After Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone mustered up the courage to go public about her battle with depression, many women are coming forward to seek help in tackling the condition, say city psychiatrists.
After Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone mustered up the courage to go public about her battle with depression, many women are coming forward to seek help in tackling the condition, say city psychiatrists.
They also said that people have begun shedding the social stigma that is often attached to depression, and that those suffering from it are now being encouraged by their family to visit a psychiatrist after recognising its signs, which was earlier not the case.
Dr Parul Tank, psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, who is also head of the department at Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, said that depression is now hitting women quite early. "A lot of young women, especially in the age group of 25-35 years are showing signs of depression due to life transmission phases where they are experiencing career problems, failed relationships, and not finding an appropriate match, leading to a delay in marriage."
Dr Tank said that while women are more prone to depression than men, Padukone's acknowledgment of being depressed has encouraged more women to take medical help. "In a week, I got at least six women who wanted to be assessed for depression. While four had it, the other two had anxiety disorders. All of them spoke about Deepika Padukone's initiative inspiring them to take medical help," said Dr Tank. Psychiatrists also noted that most women approaching them were from the upper middle class or upper class.
The actress had recently tweeted and also appeared in an interview where she bared her heart about what she went through in early 2014, as well as spoke about taking medication.
Dr Heena Merchant, secretary of the Bombay Psychiatirst society (BPS), an umbrella body of psychiatrists, said, "In India, depression manifests a lot in somatic problems like headache, back ache, not able to concentrate at work, etc. Women are afraid to come out and talk about it otherwise. Deepika Padukone was bold enough to talk about depression and since she is an influential person, people are drawing inferences from it."
Dr Merchant further said that while a person will gladly accept that he/she has blood pressure, diabetes or any other health problem, mental illness is rarely spoken about. "A mental illness like depression is never spoken about in our society. The fear of getting isolated or being talked about discourages them to take help from family, friends or doctors," said Dr Merchant.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression will be the most widespread epidemic in the next few years. "One in four women as compared to one in 10 men will have depression sometime or the other in life. It is the most common health problem, but because of lack of awareness and social stigma, people avoid taking medical help," said Dr Tank.
Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital in Powai said, "It is not just women who have gotten inspired by Deepika Padukone's revelation, even men are opening up and accepting that they have depression."
Dr Shetty said that in the general population, one in eight people will have the condition. "It is more common than cough and cold and if not treated on time, can have severe implications. In men, the causes can be poor finances, job loss, job insecurity, while in women it is more because of complications in a relationship. Women are seen to be prone to depression more because of emotional reasons. Job loss and career problems are other common causes in women."
Symptoms of depression:
Persistent sad, anxious, or 'empty' feelings
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Irritability, restlessness
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
Fatigue and decreased energy
Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
Overeating, or appetite loss
Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
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