Do you become sad all of a sudden? Are there days when you don’t want to get away from your bed and just lie there doing nothing? Does it happen that you simply lose interest in daily activities? Having these feeling once in a while is normal as it happens to everyone. But if these symptoms persist more often then there is high probability that it is depression.
Depression is a mood disorder that can get worse without proper treatment. It can be recurrent or it can last for several weeks, months or even years. It can affect individual’s ability to function at work or school and to cope with daily life. People suffering from severe form of depression can even commit suicide.
World Health Organization (WHO) states that depression is the most common illness around the world and around 264 million people suffer from depression globally. The number of women who suffer from depression is double in comparison to men.
Depression can strike at any time in your life, but on an average it first appears during the late teens to mid twenties. An estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) suffers from depression in any given year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7.6 percent of individuals who are over the age of twelve have depression in any two week period.
What are the Symptoms?
- Getting irritated easily
- Feeling low and sad all the time
- Losing interest in things which once gave pleasure
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Feeling of low self worth
- Having problems in concentrating or thinking
- Speaking and understanding slowly
- Feeling tired
- Low appetite
- Weight gain/loss
- Loss of sexual desire
- Insomnia
Factors that contribute to Depression
Complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors is the reason behind depression. People who have faced adverse life events are more likely to suffer from depression. These events may be loss of a loved one, psychological trauma, childhood trauma, physical or mental abuse or unemployment.
People with low self-esteem, who easily get stressed or who are generally pessimistic in life are more prone to experience depression.
Depression and physical health are interrelated. For instance, cardiovascular disease can lead to depression and vice versa.
If someone in your family was depressed then chances are that it can happen to you as well. Genes can play a vital role in contributing to depression.
Following conditions may get worse due to depression:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Cancer
Diet Tips
Following tips can help in lowering the risk of depression.
- Consume 2-3 cups of chamomile tea throughout the day. It contains flavonoids that may have an antidepressant effect.
Perform deep breathing exercises and practice yoga.
- It is found that if you consume fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil in abundance then your depression may reduce.
- Take black coffee, peppermint tea, lemon water and sugar-free yogurt.
- Eat foods that are rich in Neurotransmitter like almonds, walnuts, dark chocolates and eggs.
