BHUBANESWAR: Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain but it is more common and also harder to bear. It is easier to say, “My tooth is aching” than to say, “My heart is broken.” The competitive nature of modern lifestyle can take its toll on younger or even older people. However, psychologists in the city have suggested that the chronic condition can be overcome by mature handling of one’s life.
At times, we feel deserted in our life. It feels like no one’s there for you. This feeling can negatively impact one’s work, health and most importantly relationships. A study states that depression may be quite common in masses with one in every three individuals suffering from the chronic ailment at some stage of their lives.
No one can ascertain the exact causes of depression but studies have suggested that genetic factors are essential in determining the timing of one’s depression. However, the most important factor in deciding the level as well as timing of depression is one’s personality. Some people have a very negative impression about themselves and others. These people have a tendency of not appreciating things easily and hence stay sad. Those people are called depressive personality styled people.
Orissa Post interacted with a psychologist K C Nayak and a patient suffering from depression to delve deeper into the subject.
Nayak said, “Depression is the crossroad a person reaches when they exhaust all permutations and combinations in efforts towards addressing an issue but solution still eludes them. There can be a number of reasons for depression in this fiercely competitive world like conflict with others, financial difficulties, unemployment and unwanted child birth among others. Not being able to handle one’s daily routine can also lead to depression. Hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalance, anaemia, alcoholic habits and diabetes may also lead towards depression.”
“There are many ways through which one can overcome depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a proven method of overcoming this chronic disorder. In this therapy, one has to control negative thoughts and rekindle his interest on the things which didn’t excite him earlier. One should never lose hope, be physically active, sleep more and most importantly be positive,” he added.
Anjana Srivastav, a patient of chronic depression, said, “I know quite well what depression can lead to. Depression is common in people who have lost a sense of purpose. I started taking antidepressant medication after noticing the symptoms. However, my condition improved only with the help of my family and friends. They started talking to me and even meditate with me as a gesture of support. Talking to new people and having a positive mindset can do wonders in overcoming depression.”
It is quite clear that depression is not to be taken lightly as it can lead to dangerous outcomes in future. Hence, one should be very careful in dealing with symptoms of depression. Nature therapy, meeting new people, taking breaks in professional life, visiting new sites and proper management of daily routine among others can go a long way in addressing depression.