Depressions and Steps to avoid them

It’s not everyday that you wake up with a smile on your face. There are cases when you are not so happy for reasons that are really not known. This may have something to do with your mood and you claim that you are in a good mood or a bad one according to how happy or sad you are. Though there is little connection to it the topic we are dealing here is mood disorders.

Mood disorders are mental problems created by mood problems. There are severe cases as well as mild cases.  Change in personality, aggressiveness, appetite lost, fatigue, depression, agitation and anxiety are the common factors. This kind of disorder can be due to imbalance in brain chemicals, financial strain, prolonged illness, relationship problems, chronic health problems, career failure, poor family relations and death of a beloved one. These kinds of mood swings can be prevalent or shortened. They are classified into unipolar disorder and bipolar disorder. Though both categories are placed under depression, bipolar disorder is also known as manic depression and they look less severe comparing to unipolar disorder. Unipolar disorder is further divided into major depression, dysthymic disorder, seasonal affective disorder and postpartum depression.

Let’s have a look at each of the categories and study them thoroughly:
1.    Major Depression: There is lack of enthusiasm in activities, lot of sadness, remarkable weight loss or gain, appetite can increase or decrease, increase in sleep or insomnia, feeling worthless or excessive guilt, lack of concentration and loss of energy, difficulty in thinking or making decisions up to the point of attempting to commit suicide.
2.    Dysthemic Disorder: Dysthemia is characterized by a constant depressed mood for about 2 years. There is less self esteem, increase and decrease in appetite and sleep etc which are pretty much the same with major decision but less severe and the symptoms are persistence.
3.    Seasonal Affective Disorder: S.A.D is another type of mood disorder characterized by the episodes of major depression but they occur only at a particular time of year like winter and fall.
4.    Postpartum Depression: Headache, exhaustion, a sense of inadequacy and crying are the symptoms of this major depression that happens after giving birth. There is also constant fatigue, less interest in sex, a lack of joy in the life, severe mood swings, withdrawal from family and friends, insomnia and impaired concentration or thinking. The case can be intensive and varies in duration.
5.    Bipolar disorder: Also called manic depression, the depression includes a period of mania and depression. Mania is when energy level is high and there is huge arousal pretty much opposite to depression. Some symptoms of manic depression are decreased need for sleep, inflated self-esteem or self-importance, easy distraction, excessive talking, increase in goal-oriented activities (sexual, work, social, school) or excessive movement, excessive involvement in potentially risky pleasurable behavior like unwise business investments, careless sexual activity or overspending. It can last for a week and since the symptoms can be harmful to self, it is advisable that the patient be hospitalized.

How can we ever these kinds of depressions? Here are a few tips:
1.    Set goals in life. When we have nothing to do we have no hope. So it is wise to set goals that can help us overcome sadness and depression.
2.    Getting enough rest. Sleep well at least for eight hours. Let your mind, body and soul rest. When you make up you will be filled with full energy.
3.    Take exercise and make sure you sweat out. Then take a shower after working out. You will overcome all your worries and think freely.
4.    Appreciate life and show gratitude towards family and friends.
5.    You can join a support group where you can get your confidence back.
6.    Take care of your body by eating the right kind of food, vitamins and eat healthy food.
7.    Get a new haircut or buy new clothes. You will feel fresh and confident. Be well groomed and people will look up to thus gaining your confidence back.
8.    Start appreciating the good part of your body instead of grumbling at the part you hate
9.    Always keep yourself busy. This will erase the negative thoughts running through your mind.
10.    Enjoy life, do the things you love to do like your hobbies and avoid things that depress you.