Depression leading cause of mental illness

Health experts state crying reduces emotional and physical ailments

ISLAMABAD: Depression has been discovered to be one of the leading causes of mental illness. Mental health experts warn that if it is left unidentified or even unattended it can lead to severe long term mental and physical issues. Indicators of depression include feelings of loneliness, excessive stress, lack of motivation, boredom, loss of appetite and excessive sleep.

If left undiagnosed or without any support or intervention by family members, a person suffering from depression can end up using substance abuse and opioid abuse as a means of coping with this consuming state of mind.

“The brain of a person experiencing depression goes through certain chemical changes, if the intensity of those changes increases, it can lead to various severe mental health problems,” warns Nazish Yousuf.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Hamid Rashid Khwaja stated that depression has become extremely common among children. He added that 37 per cent children have been diagnosed with depression, and out of this 17 to 18 suffer from suicidal thoughts.

Lack of attention from parents and family is believed to be the leading cause behind depression among young people.

Concerned psychologists and psychiatrists have termed depression as a ‘silent killer’ and have suggested that governments take the initiative to start programmes designed to raise awareness about depression and outline ways to overcome it, so that that problem can be curbed.

A surprising source of healing

According to health experts crying can be extremely beneficial for one’s wellbeing, as it prevents us from potential health hazards. Medically tears act as a safety valve by releasing excessive stress hormones. These hormones, if left unchecked, can elevate and cause physical ailments and create chaos with our state of mind.

Furthermore, as stress often precedes a good cry, the sense of calm often felt afterwards is at least in part due to a hormonal release. Besides physical benefits, research shows that 85 per cent women and 73 per cent men feel less sad and angry after shedding some tears.

"If there is a reason to cry, do not hold the tears back as doing so will have lethal consequences," advised health expert Dr Sanober.

She further stated, “Chronic stress can increase the risk of heart attacks, damage certain areas of the brain, contribute to digestive issues like ulcers and cause tension headaches and migraines beside other health issues. She added that humans’ ability to cry has survival value, as crying lowers blood pressure; Tears remove toxins from the body by helping humans decrease the stress hormones ‘cortisol’.

Tears, she added reduce manganese, the elevated levels of which could be associated with anxiety irritability and aggression. "Manganese is a mineral which affects mood and is found significantly in greater concentrations in tears than in blood serum.

Men rarely cry that is why they get more angry and frustrated and consequently, the suicide rate is higher in men than in women,” Dr Sanober said, adding that crying also decreases depression. Moreover, she said tears were antibacterial and cleared the eyes of infections and dust particles.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2018.