Let's Talk About Depression
World Health Day
Let’s Talk About
Depression.
Just before 24-year-old Arjun Bhardwaj took
that fatal plunge from the 19th storey of a posh 5-star hotel in
Mumbai, he posted a video tutorial on how to commit suicide. Ironically, the 3rd
year B.Sc student ended his life a few days prior to World Health Day ( April
7) which is focusing on mental health. Initial reports reveal he was addicted
to online gambling and drugs as a result of which his studies were suffering.
Friends claim they rescued him twice from similar situations and state that he
was depressed. The video itself shows a haggard, anxious,jittery youth. What
kind of depression was he going through?
Arjun Bhardwaj shortly before he plunged to his death
In India, about 56
million people suffer from depression which is about 4.5 per cent of the population and another 38 million suffer from other anxiety related
disorders.
According to the latest WHO report published recently, about 7.5
per cent of Indians suffer from depression related mental illness that require
expert intervention.
“Everyone experiences feelings of depression
at one time or another and each person’s
experience of depression is different as there are a wide variety of symptoms.
Many people feel down occasionally, or go through bad patches, but have areas
in their lives that make them feel good. For some people though, life is more
of a struggle: they feel bad about themselves and their lives in most ways. At
times they feel complete despair. If you feel like this, then you may be
depressed.”
The 7 Types of Anxiety and Depression
Type 1: Pure Anxiety
Pure anxiety results from too much of activity in the basal
ganglia( a group of nuclei located at the base of the brain) and low levels of
neurotransmitter GABA(which contributes to motor control, vision, and also
regulates anxiety).. Common symptoms of pure anxiety include nervousness or
anxiety, panic attacks, self-doubt, excessive fear and anticipating the worst.
They also suffer from the physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches,
hand tremors, heart pounding, nausea, dizziness, nail biting, headaches,
abdominal pain and shortness of breath. Their symptoms may be a consistently
disruptive problem or may come in unpredictable waves.
Type 2: Pure Depression
Pure depression often results from excessive activity in the
emotional center of your brain known as the limbic system. Such people usually have low dopamine secretions. This
type of anxiety and depression is associated with primary depressive symptoms
that range from chronic mild sadness or negativity to crippling major
depression ,where it is difficult to
even get out of bed.
Such people also
demonstrate a loss of interest in things that are usually pleasurable, often feel isolation or loneliness, sleep or
appetite changes, low energy, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts.
Type 3: Mixed Anxiety Depressive Disorder
(MADD)
It is not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder
to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly one half
of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with
an anxiety disorder. Recognition of mixed
anxiety-depressive disorder as a mental health disorder is relatively new.
However, the combination of depression and anxiety disorder has been long recognized as
commonly afflicting many people.
In this combination of both pure anxiety and pure depression,
while both symptom clusters are present on a regular basis, one type may
predominate at any point in time. Mixed anxiety and depression is very
common.
Type 4: Over focused Anxiety and Depression
With this type, we tend to see features of anxiety and
depression, plus a tendency to get stuck on anxious or depressing thoughts or
negative behaviors. Common symptoms include any of the following:
· Excessive worrying
· Being argumentative
· Tendency for addictive
behavior
· Holding grudges against persons
· Wanting to have things
done in certain way and getting upset
otherwise.
· Dislike changes and hold on to own opinion.
Typically, over focused anxiety and depression is caused by too
much activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus( a major part of the limbic
system which controls emotion and behaviour) and lower serotonin levels.
Type 5: Temporal Lobe Anxiety and Depression
The temporal lobes are very important for memory, moods, and
emotions:problems in this part of the brain can cause people to have mood
instability, irritability, memory problems.
Patients can experience any of the following symptoms
· Misinterpretation of
comments as always negative
· State of confusion
· Changes in visual or
auditory functions.
· Frequent periods of
déjà vu
· Mild paranoia
· May have a history of
head injury
· Forgetfulness or memory
problems
Type 6: Cyclic Anxiety and Depression
A person with cyclical anxiety and depression disorder has no
control over symptoms. This type is commonly manifested as bipolar disorder,
cyclothymia (mild mood swings), seasonal mood changes, and severe PMS
especially among the teenagers because they are episodic and
unpredictable. Continued stress can also trigger a cyclic anxiety depression
reaction. Cyclic anxiety and depression is a spectrum disorder, meaning it may
be a mild form, a very severe form, or anything in between.
Type 7: Unfocused Anxiety and Depression
Commonly this is because
of reduced blood supply to the frontal lobe resulting in decreased activity in
the brain, especially in the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain that
helps with attention, forethoughts, impulse control, organization, motivation,
and planning. People with unfocused anxiety and depression suffer from low
energy levels, being inattentive, bored and impulsive and make poor decisions.
The causes of the lower activity in the brain may be the result of an injury,
toxic exposure, infection, drug induced or an underlying medical illness.
Dr.Manoj Kutteri ( Doctorate in Health Sciences
from the United States) is director Atmantan Wellness and believes the goal of mind-body techniques is to get the
body and mind to relax and to reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body,
so that your immune system is better able to fight the illness.
