Before we begin treatment it is good to understand
depression. So many times horrible looking things have simple solutions. Not to
forget the age old saying that prevention is better than cure. Therefore, for
both prevention and cure it is crucial to understand depression.
Depression is complex disease or we can call it a
group of conditions clubbed together as depression. Why we are calling it complex? Because of
diversity. The risk and causative factors are diverse, symptoms are even more
diverse. No wonder, no single treatment is good enough. We can with confidence
say that EVERY CASE OF DEPRESSION IS DIFFERENT.
So to believe that same set of few medicines will treat all those
suffering is too simplistic and is bound to fail.
Coming
back to - What causes depression
- Is it genetic?
- Is it due to learning effect?
- Is it due to circumstances?
- Is it due to brain chemistry?
- Is it due to personality of the person?
- Is it primary or related to other important aspect
such as anxiety
So when we say every case is different, the cause of
depression in every person is different and unique combination
1. Genetics
- Genetics indeed play a role. No two people are born alike. Here it must be
noted that it is not very straightforward ankylosing spondylitis linked to HLA
B 27. No single gene is responsible. Children of people with depression may not
have depression and children of people with no depression can have depression.
It is the unique combination of genes that a person carry that makes him or her
somewhat prone to depression. But do not jump to any conclusion. Life has lot
more than genes.
2. Learning
- This is very interesting and probably ignored. A lot of that we have
emotions, thoughts, behavior are learned. We pick up patterns in family and
outside, from parents, other family members, other significant and even not so
significant people. We learn by observation to apply and with application we
learn more.
3. Circumstances
- This is much talked about and no doubt has significant role. Anything that is
away from expected can cause frustration, stress and depression. Range is
enormous - Physical, emotional or sexual abuse, violence or conflict is seen as
big by most people. Death is another big. Further any problem in academics,
job, relationship, health, finance, religion, social interaction even day to
day life. It could be about self or family, community, nation or even entire
humanity. Cases are seen where people get depressed about how world is becoming
less human. Remember it is the complex mix of circumstances. On top of it a lot depends on how one
perceives. Same thing depressing for one is not for other. One occasion it may
be depressing but not on other occasion.
4. Brain
chemistry - A very common term used
in almost all psychiatric issues including depression is chemical imbalance in
brain. It has been observed that certain brain chemical transmitters do get
disturbed. Many treatments attempts to
re-balance this imbalance. But it is not that simple and straight. These chemicals
are under a complex system of brain and no single factor or medicine can
increase or decrease them.
5. Personality
- Do we get designed for depression?
Over anxious, over sensitive, self critical, perfectionist even over aggressive
can make a person prone to depression. But the question is that making of these
types of personality is itself under influence of so many other factors. Good
point is that all these personality types are not fixed and can be changed.
6. Emotions
- Another factor which is less understood
probably least understood. And this factor plays biggest role. It is less
understood because most emotions are subjective even for doctor and therapist. And
we all know how difficult it is to understand own emotions. Emotions can be subtle
or complex. It can be too contradictory to understand. A lot depends on how an
individual feels joy or sadness, anger, worry, fear, feeling of belonging
or isolation. Most basic is - do you feel wanted and loved? There is two way
interaction between emotions and chemical neurotransmitters in brain. They both
can influence each other. Emotions interacts with life circumstances and also
interact with each other. Depression can occur along with anxiety or due to
anxiety.
7. Nutrition
- Oh how much we know but how little we do. We all know importance of good
healthy balanced diet. We know what deficiencies can do and how easy it is to
avoid them. But alas! how often we suffer from over eating as well as
nutritional deficiencies be it Vit B Vit D and Calcium Iron Selenium Manganese.
8. Lifestyle - A
two way cause and effect. Depression can affect our lifestyle and also our
lifestyle affects mental health. How is
our work life balance, do we sleep sufficient, do we have sufficient physical
activity, how is our time management, how organized we are, do we enjoy our
holidays and go on vacation etc. A big factor here is modern lifestyle which is
indoors and away from nature. Not to forget the gadgets and time spent on
social networking. It is not only about the radiation but also about fake life
that one goes into, compares and feel sad.
9. Medical
condition - Medical illness can affect in two ways. Some
ailments directly linked to depression like hypothyroidism, diabetes, SLE etc.
Other ailments can cause depression due to long suffering with no solution in
sight like cancer, HIV, heart disease, chronic pain etc. Some other mental
ailments too are linked to depression like phobia, panic, PTSD etc.
10. Medication
or Substance abuse - Some medicines are known to cause depression. They do
so by altering the status of neurotransmitters in brain. Those people with
other factors of depression present must be extra cautious with such medicines
and must always tell doctor beforehand so that such medicines can be replaced
by other suitable medicines. Also included here is the role of alcohol and
substance abuse that again interact two way. People with depression are prone
to alcohol and substance abuse as also those on these substances are prone to
depression.
To conclude depression has as many faces as there
are people on earth. It is complex,
unique and very subjective. We can make
humanity free from depression if we follow a well guide program that includes:
- good understanding of depression
- freedom from social stigma
- not to dismiss it as just habit
- freedom from guilt and self blame for depression
- support of near and dear ones and society at large
- holistic treatment with follow up as long as
required
I am committed to eliminate this from earth and I
have taken the step forward. What about you?
Dr Sunil Sharma
Ethos Healthcare
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For
Safe Effective Affordable Treatment, contact or visit:
Dr Sunil Sharma
Ethos Healthcare
Ethos Healthcare
T
12, Green Park Extension,
New
Delhi, India.
Email
: drsunilkumars@gmail.com
Phone:
+91-11-26164016, 46026700
Mobile
/ Whatsapp: +91-9810155920
Website:
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