DEPRESSION AND RECOVERY TECHNIQUES

Depression has become a part of our regular vocabulary these days, although it is a clinical condition.  It is characterized by persistent low mood or sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, problems with sleeping, eating, energy, sexual drive, concentration and self-worth, to name a few. Depression also happens to be one of the leading causes of death in our country. Statistics mention around 7% of our country’s total adult population is diagnosed with depression, albeit a lot more goes undiagnosed in a country like ours, where mental health always takes a back seat.
There is none of us who should confidently say ‘it will never happen to me’ and it is foolish of us to think of those with depression as people who are not strong enough. We all fall down, but the question is, do we tend to bounce back or fall apart?  It is extremely important that we focus on our regular mental hygiene to combat this inevitable epidemic. Hygiene refers to methods of preserving health. Just like we brush our teeth and wash our hands daily, we need to practice mental hygiene as well. Learning positively from experience is the best way to adapt to adversity. How we see ourselves is very important. Holding a positive self-esteem is one of the key factors that might safeguard us from developing depression.  Staying socially connected gives us strength as we humans are majorly social animals. Accepting changes, differences, learning from our past experiences are a few skills that make us wise.  Focusing on small things that make us happy, being goal-oriented and exploring our potential are few other ways which help us to cope better when practiced regularly.
Mindfulness also plays a big role in improving our mental health. This technique helps us to become more aware of what is happening at the present moment. It not only helps us understand our thought patterns and the prevailing emotions, but also manage them.
Let us successfully break the chain of depression and become a happier and more resilient being.
Contributor :
Dr. Sritama Ghosh
Consultant Psychologist