normal mood. It impacts a large population of the world, and in fact, is the leading cause of disability amongst people. There is no specific age for developing depression, it can be developed by people of any age and social status. Even though depression can exist as a standalone mental disorder, it is commonly found in other psychological disorders like Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Addiction problems, and Anxiety to name a few. Due to the nature of the disorder, depression is often mistaken for sadness and left undiagnosed and untreated, and this mistake has heavy consequences. If depression is left unchecked for a long time it can lead to committing suicide by the one suffering. To distinguish between the feeling of sadness and depression, check for the below-mentioned symptoms.
SYMPTOMS
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Having major mood fluctuations more than once a day, which is recurring in nature. Mood fluctuations are often combined with feeling sad, empty, or hopeless that can be reported by the individual themselves or by people around them.
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Having little to no excitement for any activity they enjoy currently more than once a day, which is recurring in nature.
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Noticing a significant loss in body weight when not on a diet or doing any exercise.
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Experiencing an excessive sleeping routine or no sleeping at all more than once a day, which is recurring in nature.
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Feeling extremely lethargic or fatigued nearly every day, for more than once a day.
TREATMENT
When diagnosed at an early stage, depression can be effectively treated with techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) under the supervision of a trained and professional psychologist. To manage a few symptoms of depression, an individual can practice deep breathing exercises and try journaling their thoughts and emotions.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
Self Assessment for Depression. If you are interested doing a self-assessment on depression please click here
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Megha Shrivastava is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.