India is not an exception to the fact that depression affects millions of people worldwide. While some studies claim that the prevalence of depression is rising, others contend that it is decreasing. By far the most common condition, depression accounts for 99% of all mental and neurological disorders. Major Depressive Disorder and its related mood disorders, such as bipolar, postpartum, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and suicide, are all included under this condition.
Even if some characteristics make depression more likely to occur, anyone can experience depression, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity. No of your demographics or health state, depression is never a “normal” aspect of life.
Types of Depression
Several types of depression exist, and their symptoms may show up in slightly different ways.
1. Major Depressive Disorder
This is the kind of depression that is often referred to as clinical depression. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 19.4 million adults, or 7.8 percent of all adults in the United States, had at least one episode of major depression in 2019. Additionally, it was observed over the years that this kind of depression was noticed in women (around 9.6%) and people between the ages of 18 and 25 years (15.2 %).
2. Persistent Depressive Disorder
Persistent depressive disorder, or dysthymia, is a type of chronic depression that lasts 2 years or longer. It generally involves milder feelings of sadness and hopelessness, along with other depression symptoms. Furthermore, around 3% of people in the U.S. suffer from this kind of depression.
3. Bipolar Depression
People having bipolar disorder suffer from an episode of depression. However, it happens to some of them. According to a 2015 review of 25 population- and community-based studies:
- Lifetime prevalence of bipolar I was 1.06 percent, and 0.71 percent of people had bipolar I in a given year.
- The lifetime prevalence of bipolar II was 1.57 percent, and 0.50 percent of people had bipolar II in a given year.
4. Seasonal Depression
Mood swings that coincide with climatic fluctuations characterize seasonal affective disorder, also known as a major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. Also, some people experience the symptoms of seasonal depression in the spring and summer, but for the majority, it starts in the autumn and lasts through the winter. Furthermore, women, adolescents, and persons who live at higher elevations are more likely than others to have seasonal depression.
5. Postpartum Depression
After childbirth, mood swings and transient sensations of sorrow are extremely common. number of factors, such as hormonal changes, loss of sleep, and the demands of caring for a newborn, can cause these ‘baby blues’.
Additionally, loss of appetite, social disengagement, and unpleasant feelings can all be signs of postpartum depression. It might also have an impact on your bond with the infant.
Symptoms of Depression
There are various symptoms of depression that are prevalent in people. The symptoms are as follows:
- unusual irritability or difficulty managing anger
- changes in energy, including restlessness, fatigue, or a sense of being slowed down
- loss of enjoyment in your usual interests, including hobbies or spending time with friends and loved ones
- a tendency to ruminate on regrets and fears, mistakes you believe you’ve made, or other dark thoughts
- insomnia or oversleeping
- chronic fatigue
- changes in appetite and weight
Prevalence Rates of Depression in India
The comparative depression rates in different countries in the year 2023 are mentioned below:
Treatment Tips for Depression
There are effective treatments for this condition. These include psychological treatment and medications.
Treatment Types
The initial therapies are psychological ones. In cases of moderate and severe depression, healthcare professionals can use them in conjunction with antidepressant medicines. Furthermore, for moderate depression, antidepressant medicines are not necessary. New ways of thinking, coping, or interacting with others can be learned through psychological therapy. They might consist of supervised lay therapists and professional talk therapy. Both in-person and online talk therapy are options. Also, access to psychological therapy is possible via self-help books, websites, and applications.
New ways of thinking, coping, or interacting with others can be learned through psychological therapy. They might consist of supervised lay therapists and professional talk therapy. Both in-person and online talk therapy are options. Access to psychological therapy is possible through self-help books, websites, and mobile apps.
Psychological Treatments
Effective psychological treatments include:
- Behavioral activation
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Interpersonal psychotherapy
- Problem-solving therapy
Antidepressant medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine. Additionally, doctors should not use antidepressants for treating this condition in children and should not consider them as the first line of treatment in adolescents, among whom they should use them with extra caution.
Self-Care
1. Staying Active– One should engage in a variety of activities when depressed. One can increase the number of activities they enjoy by making a list of past activities they used to enjoy, including as many as possible, planning one of these activities each day, increasing the amount of time available for those activities, and reflecting on or noting what they enjoyed about an activity afterward. However, one can also talk to others about their favourite activities.
2. Sleeping Pattern– Sleep habits may be disturbed by the stated condition. To fully recuperate, it’s important to make an effort to return to a regular sleep schedule. It is best to have a consistent bedtime and wakeup schedule. Additionally, trying to limit your intake of caffeine-containing beverages (such coffee, strong tea, cola, or energy drinks) to no more than two cups per day can be quite helpful.
3. Negative Thoughts– Worrying or thinking negatively is common in people suffering from depression. As a matter of fact, this affects the ability to focus on getting better and makes you more vulnerable to unhealthy emotions. Also, journaling is a great way to narrow down your thoughts and in turn it will eradicate the level of this condition.
4. Dealing with Irritability– Those who are depressed occasionally become agitated. Changes in sleeping habits and lifestyle might make these symptoms worse. Also, telling your friends, family, and coworkers about your struggles and the possibility that you could come out as irritated will help you cope with this. If you see yourself getting upset, stop and take a break to calm down.
Conclusion
Depression is a condition that affects millions of people globally, and India is no exception. Treatment for depression involve medications, saying active, psychological therapy and others.
