Written By Daksh Manpuria (Grade 5)
One-fifth of the population of India experienced depression during the pandemic. When I heard this news is got very sad. I wanted to tell you this so that everyone could be more aware. Humans are at risk because of depression because it can change their behaviour.
The symptoms of depression are hopeless outlook, lost interest in activities, sleeping problems, anxiety, irritability, changes in appetite and weight, uncontrollable emotions, and looking at death. Luckily even in the midst of the pandemic, Neither my close ones nor my family members experienced depression. I have also not experienced depression. We can overcome depression by taking a brisk walk for fifteen to thirty minutes every day, eating healthy food (some people do not like to eat healthy food), not dwelling on problems, expressing ourselves, and noticing good things. By doing all these we can avoid depression. A famous person named Dwayne Johnson suffered from depression. There’s no cure for depression but there are lots of effective treatments for it. The most effective one is a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant. Others are CBT, SSRIs, etc. Depression can damage our brains for the rest of our life. Depression can be removed by taking steps on your own, slipping on your sneakers, being food positive, curbing smoking and drinking, getting better sleep, meditating your way to calm, phoning a friend, taking pets to the park, planting trees, turning on the music. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy is the therapeutic measure that should be taken during depression. We can also consult a doctor about what to do to avoid it. Doctors can also treat depression patients. They often start by prescribing an SSRI. These drugs are considered safer and generally cause fewer bothersome side effects than other types of antidepressants. It can also cure it and sometimes it cannot. Depression is a common and serious medical illness. Taking medicine for our depression can help us get our life back to normal, especially if we also get counselling. Depression is a serious illness, and for many individuals living with depression, depressive episodes are recurrent so it doesn’t mean it is hopeless. Also, depression is not permanent it’s temporary. As depression starts to affect the brain’s chemical balances, neurons in the hippocampus shrink, which can cause difficulty concentrating and memory loss. Antidepressants will not change our personality if taken correctly. They will help you feel like yourself again and return to your previous level of functioning. Weight gain is a possible side effect of nearly all antidepressants. However, each person responds to antidepressants differently. Some people gain weight when taking a certain antidepressant, while others don’t. However, most antidepressants are generally safe. As an individual I can help a person with depression by starting a conversation, helping the person find support, supporting them in continuing therapy, taking care of them, learning about depression on my own, offering to help with everyday tasks, extending loose invitations, being patient.
Featured Image Courtesy – Healthline