Festival Season and Depression

Depression tends to increase during the festival season due to an increase in demands (perceived as stressful), family issues, and being unable to manage expectations. The increased demands on our time, energy, patience, and flexibility can take a toll.

For those already managing depression who may already be struggling with symptoms of fatigue, irritability, sadness, and feeling unable to cope with change or additional stress, the result of all the additional stress of the holidays can be simply feeling unable to meet those expectations, which can, unfortunately, lead to increased feelings of depression.

A common symptom of depression is anhedonia or the loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities or the inability to experience any kind of pleasure.

The festive season is a busy time when normal routines are often interrupted. There are many behaviors and situations which may cause stress and/or depression at this time of year.

The festive season is a period of over-indulgence and the combination of too much food and generally poor nutrition can have a negative impact on an individual’s mood.

The materialistic nature of society is thought to contribute to depression in general, and in the festive season, there is considerable pressure to buy luxuries, which causes financial strain for many.

Festive family gatherings are, at least according to expectations, a time for sharing love and joy. In reality, they often mean extra work and can be a time of conflict. Conflict with family members can cause stress and contribute to depression.

The festive season is unlikely to be perfect or stress-free. Coping with the stress of festivities can be easier if you approach them with realistic expectations.

Whatever events arise and cause stress in the festive season, remember that it is just one short period.

Seek help if and when needed.

This post is part of #CauseAChatter via Blogchatter.

Anxiety: A Book Review

 Title:  Anxiety: Overcome It and Live without Fear

Author: Sonali Gupta 

Format: Kindle and Paperback

Pages:256

Publisher: Harper Collins India

The book strikes you with its white cover and opens with an insightful foreword by renowned Indian Writer Jerry Pinto who has earlier edited and curated an anthology of mental health stories titled Book of Light. His understanding of this sensitive issue certainly stands out and the foreword in itself seems like an essay on mental health that has been written with elan and poise. When he says, "You have a right to be anxious.We all are.", it sets the tone of the book as a conversation about mental health rather than a preachy sermon.

The author Sonali Gupta is a Mumbai-based clinical psychologist with16 years of experience in the field of mental health. She writes a weekly column for Mumbai Mirror titled 'Terms of Engagement'. She currently runs a private practice in Khar and South Bombay.

On her website she says about the book:

Anxiety is a mental health crisis that has gripped over three crore Indians. In my debut book Anxiety: Overcome It and Live Without Fear, I delve into the condition, using case studies to identify how anxiety can be triggered at work, in relationships, and by social media. I have attempted to share a unique glimpse into this mental health condition in India, especially among Gen Z and millennials. 

Gupta lives up to what is promised by the book successfully and brings the mental health conversation to an Indian context. The book is about routine issues of an average Indian and how that is related to anxiety and also has a lot of tips and methodologies about how to deal with them. Hence the book becomes not just a book but a kind of WORKBOOK with ample DIY activities that help in self-care and self-analysis along with an entire last section dedicated to managing anxiety. The book is interactive with its readers and has columns to write things as you go. This not only makes it fun but also helps the reader to understand his/her own unique issues better.


In an interview with Women's Web the author says:

“The problem with anxiety is that it’s so normalised that people don’t talk about it. Just because something is normalised doesn’t mean it is okay that people have to live through it. It is a problem we need to address it at a systemic level.” 

In the book she speaks about not just anxiety but other related issues like BURNOUT saying:

“Most millennials who start jobs by age twenty-one reach their first burnout when they are about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Their second burnout is generally between age twenty-nine and thirty-years. This is usually the time when most people reach out for help and almost believe in its legitimacy since they now feel that a decade of work has taken a toll on them.” 

The tone is crisp and the material absolutely well-researched and supported with loved experiences and professional observations. 

Definitely a must-read for any Indian who has any interest in understanding mental health better.

This post is part of #Bookchatter  and #CauseAChatter with Blogchatter.

5 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH #CauseAChatter

1. You can just snap out of Depression or Anxiety.

FACT - Not that is not true. The human mind is a complex neurological organ and in addition, there are hormones, physical health factors and outside factors like relationship and socio-economic stress that can lead to a mental health crisis. It is not something one can snap out off one morning suddenly. a survivor might feel absolutely helpless while the mind is almost on auto-pilot through depression or anxiety. Survivors need support and assistance and more importantly care and compassion.

2. Mental health conditions aren't real.

FACT- The human brain is an organ, so it can dysfunction just like our lungs or our heart can. If a person is under extreme or prolonged psychological stress they can reach a mental health crisis, similarly just like so many physical illnesses and pain mental health issues can have completely inexplicable origins but they are real and painful.

3. Mentally ill people are dangerous and violent.

The commonest perception attached to those surviving a mental health issue is that they can harm themself or attack someone for no reason. People begin to believe it is unsafe to be around them. The fact is that some patients might feel threatened and might attack in self-defense or sometimes might get violent but all survivors are not violent.

4.Mental illness is a sign of weakness in character. 

This is one accusation often thrown at people who face a mental health crisis. people tell the survivor that those with strong will power can overcome depression, combat phobia, fight anxiety. However, this is untrue and often people also fall into addiction like alcohol, nicotine and other substance of abuse. A mental health situation is certainly out of the scope of merely a strong will power, however, it can assist in the recovery process.

5. The symptoms of mental health conditions are all emotion-related.

Mental health conditions are not just emotional. It's usually a mixture of both emotional and physical discomfort. Depression or anxiety manifests in a lot of physical discomforts, including aches and pains, sleeping too much or too little, and extreme lethargy. 

This #MentalHealthAwareness post is in collaboration with Blogchatter's Blogging with a Purpose . If you are a blogger and want to join your voice for a cause close to your heart, do look up.

My precious warrior

the numb ache

in your intense eyes

those warm hands

that often forget 

they have the map to home

I see the black hole

in your soul

that hides beneath

the colors and patterns

you scroll

you the precious warrior

-the bearer of light

inhale, exhale, pause

till the lighthouse

again shines bright

Wait till your halo

reflects back

remember, spring is never

too far behind!

DEPRESSION #MentalHealth #MyFriendAlexa

Image: Google Images

It has sharp claws

invisible

deep, dark eyes

invisible

fangs fatal

invisible

I smile often

cry-invisible

I walk often

stumble-invisible

I look happy

sadness-invisible

It is real

it has name

it stays with me

rides on my soul

Depression

Invisible!

You can read a factual post about DEPRESSION here.

I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.

K - Kids & Mental Health #AtoZ #MentalHealthAwareness

According to the surgeon general, approximately one out of every five children has a diagnosable mental illness. Children can develop the same mental health conditions as adults, but their symptoms may be different.

Children, however, are developing mentally and physically, and their behavior may be difficult to analyze. Actions such as anxiety, anger, and shyness can be a part of developmental growth or a temporary condition rather than an illness. When troubling behaviors occur over a period of time or in a way that disrupts daily life, they are considered symptoms of a disorder.

Studies have shown that these children, if left untreated by a mental health professional, will likely to grow up and repeat these same behaviors with their children.

Children need to have a good mental health status if they are going to live up to their full potential and truly live a life that is filled with positive experiences and the willingness to do what is best for themselves and the people around them. Children with mental health issues will have a difficult time acclimating to different situations.

Some children have to deal with a childhood that is filled with angst, resentment, hatred, distrust, and constant negativity. They have a difficult time coping with their emotions. Many children just naturally feel depressed or have anxiety issues. When these issues are not dealt with in the proper fashion, the children tend to have lower self-esteem and they struggle in the educational environment.

Initial diagnosis is based on reports of behavior from parents, caregivers, and teachers in order to understand how the child functions in different situations. The following disorders are common in childhood:

•         Anxiety

•         Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

•         Eating problems

•         Bathroom issues

•         Feelings of sadness, or moodiness

•         Disruptive behaviour

•         Learning disorders, such as dyslexia

•         Involuntary movements , or tics

•         Schizophrenia, or distorted thoughts and feelings

Some disorders begin in childhood and continue into adolescence and adulthood. Others go away or improve with age, and some begin later in life. Alarmingly, however, 70% of children and young people who experience a mental health problem have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age.

If they have a warm, open relationship with their parents/caregivers, children will usually feel able to tell them if they are troubled. One of the most important ways parents can help is to listen to them and take their feelings seriously. They may want a hug, they may want you to help them change something or they may want practical help. 

Some tips for parents:

• •         Be aware of your child’s media use - TV, movies, Internet, gaming devices and online games.
• •         Provide time for physical activity, play, and family activities.
• •         Be a role model by taking care of your own mental health: Talk about your feelings. Make time for things you enjoy.
• •         Associate no shame or fear with mental illness.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

References:

http://www.kidsmentalhealth.org/

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/c/children-and-young-people

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

J - Just Myths #AtoZ #MentalHealthAwareness

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increase the burden: It is easier to say "My tooth is aching" than to say "My heart is broken".

Challenging irrational beliefs about mental health is as much a part of raising awareness about mental illnesses as talking about disorders, syndromes and treatment plans.

Here are a few common myths people have about mental health/illness that prove to hurdle in the recovery of most survivors.

"People with Mental Illness are at fault because they don’t have enough willpower to change"

Most caretakers, families and friends of survivors and general public believe that those who struggle with depression can just will away their symptoms but are too lazy and unmotivated to do so. Blaming someone for struggling with  a mental health issue is like telling a cancer survivor she is dying because she doesn’t want to live badly enough. Mental or not, illnesses can come without just cause. People sometimes exacerbate this by judging the mentally ill as melodramatic or too stubborn to change.

This isn’t true.

"People with Mental Illness are dangerous and violent"

Often people believe that mental health survivors can physically harm themselves or others, which is true only in some cases and not all. Most media reports disproportionately on cases where people with mental health conditions commit violent acts and almost demonises them. The film industry and TV industry often depicts villains as psychotic.

However in reality people with Mental Illness are more likely to be victims. Mentally ill people are actually more likely to be victims of violence, according to a study published in the American Journal of Mental Health.

"People who look or act happy/normal aren’t  mentally ill"

People who don’t understand mental illness look at several suicide or mental breakdown victims and think, “Everything seems to be going great for him. How could he be depressed?”

Actually most mentally ill people don’t act or look a certain way and often are also successful, wealthy and active and yet some issue afflicts their mind and thought process. Remember people with mental illness are not “crazy.”

"Having a positive attitude can cure depression"

Depression is not something that somebody can just will away. Often, people have this misconception that if a person is depressed they need to just “be positive” or try their best to “shake it off”. Depression is not simply a feeling of sadness, but a serious medical condition that affects the biological functioning of the body. Cognitive therapy and medications can help address the underlying symptoms and causes of depression.

"People with a mental illness lack intelligence"

Intelligence has nothing to do with mental illnesses or brain disorders. Just like general population many people with mental disorders are brilliant, creative, productive people and some are not brilliant or creative. Certain mental illnesses may make it difficult for people to remember facts or get along with other people, making it seem like they are cognitively challenged. Overall, the level of intelligence among people with mental illness likely parallels the patterns seen in any healthy population.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

References:

https://cmha.ca/documents/myths-about-mental-illness

http://canwetalk.ca/about-mental-illness/myths-about-mental-illness/

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

H - High Functioning Mental Illness #MentalHealthAwareness

I am fighting a mental battle — one no is able to see. My mind is a battlefield. Every day, while I am able to appear as normal as everyone else, my anxiety and depression are trying as hard as they can to tear me down. High-functioning mental illness?

High-functioning depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety are increasingly being recognized as a real issue. But because of the stigma still attached to mental health issues, and sometimes the thinking that it isn’t really that bad, many with high-functioning mental health disorders keep their sadness to themselves. No one knows there is something wrong, sometimes not until it is too late.

When a person has high-functioning depression or anxiety, they may seem to have it all together, perhaps even more than most, on the outside, but are severely sad on the inside. 

People who suffer from it generally go about their lives as more or less “normal” so are often perceived as better off than they actually are, even by loved ones and themselves.

As is witnessed increasingly in the cases of so many celebrity suicides, the victims have been living active and successful lives but a nagging mental illness has depleted them internally.

With popular TV series like 13 Reasons Why and others mental illness has become a lifestyle fad of sorts also with the new generation to flaunt a mental health condition as a lifestyle fad, most often it is a high functioning condition they do not address properly.

Most people think they know what mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression look like. Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety ads along with pop culture portrayals often paint a picture of someone who has withdrawn from life, including favorite activities and friends, has trouble sleeping, and is constantly crying. While those are some signs, depression and anxiety take on many forms.

“Severe mental illness comes with so much stigma. But we are all around you. We live, we move, we have our being. Invisibly. Painfully. Oh-so-lonely. But we keep going. You don’t know how much we struggle. And chances are, unless we open up to you, you never will.” writes an American mom here on her website.

A few misconceptions about High Functioning Mental Illness

It is generally believed that a dishevelled appearance isn’t a symptom of depression. However, people have come to expect that those who struggle with their mental health will have a difficult time functioning in society. This assumption hurts people who have high-functioning depression or another mental illness.

Another misconception is that people with mental health challenges are unable to function in society. This is not true. It is possible for someone to maintain a socially acceptable lifestyle while having suicidal thoughts or experiencing anxiety.

People believe that successful people cannot have a mental health issue though mental illnesses do not discriminate by how successful someone is. Every smile can hide a lot of internal struggles.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

References:

https://themighty.com/2017/01/living-with-high-functioning-mental-illness/

https://projecthelping.org/mental-health-resources/

https://themighty.com/topic/high-functioning-depression/

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

E - Eating Disorders #AtoZ #MentalHealthAwareness

His urge to eat less or more food has spiraled out of control. He is overly concerned about his outward appearance? Eating disorder?

At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S. Every 62 minutes at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder.

Eating Disorders describe illnesses that are characterized by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape. 

Eating disturbances may include inadequate or excessive food intake which can ultimately damage an individual’s well-being.Disordered eating issues can develop during any stage in life but typically appear during the teen years or young adulthood.

Body image includes both how you feel about your appearance and what you see when you look at yourself in the mirror. Often, this mental image can be quite different than reality, especially for those struggling with an eating disorder. When you feel poorly about your appearance, you are often more vulnerable to other mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

While eating disorders arise from a complex mix of genetics, environment, and personal triggers, it is also true that the media images we are faced with every day have the potential to heighten our body image issues.

Eating disorders are broken down into the categories of:

• ·         Anorexia Nervosa - not getting enough calories in
• ·         Body Dysmorphic Disorder - obsession with an imaginary defect in physical appearance or an extreme concern with a slight physical blemish
• ·         Bulimia Nervosa - recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by induced vomiting, excessive exercise or use of laxatives
• ·         Binge Eating Disorder- lack of control over eating during the episode
• ·         Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - lack of control over eating during the episode
• ·         Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder- meet some of the criteria for an eating disorder, but not all
• ·         Pica - eating of substances that have no nutritional value for a period of at least one month
• ·         Rumination Disorder- repeated regurgitation of food for at least one month
• ·         Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder – disorders which do not meet the criteria of any of the above disorders, but still cause great emotional upset or interferes with daily life.

Because of the severity and complexities of these conditions, a comprehensive and professional treatment is often fundamental in establishing healing and recovery. With the mass amount of misguided information about eating disorders, it is common for these serious illnesses to be misunderstood, oversimplified, or greatly generalized.

Understanding the implications of eating disorders can help increase awareness about ways to get help. People with eating disorders may appear healthy, yet be extremely ill and need a comprehensive recovery plan including a psychotherapist, physician and dietitian.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

References :

https://anad.org/

https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/eating-disorder

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

D - Depression #AtoZ #MentalHealthAwareness

He has recently gone through a major life event that was stressful and it has changed his behavior completely, Depression?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the most common illness worldwide and the leading cause of disability. They estimate that 350 million people are affected by depression, globally.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7.6 per cent of people over the age of 12 have depression in any 2-week period. This is substantial and shows the scale of the issue.

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistently low mood and a feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It is a persistent problem, not a passing one, lasting on average 6 to 8 months.

Not only is depression prevalent, but it also creates the heaviest burden of disability among mental and behavior disorders.

Risk factors include:

• ·         Personal or family history of depression
• ·         Major life changes, trauma, or stress
• ·         Certain physical illnesses and medications

Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:

• ·         depressed mood 
• ·         reduced interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed, loss of sexual desire
• ·         unintentional weight loss (without dieting) or low appetite
• ·         insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
• ·         psychomotor agitation, for example, restlessness, pacing up and down
• ·         delayed psychomotor skills, for example, slowed movement and speech
• ·         fatigue or loss of energy
• ·         feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• ·         impaired ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions
• ·         recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or attempt at suicide

Symptoms must last at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression. Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many.Other medical conditions like thyroid problems, a chronic illness or vitamin deficiency can also mimic symptoms of depression so it is important to rule out general medical causes.

The Hamilton depression rating scale is one of the most widely used assessment instruments in the world for clinicians rating depression. The Hamilton scale, has 21 questions, with resulting scores describing the severity of the condition.

Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.

Some self-help tips for depression survival are:

• ·         Be active and try to exercise.
• ·         Set realistic goals for yourself.
• ·         Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.
• ·         Try not to isolate yourself, and let others help you.
• ·         Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately.
• ·         Postpone important decisions, such as getting married or divorced, or changing jobs until you feel better.
• ·         Continue to educate yourself about depression.

Depression affects nearly one in six people at some point in their lives, so folk remedies and half-truths about this common illness abound. Our culture admires will power and mental toughness and is quick to label anyone who falls back as a whiner. But people who have clinical depression are not lazy or simply feeling sorry for themselves. Nor can they "will" depression to go away.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

Useful resources for Depression support:

https://www.vandrevalafoundation.com/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-what-you-need-to-know/index.shtml

https://headtohealth.gov.au/

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.