It is normal to feel sad now and then, because of certain situations that hurt us, such as work-related stress, personal stress, and so on. When the feeling of sadness is persistent, it is an indication of depression. Depression is a mood disorder where a person feels extremely sad, empty, and helpless. These feelings are so severe that it interferes with daily activities. It is important to remember that a person with depression will show no interest in activities once enjoyed. He/she will experience many thoughts and emotions that affect the quality of life. To determine if someone you know is suffering from depression watch out for these symptoms.
Symptoms of depression: A feeling of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, guilt and self-blame, you will also notice irregular sleep patterns, and suicidal thoughts. In young children, these are the common symptoms of depression, loss of interest in school, constant feeling of worry and sadness, frequent anger outbursts, and constantly sticking to parents. Depressed teens are likely to engage in self harm, and constant use of drugs and alcohol. They also become extremely sensitive and have no interest in school and social interaction.
Causes of depression: It is worrying to see yourself or a loved one suffer from depression, what are the factors that increase the risk of depression. Let us find out. If someone in your family has depression, there are chances that you might have it Certain medical conditions increase the risk of depression such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic pain, or insomnia. Excessive drug and alcohol use increases the risk of depression Childhood trauma physical or emotional increases risk of depression
Coping mechanisms to feel better: It isn’t an easy feeling to be depressed for you and a loved one there is a complete loss of energy, to a point of not being able to do anything. An important point to remember is everyone will be depressed at some point in their lives, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Take note of these coping mechanisms.
Do something you enjoy: If you are feeling extremely low, treat yourself with something you enjoy. It can be something like watching a funny movie, listening to music, playing with your pet, reading a book and so on. You can even just walk around, or make yourself a nice cup of coffee.
Enjoy nature and get some fresh air: Since we are asked to stay home because of corona virus, you can spend time in your garden and get some fresh air. Listen to nature and observe greenery it will make you feel good.
Know that it is okay to feel depressed: Express your feelings by writing it down or talking to someone, remember that it is okay to feel upset, don’t be ashamed of it. Feeling upset does not make you a negative person, talk to someone who understands, the more you express the better you will feel.
Remove negative thinking and replace it with positive thinking: We feel upset from undesirable circumstances such as loss of loved one, or when things don’t go as well as planned. Gradually work on eliminating negative thinking, if something went wrong, it is not an indication of you being a failure. You could think that we are humans and we make mistakes, and just one mistake is not a reflection of you. Work on your positive qualities, your strengths, and gradually work on removing negative thoughts.
It is important as a community to be there for each other: If you come across someone who is feeling low, be there for them. Due to the COVID-19 situation we are feeling insecure about certain aspects, and we are all in the same boat. As a community, we need to be there for each other, support one another. It will lead to a happy and progressive community. We should have a mindset to listen to people and not judge and rather show a lot of empathy, whether in a crisis or not.
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