It's a Monday morning and Kushal Varma (name changed) is sitting on his bed and staring at his toenails, wondering about its shape. For the past 15 minutes, he has been wanting to go to the washroom, which is just half a metre away from his bed. But he feels as if his entire body has turned into a mannequin. He is unable to command his body to complete the simple task.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

"I was pushing myself — both mentally and physically — to get ready for office. It is an effort to even stand on my own two feet. I just feel like staying in my bed and sleeping. I just don't feel like starting the day — not just that day, but any day," said 28-year-old Varma, who has been living two lives — one of a highly intellectual professional, who is a treat to talk to, helps every other person; and one of a deeply fatigued, depressed person on the brink of a suicide. He had spent the entire weekend on his bed, lying down and fighting his inner demons.

Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, psychological trauma) are more likely to develop depression. With time, depression can transform into a severely stressed and dysfunctional lifestyle that continually pushes you in the ocean of melancholy.

People from all walks of life, across age groups, are falling prey to stress-related disorders. Peer pressure, insecurity, a change in the lifestyle has pushed many people into this dark zone.

But the question is, how does one identify that he or she is suffering from depression. Psychologists believe that the presentation of depression might take several forms of psychosomatic ailments. These include conditions such as irritable bowel, fluctuations in blood pressure or blood sugar levels, unexplained body aches, sleep disorders with irregular sleep-wake schedule, disturbed dreams, obsessive anxiety and self-harming behaviours.

"In last few years, the number has certainly gone up. People are now curious and openly talking about it. Keeping negative thoughts and feelings bottled up is also a cause of great distress," said Dr Sameer Malhotra, director, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Healthcare.

All that glitters is not gold

Last week, Anthony Bourdain's suicide shook the entire world. Bourdain, a celebrity chef and travel documentarian, who charmed the world with his programmes on international culture and cuisine, was found hanging in his room. But it's not just him.

Earlier this year, the 55-year old fashion icon Kate Spade, too, was reportedly found hanging on June 5, leaving the world shocked. Spade suffered from debilitating depression for years, but had refused to seek medical help.

Grammy-nominated EDM star Avicii was found dead in Muscat, Oman, on April 20. According to reports, the musician had committed suicide after battling alcoholism for years.

When a celebrity commits suicide, it leaves everyone perplexed. The juxtaposition of their glittering lives and the dark truth that is their private lives. Many express shock when they hear about celebrities developing mental illness, as they live a 'happy life'.

However, experts say that wealth and fame doesn't make an individual immune to depression. Every mind reacts differently, every heart works differently.

"Anyone can be depressed or develop a depression. There are no set patterns and medical attention is a must. As far as celebrities are concerned, they have their own fears, insecurities and pressures — the pressure to maintain their status, project a certain image, etc. They simply have to keep it real for the outside world," said Dr Nand Kumar, professor in the department of psychiatry, AIIMS.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression impacts more than 300 million people worldwide. Every year, nearly 8,00,000 people commit suicide — it's the second leading cause of death for people aged between 15 and 29 years. Most people suffering from mental illness feel uncomfortable talking about it. The stigma attached to the condition forces people to take a step back. Everything seems dull, trivial and there is no urge to move ahead with life.

Leading Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone opened up about her battle with depression in 2015, following which she founded an NGO called The Live Love Laugh Foundation, to help people with mental illness. The 32-year-old actress, who has battled and survived depression, had earlier pointed out that anyone, irrespective of their social or economic position, can be diagnosed with depression.

"The element of depression that is grossly misunderstood is the belief that you have control over your illness. In reality, you don't. The illness will creep into your life, and if left untreated, may completely engulf you. You are not in the driver's seat anymore, the illness is. It will tell you where to go, what to eat and when to sleep," she said, it in a post after Bourdain's suicide.

Good and the bad days

Four years ago, Mumbai resident Sohini Mitter wrote a detailed blog on how her father was battling depression, and how the immediate family had to adjust to it. Her father has since been stable. He has been undergoing therapy for the past three years. "Since the time he was diagnosed, he has undergone several changes as an individual. Some are overt, some are not. Many lifestyle changes have been brought about too, in terms of activity and diet. On the surface, it might seem that he is leading a routine life. But, deep down there are difficulties. There are good days and then there are bad. Bad days can become bad weeks too," she told DNA.

Speaking of the good and bad days, Mitter said that living with a person who has been diagnosed with clinical depression is all about balancing the good and bad. "Thankfully, good days outnumber the bad ones. But when the hollow strikes the patient, you just have to wait it out. You can't rush through the bad days. You have to believe that they will be over soon. Support from caregivers is crucial. And if the bad days last very long, despite being under treatment/ therapy, then it is advisable to go for a thorough check-up again, ask for alterations in medication, counselling, and so on," she further explained.

As the medication began, her father's morning routine went for a toss. "There is a change brought about by the medication. He feels drowsy and lethargic after waking up. It takes him a few hours to shake that off. So, while earlier he used to go for morning walks, he now goes for walks in the evening. There are other changes too, such as, he is unable to sit patiently for a three-hour movie. He gets fidgety and restless. So, we no longer go to the theatre to watch a movie with him. Cricket matches are fine, though he might get tired after a few hours," she said.

But, the biggest takeaway for Mitter in the past four years as a caregiver has been the need for patience and understanding. "You have to understand the behavioural patterns, the different moods, the things that trigger darkness, the things that make them feel positive, and so on. Over time, you start figuring out these things, and care-giving becomes simpler. You intuitively know if something is not working and if it's time for the doctor's or therapist's intervention. At a personal level, you learn to accept that depression changes a person intrinsically. So, it is almost like it is a new person you are living with after some years. You may not recognise many of their traits or habits, but you have got to familiarise yourself fast. There shouldn't be any blame game. Most importantly, take care of yourself," she added.

Face the sun

It is extremely important to talk to your family or friends. "Alienating yourself from the world will worsen the situation. You will develop wrong habits like alcohol, smoke and drug abuse. The idea is to get involved with a lot of people and try to keep yourself busy. Once you become an addict, it becomes very difficult to change," added Dr Kumar.

It wasn't an easy task for 32-year old Saurabh Mahajan (name changed) to deal with the shock waves. According to him, he was in class 7, when he first suffered a depression. "Back then, I couldn't understand the reason behind my fatigue and restlessness. Neither did my parents. It was in 2015, when I had my third round of illness, which was after a terrible break-up. I immediately began reading about it and spoke to few friends, who were counsellors. The more I read, the better I understood the situation," said Mahajan, who recently visited the doctor after the fourth round of depression.

He then began a few activities, hoping to cure the illness from the core. Physical activities like running helped relax his muscles and act like anti-depressants. "It helped me," he said.

Experts feel that the most important thing is to accept the fact that you have a problem. Talking to someone and seeking help doesn't make anyone weak; it is just an earlier road to recovery. According to WHO, effective community approaches to prevent depression include school-based programmes to enhance a pattern of positive thinking in children and adolescents. Exercise programmes for the elderly can also be effective in depression prevention.

ACCEPT IT

  • Experts feel that the most important thing is to accept that you have a problem.   
  • Psychologists believe that the presentation of depression might take several forms of psychosomatic ailments, including irritable bowel, fluctuations in blood pressure or sugar levels, sleep disorders, among others.   
  • Physical activities like running helps relax muscles & act like an anti-depressant.   
  • Every year, nearly eight lakh people commit suicide — it’s the second leading cause of death for people between 15 and 29 years.   
  • Seeking help doesn’t make anyone weak; it is just an earlier road to recovery. 

WAKE UP, SMELL THE COFFEE

Since 2014, as many as 26,476 students have killed themselves in India, according to the latest data sent to Ministry of Home Affairs by all states and UTs. The data highlighted that the no. for 2016 was 9,474 — that’s one suicide every 55 minutes.

Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, psychological trauma) are more prone to depression. Depression can, in turn, lead to more stress and dysfunction and worsen the affected person’s life, and the depression itself.

According to WHO, a person commits suicide every 40 seconds. We are reminded of these grave statistics when the loss is centred around prominent individuals, since their loss is mourned by the world.

RECENT CASES

Fashion icon Kate Spade committed suicide on June 5, 2018. The 55-year-old fashion designer had reportedly hanged herself.

Grammy-nominated EDM star Avicii was found dead in Muscat, Oman, on April 20, 2018. According to reports, the musician had committed suicide. The star had been battling alcoholism for years.

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington committed suicide on July 20, 2017. The 41-year-old singer was suffering from depression. Bennington had always been open about his battle with alcohol addiction and depression.

Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was found dead in a hotel room on June 8, 2018. The chef, who was also a gifted storyteller and writer also committed suicide.

FACTS

  • Depression is a common mental disorder, characterised by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities, for at least two weeks.  
  • In addition, people with depression face several of the following: loss of energy, change in appetite, sleeping more or less, anxiety, reduced concentration, indecisiveness, restlessness, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.  
  • Depression is treatable, with talking therapies or anti-depressant medication or a combination of these.  
  • Depending on the number and severity of symptoms, a depressive episode can be categorised as mild, moderate, or severe. A key distinction is also made between depression in people who have or do not have a history of manic episodes. Both types of depression can be chronic with relapses, especially if they go untreated.  
  • PREVENTION:  According to World Health Organization (WHO), effective community approaches to prevent depression include school-based programmes to enhance a pattern of positive thinking in children and adolescents. Exercise programmes for the elderly can also be effective in preventing depression.