Are we aware of Human Emotions?

Sadness and grief are normal human emotions. We all have those feelings from time to time but they usually go away within a few days. Major depression, or major depressive disorder, however, is something more. It’s a diagnosable condition that’s classified as a mood disorder and can bring about long-lasting symptoms such as overwhelming sadness, low energy, loss of appetite, and a lack of interest in things that used to bring pleasure.

India and Bollywood lost a charming and well off man due to suicide. Did he have depression or any mental health issue is still very unpredictable? Reports claim of him having access to anti-depressants. Though I am seeing an overtaxed audience quoting him with certain hashtags relating to depression.

Depression left untreated, depression can lead to serious health complications, including putting your life at risk. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for depression through options like therapy, medication, diet, and exercise. I am not going to talk about self but I will surely try to give out solutions and these include "I am here for you" Via Art of Living.

What is Depression?

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as a feeling of sadness, loss, or angry that interferes with person's every day.

People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.

Conditions can get worse because of the following:

• Arthritis
• asthma
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Obesity
• Cancer
• Diabetes

Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks. If you are reading and are suffering from any of the symptoms even mildly people seek help from the right coach or I am here for you.

What are the types of Depression?

Specific circumstances can trigger other forms of depression or its subsets. I am majorly discussing a few I am aware of clearly:

Major Depression: People with major depression experience symptoms most of the day, every day. Like many mental health conditions, it has little to do with what’s happening around you. You can have a loving family, tons of friends, and a dream job. You can have the kind of life that others envy and still have depression. Even if there’s no obvious reason for your depression, that doesn’t mean it’s not real or that you can simply tough it out.

Actor Johnny Depp may be a chameleon on screen, but watch him during an interview, and you'll see only a man whose facial expressions, droopy posture, and mumbled words give away what was once a big secret: Johnny Depp suffers from severe anxiety. Indeed, the actor's anxiety has been a major source of depression and unease, so much so that he has access to therapists at all times, even on film sets, who help advise him on how best to deal with his anxiety and keep it from dragging him into severe depression. He isn't the only actor to overcome depression; Sharukh Khan(2010, post his surgery), Deepika Padukone, Anuskha Sharma(anxiety), Manisha Koirala, Ellen DeGeneres, Eminen, Chris Evans Aka Captain America, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathway, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, etc! Something for you to google on now.

Major depression is a severe form of depression compromising of the following:

• despondency, gloom, or grief
• difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• lack of energy and fatigue
• loss of appetite or overeating
• unexplained aches and pains
• loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities
• lack of concentration, memory problems, and inability to make decisions
• feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
• constant worry and anxiety
• thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide (actors who have committed suicide due to Major Depression, Read.)

Persistent depression: is depression that lasts for two years or more. It’s also called dysthymia or chronic depression. Persistent depression might not feel as intense as major depression, but it can still strain relationships and make daily tasks difficult.

Actor Ben Affleck has been opening up about his sobriety, the struggles that have come along with it, his marriage to ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, and his struggle with depression for the last two decades. In a detailed interview with Diane Sawyer that aired on Good Morning America, Affleck gets candid with the veteran journalist about his life the last several years, confessing he's made mistakes but is ready to turn his life around.

"I get depressed. I take antidepressants. They are very helpful for me," he said. "I've taken them since I was 26 years old various different kinds and I switch and try this or that."

Some symptoms of persistent depression include:

• deep sadness or hopelessness
• low self-esteem or feelings of inadequacy
• lack of interest in things you once enjoyed
• appetite changes
• changes to sleep patterns or low energy
• concentration and memory problems
• difficulty functioning at school or work
• inability to feel joy, even at happy occasions
• social withdrawal

Though it’s a long-term type of depression, the severity of symptoms can become less intense for months at a time before worsening again. Some people also have episodes of major depression before or while they have a persistent depressive disorder. This is called double depression.

Persistent depression lasts for years at a time, so people with this type of depression may start to feel like their symptoms are just part of their normal outlook on life.

Some Everyday Depression we see yet are not able to recognize:

Smile Depression: Someone experiencing smiling depression would — from the outside —appear happy or content to others. On the inside, however, they would be experiencing the distressful symptoms of depression.

Depression affects everyone differently and has a variety of symptoms, the most distinguished being deep, prolonged sadness.

• changes in appetite, weight, and sleeping
• fatigue or lethargy
• feelings of hopelessness, lack of self-esteem, and low self-worth
• loss of interest or pleasure in doing things that were once enjoyed

Someone with smiling depression may experience some or all of the above, but in public, these symptoms would be mostly — if not completely — absent. To someone looking from the outside, a person with a smiling depression might look like:

• an active, high-functioning individual
• someone holding down a steady job, with a healthy family and social life
• a person appearing to be cheerful, optimistic, and generally happy

If you’re experiencing depression yet continue to smile and put on a fa?ade, you may feel:

• like showing signs of depression would be a sign of weakness
• like you would burden anyone by expressing your true feelings
• that you don’t have depression at all, because you’re “fine”
• that others have it worse, so what do you have to complain about?
• that the world would be better off without you

A typical depressive symptom is having incredibly low energy and finding it hard to even make it out of bed in the morning. In smiling depression, energy levels may not be affected (except when a person is alone).

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). While PMS symptoms can be both physical and psychological, PMDD symptoms tend to be mostly psychological.

These psychological symptoms are more severe than those associated with PMS. For example, some women might feel more emotional in the days leading up to their period. But someone with PMDD might experience a level of depression and sadness that gets in the way of day-to-day functions.

Other possible symptoms of PMDD include:

• cramps, bloating, and breast tenderness
• headaches
• joint and muscle pain
• sadness and despair
• irritability and anger
• extreme mood swings
• food cravings or binge eating
• panic attacks or anxiety
• lack of energy
• trouble focusing
• sleep problems

Similarly to perinatal depression, PMDD is believed to be related to hormonal changes. Its symptoms often begin just after ovulation and start to ease up once you get your period.

Some women dismiss PMDD as just a bad case of PMS, but PMDD can become very severe and include thoughts of suicide.

How to support someone who has depression?

Do you have friends who have depression? you're not alone.

Above I've mentioned 4 types of depression and there are many more. But not everyone has same type of depression, and symptoms can vary too.

Mental health can be a tricky thing to get your head around, especially when you’re not the one suffering. It’s important to understand what issues others are going through to help take care of each other. Here is a list of things I have found in my findings, these can be helpful for your friends, partner, and yourself, to help ease the pressure and stigma of Depression:

Listen to them:

Let your friend know you’re there for them. You can start the conversation by sharing your concerns and asking a specific question. For example, you might say, “It seems like you’ve been having a hard time lately. What’s on your mind?”

Keep in mind that your friend may want to talk about what they feel, but they might not want advice.

Engage with your friend by using active listening techniques:

• Ask questions to get more information instead of assuming you understand what they mean.
• Validate their feelings. You might say, “That sounds really difficult. I’m sorry to hear that.”
• Show empathy and interest with your body language.

Your friend may not like it when first asked or talked about. Continue telling them that you care. Keep asking open questions (without being pushy, cause some are outright mean to your face), and expressing your concern. Try to have conversations in person whenever possible. If you live in different areas, try video chatting. All thanks to COVID-19 we have various video calling applications.

Help them find support:

Your friend may not be aware they’re dealing with depression, or they may be unsure how to reach out for support.

Even if they know therapy could help, it can be daunting to search for a therapist and make an appointment.

If your friend seems interested in counseling, offer to help them review potential therapists. You can help your friend list things to ask potential therapists and things they want to mention in their first session.

Encouraging them and supporting them to make that first appointment can be so helpful if they’re struggling.

Support them in continuing therapy

On a bad day, your friend might not feel like leaving the house. Depression can zap energy and increase the desire to self-isolate.

If they say something like, “I think I’m going to cancel my therapy appointment,” encourage them to stick with it.

You might say, “Last week you said your session was really productive and you felt a lot better afterward. What if today’s session helps, too?”

The same goes for medication. If your friend wants to stop taking medication because of unpleasant side effects, be supportive, but encourage them to talk to their psychiatrist about switching to a different antidepressant or getting off medication entirely.

Abruptly stopping antidepressants without the supervision of a healthcare provider can have serious consequences.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

When you care about someone who’s living with depression, it’s tempting to drop everything to be by their side and support them. It’s not wrong to want to help a friend, but it’s also important to take care of your own needs.

If you put all your energy into supporting your friend, you’ll have very little left for yourself. And if you’re feeling burned out or frustrated, you won’t be much help to your friend.

An important factor in Mental Wellbeing is to practice self-care.

Spending a lot of time with a loved one who has depression can take an emotional toll. Know your limits around difficult emotions, and make sure you take time to recharge.

If you need to let your friend know you won’t be available for a while, you might say something like, “I can’t talk until X time. Can I check in with you then?”

Learn about Depression yourself

Imagine having to educate each person in your life about a mental or physical health issue you’re experiencing — explaining it over and over again. Sounds exhausting, right?

You can talk to your friend about their specific symptoms or how they’re feeling, but avoid asking them to tell you about depression in general terms.

Read up on the symptoms, causes, diagnostic criteria, and treatments on your own.

While people experience depression differently, being familiar with the general symptoms and terminology can help you have more in-depth conversations with your friend.

These articles are a good starting point and also they are part of my secondary research. Find them in the end.

Offer to help with everyday tasks

With depression, day-to-day tasks can feel overwhelming. Things like laundry, grocery shopping, or paying bills can begin to pile up, making it hard to know where to start.

Your friend may appreciate an offer of help, but they also might not be able to clearly say what they need help with.

So, instead of saying “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” consider saying, “What do you most need help with today?”

If you notice their refrigerator is empty, say “Can I take you grocery shopping, or pick up what you need if you write me a list?” or “Let’s go get some groceries and cook dinner together.”

If your friend is behind on dishes, laundry, or other household chores, offer to come over, put some music on, and tackle a specific task together. Simply having a company can make the work seem less daunting.

How about extending loose invitations?

People living with depression may have a hard time reaching out to friends and making or keeping plans. But canceling plans can contribute to guilt.

A pattern of canceled plans may lead to fewer invitations, which can increase isolation. These feelings can worsen depression.

You can help reassure your friend or partner by continuing to extend invitations to activities, even if you know they’re unlikely to accept. Tell them you understand they may not keep plans when they’re in a rough patch and that there’s no pressure to hang out until they’re ready.

Just remind them you’re happy to see them whenever they feel like it.

Extending loose invitations comes from experience. I have been very immediate to invite people over for cakes, bake sessions, or even putlocks.

Stay in touch

Letting your friend know you still care about them as they continue to work through depression can help.

Even if you aren’t able to spend a lot of time with them on a regular basis, check-in regularly with a text, phone call, or quick visit. Even sending a quick text saying “I’ve been thinking of you and I care about you” can help.

People living with depression may become more withdrawn and avoid reaching out, so you may find yourself doing more work and homework to maintain the friendship. But continuing to be a positive, supportive presence in your friend’s life may make all the difference to them, even if they can’t express that to you at the moment.

Things not to do

1. Don't take things personally.
2. Don't try to fix them: If you wouldn’t say something to someone living with a physical condition, like diabetes or cancer, you probably shouldn’t say it to your friend with depression.
3. Do NOT give advice: You might want to help by offering advice, like getting more exercise or eating a healthy diet. But even if it’s good advice, your friend may not want to hear it at the moment. There may come a time when your friend wants to find out what foods may help with depression or how exercise can relieve symptoms. Until then, though, it may be best to stick to empathic listening and avoid offering advice until asked. Encourage positive change by inviting them on a walk or cooking a nutritious meal together! (really, really helps)
4. Do not compare experiences: If your friend talks about their depression, you might want to say things like, “I understand,” or “We’ve all been there.” But if you’ve never dealt with depression yourself, this can minimize their feelings. Your friend’s pain is what’s real to them right now — and validating that pain is what may help them most.

Say something like, “I can’t imagine how hard that is to deal with. I know I can’t make you feel better, but just remember you aren’t alone.”

When to intervene?

Depression can increase a person’s risk for suicide or self-injury, so it’s helpful to know how to recognize the signs.

Some signs that might indicate your friend is having serious suicidal thoughts include:

• frequent mood swings or personality changes
• talking about death or dying
• purchasing a weapon
• increased substance use
• risky or dangerous behavior
• getting rid of belongings or giving away treasured possessions
• talking about feeling trapped or wanting a way out
• pushing people away or saying they want to be left alone
• saying goodbye with more feeling than usual

If you think your friend is considering suicide, urge them to call their therapist while you’re with them or ask your friend if you can call for them. You can also take your friend to an emergency room. If possible, stay with your friend until they no longer feel suicidal( staying with them really helps. I mean it.). Make sure they can’t access any weapons or drugs.

If you’re concerned about your friend, you might worry that mentioning it to them could encourage suicidal thoughts. But it’s generally helpful to talk about it.

Ask your friend if they’ve seriously considered suicide. They may want to talk to someone about it but are unsure of how to bring up the difficult topic.

Encourage them to talk to their therapist about those thoughts, if they haven’t already. Offer to help them create a safety plan to use if they think they might act on those thought.

Be Content. Be kind.

Stay Home, Stay Safe.

Here are my research links and for you to read what is depression?