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  • Depression
    It is a serious medical illness that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour, mood and physical health. It may be a lifelong condition in which periods of wellness alternate with recurrences of illness. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 350 million sufferers, according to the World Health Organisation. The number is growing in all age groups in every community, and with many young people falling prey to depression.  
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 27 November 2014

What is depression

It is a serious medical illness that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour, mood and physical health. It may be a lifelong condition in which periods of wellness alternate with recurrences of illness. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 350 million sufferers, according to the World Health Organisation. The number is growing in all age groups in every community, and with many young people falling prey to depression. 

 

Condition

Stories

  • Staring
    A poem on incarceration by Jhilmil Breckenridge If you stare out of a barred window across  A bleak garden some September morning If the neem tree in the garden reminds you of home Vast, old, timeless If you remember playing under a neem tree in Allahabad And you can almost hear the laughter of children as they play In the heat of a sultry afternoon in June And because the window is small and barred and cannot open Because you want to breathe freedom Because you want to shower without them…
  • Jobs For People With Mental Illness
    To address misconceptions and concerns about employment for people with mental health issues, we speak with Dr Mangala, a consultant psychiatrist with SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation).  Could you please explain what in medical parlance is known as ‘Mentally ill or Mentally Disabled’? Are these labels useful/helpful? A disturbance in one’s ability to think, behave or express feelings is termed as mental illness. When someone lacks the ability to:  meet or fulfill basic…
  • Mental Illness portrayal in English Literature
    Although characters portrayed with mental illness have progressed from the Victorian era, more novels with believable and real protagonists need to be authored, says writer, poet and activist Jhilmil Breckenridge.  If you say you have diabetes, people engage, ask about your medication, and say, oh you should not be eating rice, or potatoes, and so it goes. But if you say you have schizophrenia, for example, there will be an uncomfortable hush, as though you have just…
  • Managing Depression and Anxiety with Parkinson's Disease
    People with Parkinson’s may experience extreme sadness of mood and anxiety. This could be due to the Parkinson’s itself or due to the effects of the medication. It is important to acknowledge these emotions and to get the required help. Depression It is natural for everybody to feel sad at times, or to get upset by things. However, after a while or if they are put in another situation, then they may no longer experience these emotions. Sometimes, people tend to experiences these emotions for an…
  • A person in a blue full sleeved shirt holding his head indicating a brain stroke
    Post-Stroke Depression Is Common
    But often overlooked, says Porrselvi A.P. a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist. Here, she offers a case study and practical strategies to guide you back to normal life.   The patient: Mrs. K, a 67-year-old woman had a stroke in the left side of her brain in September last year.  Her condition: Mrs K was referred for cognitive and psychological evaluation following complaints of social withdrawal, memory disturbances and increased irritability…
  • 4 Strategies to Help Men Get Through Depression
    Depression is devastating, insidious, it can break up relationships and ruin friendships, but with the right tools and support, it can be beaten. Caring for a man who is suffering from depression can be even harder, because depression isn't often seen - it's felt.  4 tips for a caregiver to balance your way through a mine field of defensiveness, denial, anger, and despondence.  Tip #1 Understand His Depression "There are wounds that never show on the body that are…
  • Causes of Depression and Risks
    What causes depression The exact cause of depression is not known. Any person can develop depression but some people are more prone to it. Depression can be triggered by life events such as relationship problem, illness, redundancy, work stress. It may also be caused by certain disorders of the thyroid and pituitary glands and hormonal disorders. Evidence from genetics, neuroscience and clinical investigations demonstrates that depression is a disorder of brain. Modern brain imaging…
  • Types of Depression
    Types of depression Severity can vary from person to person.  Severe depression is when almost all of the nine symptoms mentioned above are present. Symptoms will markedly interfere with your normal functioning. Moderate depression is when more than 5 symptoms mentioned above are present. Normal functioning is impaired between mild to severe.  Mild depression is when 5 or fewer symptoms of those mentioned above are present. Normal functioning is mildly impaired.  Complications of…
  • Depression Symptoms and Signs
    These are some common symptoms:  Persistent sadness or low mood Marked loss of interest in normal activities Disturbed sleep Change in appetite Tiredness or loss of energy Slowing of movements Poor concentration Feeling of worthlessness Recurrent thoughts of death Related reading: 5 Overlooked Signs of Depression
  • How to Prevent Depression
    Clinical Depression can not be prevented. Eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise, and take time out for fun and relaxation. These will help you prevent a depressed mood. However if the depressed mood continues for more than 2 weeks, do see a doctor.