We all have days in our lives when we feel sad and down, right? Sometimes we feel lonely and isolated. It's normal to feel this way when we're going through a difficult time in life. It's our nature as humans. Most of the time, we know that this feeling will go away after a while, and it will. But what if it doesn't go away for you? If your sadness continues, if it affects your life to the point where you can't work, sleep, or have any fun? Then it could be something more than just normal sadness.
What is normal sadness?
Simply put, sadness is our emotion. It is our response to something that happened in our lives. For example, it is normal to feel sad when you lose your job, have a disagreement with a close friend, or lose a family member. In fact, it is healthy to feel sad because it allows us to come to terms with the event.
In normal sadness, you can do something you enjoy, talk to a friend, or watch a movie to calm yourself down. The sadness is temporary. There is a reason for it, and it will fade over time. Even though you feel sad, you can still go about other things in life to some extent.
So, what is depression?
Depression is not just ordinary sadness. In medicine, we call it ``Major Depression`` or ``Clinical Depression.`` It is not a weakness of the mind, nor something that will go away with ``hard work.`` Depression is a serious medical condition that requires treatment. Just like diabetes or high blood pressure.
This affects not only your feelings, but also your body, the way you think, your behavior, everything. A person with depression feels like a dark cloud is hanging over their head that never goes away. They don't feel like doing anything, and they lose all hope for life.
The most important thing is that depression is not something you can control on your own. It definitely requires medical advice and treatment.
What are the main symptoms of depression?
Depression doesn't affect everyone the same way. However, there are some common symptoms. Let's look at them in a table. If you have at least five or more of these symptoms, most of the time, almost every day, for more than two weeks , it may be depression.
| Symptom | A Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sadness and emptiness that lasts all day | A feeling of deep sadness for no reason, a feeling of emptiness, as if there is nothing inside. Tears always fill your eyes when others see you. |
| Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy | Things you used to enjoy doing (e.g. watching movies, listening to music, talking to friends, hobbies) now seem to be out of your reach. |
| Body weight change | Sudden weight loss without any dietary control (due to anorexia), or for some, sudden weight gain after eating too much. |
| Sleep problems | Insomnia, or sleepiness and excessive sleeping throughout the day. |
| Restlessness or slowness | A restless, irritable mood (especially in children and young adults), or a feeling of sluggishness and sluggishness. |
| Excessive body fatigue | Feeling extremely tired and lifeless, no matter how much sleep or rest you get. It takes a lot of energy to do even the smallest task. |
| Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt about oneself | Feelings like "I'm useless," "No one cares about me." Worrying unnecessarily about being at fault for everything that happens. |
| Difficulty concentrating | Unable to focus on reading a book, watching TV, or doing work. Feeling sluggish and unable to make decisions. |
| Thoughts about death or suicide | Frequent thoughts of "I wish I were dead," planning or attempting suicide. This is a very serious symptom. |
When should you seek help?
If you or someone you know has five or more of the symptoms listed in the table above, lasting more than two weeks, and these symptoms are interfering with your ability to perform daily activities (work, education, family chores), please see a doctor immediately.
Who do you ask for help from?
The best thing to do is to see your family doctor (Family Doctor / GP). He or she can examine you and confirm whether this is depression. Sometimes these symptoms can also be caused by physical problems such as thyroid hormone. Therefore, the doctor will first check for such things.
Then, he or she will prescribe treatment as needed. You may also be referred to a psychiatrist or counselor/psychologist.
Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign of self-love and strength.
Treatment can include medication, counseling, or a combination of both. With proper treatment, depression can be completely cured. So there is no reason to be afraid or ashamed.
Take-Home Message
- Normal sadness is a temporary response to a life event. It will pass over time.
- Depression is not like that. It is a serious medical condition that requires treatment. It is not a weakness of the mind.
- If you have 5 or more of the above symptoms, lasting more than two weeks, don't ignore them.
- Consult your doctor immediately for advice. With proper treatment, depression can be completely cured.
- If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, go to the nearest hospital emergency department (ETU) immediately. Don't delay in seeking help.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts here.
Add Your Comment