Struck by the BLUES?

Depression is on the rise among young people and WHO says that this is likely to become the second leading cause of death and disability in the world by 2020. We tell you about some solutions

WE ALL know what it's like to feel low.

Some ups and downs in moods are normal for everyone. But when the feeling of emptiness and hopelessness simply won't go away and impacts your daily life, the chances are that this may be due to depression.

According to WHO, depression is slated to become the second leading cause of death and disability across the world by 2020.

" It has become so common that it is being called the common cold of mental illness," says Dr Samir Parekh, Director, Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis healthcare. " While the average age of onset was 40 earlier, now people under the age of 20 and even school going children are flocking for medical help," claims Dr Parekh.

Depression is most often due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, and various treatments and therapies are used in conjunction with lifestyle changes to tackle this. So, don't let people tell you that depression is something that comes and goes, and you just need to work harder to be happy, advise experts, especially because of the link between suicide and depression. " While suicide is the eighth leading cause of death, 80 per cent of those who have committed suicide have a history of depression," says Dr Parekh. That makes early detection and treatment very crucial.

MANY FACTORS TO BLAME

LIFESTYLE factors are to be blamed for depression, mainly because of the high stress levels faced by this generation.

" Work pressure is a killer these days," says Dr S. Sudarshanan, senior consultant, psychiatry, Rockland hospital.

Lack of self confidence, unrealistic expectations and a nutrient deficient diet are factors that trigger off the condition too. " Both women and men suffer.

There are several reasons -- from an unattainable ideal of a body image, to relationships to competition at work," says Dr Sudarshanan. Biological, psychological and environmental factors play a role too. " Both genetic and neurochemical changes have been linked to depression, caused by the underactivity in neurotransmitters, which play an important role in the brain," says Dr Sanjeev Kalra, consultant psychiatrist, VIMHANS. Loss of somebody close and rejection increases vulnerability to depression. The absence of social support and positive enforcement makes matters worse. " It appears even in infants as young as 6 months who have been separated from their mothers for prolonged periods. But while 40 is the usual age group, now even school going kids have joined the bandwagon. This apart, young adults and elderly people also suffer from this problem," says Dr Parekh.

TREAT IT IN A STEP BY STEP MANNER

IT'S important to identify the cause of your depression before you seek treatment. If lifestyle and environmental factors are to blame ( such as an unhappy marriage or lack of finance) then seeking a qualified counsellor or psychologist who can help you make changes is the first step to take. On the other hand, if your low feelings are due to a chemical imbalance and are unlinked to your life conditions, then you will need to seek medical intervention via a psychiatrist.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES:

They are essential in both the prevention and treatment of depression.

Take the help of a doctor to evaluate whether you are eating nutritional meals, with enough vitamins and minerals.

Adequate sleep is also crucial to balance the moods. And there is nothing to beat vigorous exercise, when it comes to raising serotonin levels in the brain.

" Regular exercise, proper sleep, social support, stress reduction and proper nutrition are a must," says Dr Sunil Mittal, chairman, COSMOS Institute of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences.

PSYCHOTHERAPY:

The current and most effective treatment option are psychotherapies that help person gain an insight into their lives and factors factors that may be contributing to the problem. Then there is the Cognitive therapy, which helps a person see the pattern of his thinking. No intervention can exclude behavioral therapy, which is key to changing a person's response to his depression.

Hypnotherapy is often effective in conjunction with psychotherapy. " This can help to get to the root of the problem and identify factors in the past that have contributed," says Dr Shilpi Astha, clinical psychologist, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute.

MEDICATIONS:

These are the first and foremost treatment option for most cases of depression.

" Antidepressants improve symptoms of depression by increasing certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, and correct the chemical imbalance in the brain," says Dr Bristi Barkataki, clinical psychologist, PSRI hospital.

NEW COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

PSYCHODRAMA:

Psychodrama is a very effective therapy used for depression treatment. " In this, you take part in a skit with others around you who take up supporting roles as the important people in your life. You express your emotions by enacting your life events to your heart's content," says Dr Bhawna Barmi, psychiatrist, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute.

MIND BODY THERAPIES:

" Ayurvedic treatments like shirodhara, massage therapy, yoga and some herbs are bound to help. These are now being combined with mainstream treatment," says Dr Kalra.

Vitamin D deficiency due to inadequate sun exposure is one of the main reasons for depression in young girls

TREATMENTS IN THE PIPELINE

ELECTRODES AS A CURE

A breakthrough treatment that promises to transform the lives of depression sufferers is the use of electrodes to probe their brains. This drastic therapy is useful in cases where medications have failed. It involves inserting the electrodes into the brain and applying low electric current. This is said to immediately uplift people.

PROBIOTICS MAY HELP

New research shows that taking probiotic products can actually help tackle your depression . Good bacteria taken in the form of a pill or powder helps maintain healthy gut flora and also impacts the feel good neurotransmitter called L- tryptophan.

These are touted to help other neurophysiological disorders too.

Copyright 2012 India Today Group. All Rights Reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company