Understanding of Depression: Now, a day depression in society is increasing very much day by day patients with depression are increasing and many cases are of chronic depression. There is a taboo in society that the position of depression patients is not understood in the true sense. So, patients suffering from depression have to face challenges on two sides one is with their mental state, and another is with society.

What is Depression?

Depression is basically a mental health problem, in which a person feels depressed, many times this is without any reason does not take an interest in any activities, and nothing makes him happy. This is due to the very low level or no such chemicals in the brain of the patient that makes a person stable and happy. The neurochemicals that we call neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine etc. when these chemicals release into the brain of a person and reach the brain cells and make the person feel happy and stable.

Now, the question is how we get to know the person around us who is suffering from chronic depression and needs medical help, many times people do not understand the situation of the patient and try to motivate and convince them that everything is all right and why are you feeling depressed. But this is not the solution because as our body does not produce food, similarly the patient’s brain mechanism is not able to produce some chemicals that are responsible for happiness and stability of brain. Brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) responsible for depression are serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Now, a day depression is very much increasing among youngsters who are between 15 to 35 years. Due to a lack of awareness in the society and taboo for the treatment of such patients, there is a delay in the detection of the patient’s problem which may lead to sometimes patient commits suicide.

Symptoms of Depression

1. If anybody in your family is feeling depressed continuously, and he has been depressed for more than 2 weeks then it can be a symptom of chronic depression.
2. Worrying unnecessarily without any reason.
3. Not having an interest in anything. Their physical activity has decreased for weeks and months.
4. They don’t feel pleasure in anything, earlier when something of their choice used to come or something that he likes a lot, like getting new clothes or cooking his favorite food, or the match coming on TV, all this used to give him a lot of pleasure, but now all these things are not giving him pleasure, this is a very worrying symptom of depression.
5. They stopped thinking, not taking any decision after thinking carefully, stopped participating in the activities of the house,
   and it has been more than 2 weeks of time then this is a serious symptom of depression.
6. Sometimes the person suffering from depression try to pretend that he is very happy and laugh at unusual things.
7. If a person is repeatedly feeling like committing suicide or dying, and he is saying that it is better to die, or he has made some minor attempt to commit suicide. This can be a serious symptom of depression.

If we find any similar symptoms of our near one and anybody we know, then first of all he should be taken to the psychiatrist, or at least a physician. He can be a serious patient of depression.

Understanding of Depression:

There is a taboo in society about depression, but the proper understanding of depression is a must in the family, and friends of the patient and also in the society. Depression is a mental illness due to the brain mechanism of the patient it is not due to his misconception, so convincing him or motivating him is not worth it, it is similar to we cannot pull down the blood sugar of a diabetic patient by motivating him, we cannot pull up and down the thyroid levels of a hypothyroid and hyperthyroidism patients. They need any medication. Similarly, some brain chemicals which are responsible for the stability and happiness of a person are not produced in the depressed person’s brain. They need proper medical guidance and medicines that helps the depressed person’s body to produce such brain chemicals that makes the person’s mind stable and happy.

Treatment of Depression:

1. Proper medical assistance by a psychiatrist, time to time check by a psychiatrist take proper medication it is a medical problem similar to any other medical problem i.e., diabetes, thyroid, don’t stop the treatment in between or with a doctor’s advice.
2. Also, take psychological counselling or any therapy like CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) if suggested by the doctor.
3. The patient should try to increase our physical activities that also helps the patient to improve his position.
4. The patient should take proper and healthy diet.
5. One best remedy, I have applied to all the patients of depression come in my contact, I see very good result of this remedy this remedy is sun gazing during 1 hour of sun rise, one should do it up to 20 minutes 5 to 7 cycles of 1 to 2 minutes watching towards sun, this remedy works on the mechanism of brain and helps in improving the position of the patient.
6. After doing sun gazing the person who is suffering from depression should also learn to do meditation, Aanapan Meditation by S.N. Goenka videos are available on YouTube it also helps the patient improve his condition.

Along with medication these remedies also help the patient to overcome the situation of depression and help the patient to lead a mindful, healthy, and happy life.

Summary of Depression and its Treatment:

1. Worrying unnecessarily, feeling low and depressed for more than 2 weeks many times without any reason, blaming ourselves, not feeling pleasure with anything, totally disappearing of pleasure in his life, not taking decisions carefully, and the suicidal tendencies are some common symptoms of depression, if we see any such symptoms in any person near us, we should take him to the Psychiatrist for proper medical assistance.
2. Don’t take it as a taboo it is similar to any other medical issue, it is due to brain mechanisms, and due to brain mechanisms, some neurotransmitters are not produced in the brain or producing in very low quantities. so, to overcome the situation of depression medical treatment is a must for a patient.
3. Along with medication, sungazing during the morning time within one hour of sunrise and meditation are also very important remedies to overcome the situation of depression.
4. Don’t overlook the symptoms of depression of your family member or near one, timely proper treatment can make his life pleasurable.

I hope this article will help you to get proper information about Depression: Symptoms, and Treatment.

“I wish all the readers a mindful, pleasures, and healthy life.”

Writer of the article: Dr. Anil Kumar Sharma (Former Additional Director Department of Ayurveda Rajasthan)