Do you ever feel your entire life is hanging by a long but fragile thread? That if one of the entwining strands were to come undone, then all aspects of your meticulously crafted existence would unravel into total chaos?
This is certainly how Zara (name changed) felt last year. Some weeks she was unable to sleep, other times she could not wake up from when she finally did catch some shut eye, sometimes four hours a day, other times 14 hours. There were times she could barely stay up to see her children off to school, or to bed, depending on which end of “the depression cycle” as she calls it, she was in. “It was good when I was on several mood stabilisers and I could function but then when I went off them, because I didn’t want to be dependent on drugs, my life would unravel.”
Many sufferers describe their condition as a hopeless void, a bottomless pit that pulls them in deeper and deeper. They speak of not being able to experience happiness in anything, of wanting to crawl into a hole and abdicate from reality, since everything seems worthless to them.
The human mind is an enigma. The brain is one of the most functional and complex organs of the body. In his book Man on his Nature in 1942, pioneering neuroscientist Charles S Sherrington poetically describes the awakening brain as ‘the enchanted loom’. He writes, “The brain is waking and with it the mind is returning. It is as if the Milky Way entered upon some cosmic dance.” While the brain uses electronic processes to operate, the mind consists of our lives’ subjective mental experiences. The relationship between the two is crucial as both are essential in leading a healthy life.
However, we use and abuse our brain; when we need it most, we subject it to bizarre episodes of sleep deprivation and put it into overdrive. It’s not surprising then, that many mental disorders originate in the brain leading to grave implications and disrupting a person’s life. Detrimental lifestyles, unbalanced eating habits and unhealthy sleep patterns can take a toll on the brain and result in mental health disorders. In other cases, genetic and biological factors disrupt the complex working of this intricate organ.
Depression is one of the most common ailments associated with the elaborate workings of the human mind. It continues to intrigue researchers and medical professionals who seek new expertise on how to deal with this growing phenomenon.
According to a WHO report, by the year 2020, depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease. Further studies show that depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease. The report goes on to say that 15 per cent of the population of most developed countries suffers from severe depression and two-thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek the necessary treatment. Women experience depression about twice as often as men. The one ray of hope in this grim scenario is that statistics show that 80 per cent of all people with clinical depression significantly improve their lives after receiving treatment.
Zara, for example, who is today on a mild anti-depressant, having weaned herself off stronger medicines under the supervision of her psychiatrist, credits therapy coupled with yoga as “my saving graces. Initially I thought it was post-natal depression but a year later, I still felt listless, lethargic and unable to effectively communicate with my therapist. That’s when I started a stronger dose of medicine which helped me at least make it to therapy twice a week and slowly get my appetite back, then start exercising. It was, and is, a long haul.” (Her doctor, who asked not to be named, urges readers to seek medical help, preferably a mental health specialist’s, before taking any drugs, however mild they may appear.)
Many famous personalities have spoken publicly about their battle with depression. The late princess of Wales, Diana; author, J K Rowling; actors Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, and Jim Carrey have grappled with this illness. Speaking about this disease is important in overcoming it since it is the sufferer’s denial of the problem that inadvertently feeds the vicious cycle. When people fabricate excuses to cover the problems they are dealing with, their depression goes untreated and eventually spins out of control.
what does depression feel like?
Sufferers often describe depression as a feeling of emptiness that grows slowly and weighs heavily on the mind, body and soul. Many speak of a feeling of hopelessness, inadequacy or an inexplicable negative sensitivity to things happening around them. Some take to total seclusion, which makes the condition worse. Others fall into deep voids of despair that threaten to suck the very life out of them. Depression is one of the most talked about medical illnesses and it can wreak devastation on individuals and even whole families, if it is allowed to grow unnoticed and untreated.
Turning point
Ashar lay on the hospital bed, his arms stretched outward. His mother and his wife of three months sat by him, tears running down their cheeks. Deep and abundant cuts along the length of his arms were a testament to the inner torment Ashar had been suffering since his early teens. Each cut was a cry for help.
Now, 10 years later, Ashar has a great career and three children. Relaxed and confident, he smiles while recalling the nightmarish 15 years of his life that almost drove him to suicide.
“Depression is not really that easy to treat even if it’s diagnosed early,” he says. “Curing it depends on your emotional support system, the people who you need to be around and feel your pain.”
Ashar describes how becoming a father made him see life differently. “This was a turning point,” he says. “All of a sudden I had a tiny baby who was totally dependent on me. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. I chose to pour all my energy into parenting my baby daughter. It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
what causes depression?
Researchers say that several factors can lead a person to become depressed. The three most important of these are biological, genetic, and environmental factors.
Biologic factors refer to chemical imbalances in the brain where fluctuations in the hormone levels leads to depression. Genetic causes relate to the vulnerability to depression that you inherit from your parents. The environmental or emotional factors are those that result from trauma, stressful emotional situations or the death, or separation of a loved one. In some cases a combination of factors can also result in depression.
Why people are reluctant to seek help
Many depression sufferers do not want to admit they have a problem and are reluctant to see a medical specialist. Others seem to see depression as a form of personal weakness. There seems to be a heightened ignorance with regard to mental illnesses and the urgency they require in terms of treatment. Many people treat the issue as something to be ashamed of and will go to great lengths to conceal therapy. Most people suffering from mental health disorders feel guilty because of the stigma attached. They begin to feel that everyone around them is judging them.
These attitudes need to change. Sufferers of depression must award themselves the same priority they would to others who were suffering from any other potentially serious illness. Ignoring the issue will only let symptoms snowball into much graver circumstances.
depression without a reason?
To the average onlooker, Rabail looked like she had it all: a loving husband, a pretty house in the picturesque Scottish countryside, two devoted children and financial security. However, Rabail never smiled. She always sat with her eyes fixed on a distant spot of the room, while people around her talked and laughed. Even the preparations for her son’s marriage did not give her any joy or excitement.
“It was so hard to see her like that,” says her husband, Javed. “I fell in love with her partly because she was such a fun-loving girl. Sometimes I wondered where that girl has gone.”
Javed brought Rabail to Pakistan to shop for the wedding and see her friends and family. Little had Javed known that this step would help pull his wife out of depression.
Surrounded by relatives taking her out for lunches and visits around the city, Rabail experienced a gradual willingness to join in conversations, expressing her opinion about things and communicating with the people around her.
After years of taking medications, the trip to Pakistan did Rabail more good than all the counseling she had been receiving. Her doctors in the UK attributed the change of environment and increased social interactions.
Mental health experts say depression can stem from a deep sense of unworthiness and lack of self-esteem. The immense negativity and emotional baggage that a depressed individual carries around often affects their sense of perception, leading them to experience increased levels of paranoia.
I don’t want to take anti-depressants-what else can I do?
Often people who have been diagnosed with depression do not want to take anti-depressants as they fear they may become dependent on drugs, dread the side-effects or would rather opt for therapy that does not involve medication. In such cases one can explore other treatment options with the guidance of a medical professional, though a serious case may warrant medical intervention.
work on those relationships!
Studies show relationships with family, co-workers and friends promote physical and emotional healing and result in happiness and prevent isolation, which aggravates depressive illnesses.
a good relationship with a therapist or physician
Don’t shy away from your problem. Give yourself priority and make sure your doctor does too. Demand to know what is making you feel this way and explore all avenues of treatment that are available.
boost your self-esteem
Your mantra should be: I AM IMPORTANT! Take out quality time for yourself and give it the highest priority on your ‘things to do list.’ Once you develop a good level of self-esteem you will begin to profit from positive perception. Give yourself a pat on the back for the smallest achievements.
exercise
Let those ‘happy highs’ kick into your bloodstream. Exercise releases those good old endorphins which reduce pain and boost your immunity. Moderate and even gentle exercise such as a brief walk can do wonders in boosting your immune system, fighting off fatigue and easing the pain often associated with depression.
try meditation, prayer and relaxation exercises
Meditation gives you satisfaction and relaxation exercises such as yoga improve breathing and enhance blood circulation. Sharing your beliefs with others also gives you a sense of purpose. Spending time out in the open and with pets can do wonders in instilling calmness.
create an environment free of stress
Experiencing an ongoing environment that is free from trauma and is very supportive so that the body and the brain can heal and develop.
get Plenty of Sunlight-
If you feel more depressed after darker or colder days you may have seasonal affective disorder or SAD. SAD can be treated with light therapy or artificial sunlight.
Again, never stop taking anti-depressants until you have consulted with your doctor.
how about taking a vitamin pill to fight off depression?
A variety of vitamin deficiencies can lead to depression symptoms and taking a vitamin pill may be all it takes to solve your problems.
The B-complex vitamins are essential to mental and emotional well-being. They cannot be stored in our bodies and are destroyed by alcohol, refined sugars, nicotine, and caffeine, so we depend on our daily diet to supply them.
Vitamin B1,B3, B5 , B6 ,B12 and folic acid work wonders in promoting mental and emotional wellness. Ask your doctor which supplements will work for you.
Vitamin C deficiencies can also lead to depression.
minerals for beating depression
• Iron
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Zinc
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2010.
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