Driving Away The Depression ‘Lows’

...Vasuda better known to her classmates as Bubbly had always been the life of a party. Vivacious and witty, she had a laughter that warmed the belly of her friends. She had lived each moment of her 23 years with positive abandon. She was a friend to turn to in times of need, a pillar of strength for her close circle of friends and engaged to Karan, a hunk of a guy who had charmed each and every one of her friends and family members.

Lately, her friends had noticed a clear shift in her demeanor and way of dressing; they had both taken on an uncomfortable tone. She had stopped wearing makeup, didn't return their calls or text messages. Her eyes had bags under them, and she admitted to Chitra, her best friend that she wasn't sleeping well at night. Chitra also smelled smoke on her breath and upon questioning Bubbly admitted she had started smoking 10-12 cigarettes daily.

Upon further probing, Chitra found out that Bubbly's fiancé Karan had been verbally abusive. Chitra also found out that Bubbly's company was relocating to Pune, a move Bubbly wouldn't be able to make due to her fiancé, and Bubbly was feeling she had no where to turn -

She felt so alone! Who could she confide in about Karan? All of her family loved him. Her job was on the line, she was in an abusive relationship with a man soon to become her husband. Bubbly felt ominous clouds hovering over her and trying to engulf her in their darkness. She was petrified, desperate and lonely.

Was Bubbly depressed? Yes, life can be tough at times, and it's perfectly normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. If you have similar feelings and are mortified of everyone around you finding out your fears, you may be suffering from `depression'.  You are not alone!

Depression is a common ailment shared by many. The good news is that it is neither unusual nor permanent and can be treated completely. The key to feeling good lies in the patient's hands.
Symptoms of depression:

• Sadness, feeling blue.
  
• Feelings of worthlessness, feeling alone.
  
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Stress
  
• Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
• Energy loss
• Change in weight
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression has a genetic foundation and so can run in families. It may suddenly appear between the ages of 15 and 30, and is most common in women.

Before we begin with how to tackle the `feelings of low', understand that depression is nothing but a warning signal from your mind telling you that something is amiss, out of balance in your life. There may be several reasons for this imbalance.
Some most common ones include:

• Loss of a loved one or some other form of personal tragedy
• Being abused/ insulted/ neglected during childhood/adolescence/ or in the present.
• Witnessing an unpleasant incident
• Unemployment
• Staying alone, away from the family
• Lack of close friends or someone to talk to and confide in

Now, the good part..how to feel good and drive away these blues?
Seek the help of trusted friends/ family members: You may feel embarrassed to talk to your family about your pain, or feel guilty to open up to them but by doing so, you will lift a burden off your shoulders. Your loved ones care about you and will definitely want to help.
Avoid the triggers: Depression can be the result of many things, and it is necessary that you avoid those circumstances/ activities that upset you or make you feel depressed. For example, watching/ reading stories about destruction, war, crime, doom and despair will only make you feel helpless and pull you down further. Make a conscious effort to stay clear of these.
Simplify your schedule: Do not keep too many goals and targets that may add to your stress. Try and work with one goal at a time. If you try and concentrate on too many things, you will feel overwhelmed and unable to coat.
Positive thinking: It always gets your brain going. Hang out with friends who accept you for yourself. Make the effort to be around people who are content and secure and care for you.
Move it: You don't have to run a marathon - how about a daily walk for 30 minutes to begin with? While you exercise, your body produces `feel-good' chemicals called endorphins. Once you experience the `high', you will get hooked on to working out.
Keep your brain cells active: Try to engage yourself in as many physical activities as possible. A healthy routine must be followed to keep your body and mind healthy. Better yet, do something new! Join a dance class or learn to play a new instrument or develop a new hobby. Your brain needs exercise, too
You are the boss of your mind: If you are young, bright and capable, then you have the ability to convince yourself that you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and resolve the stressful problems facing you. To begin with, how about removing the words `depression' and `feeling low' from your dictionary?
As Little Annie said in the musical, "The sun will come out tomorrow."

By, The Dietetic Team @ NutritionVista.com

Related Topics:
Foods That Can Uplift A Down Mood
Insomnia - Should I Lose Sleep Worrying About It?

Disclaimer: If your depression is life threatening, or lasts a couple of weeks, have a thorough physical check up by a psychiatrist who knows what to look for. Never self-prescribe antidepressant drugs for yourself, or recommend them to anyone else. Depression is a serious condition, and must be treated by a trained physician.