Every human being undergoes various ups and downs during the course of life. But many do not carry the impressions of those events. However in some individuals it lasts for months even years together. After some time this dyscrasia becomes so severe that it starts interfering in the daily life. This is the state when we say the depression is set in.
Hereditary factors also play a major role. If someone is having parental medical history of depression then he or she is more vulnerable to depression.
It is the most common disorder among women. Because of biological and social factors the women are more vulnerable to depression.
Biological- During the life time a woman undergoes various hormonal changes like puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause etc. These hormonal changes may have positive or negative effects on mind. In some cases it allows the life to go on smoothly while in some other cases it brings symptoms like mood swing, indifference, sleep disorder etc.
Social- The women respond differently to various status of life than men; like poverty, business loss, family disturbances etc.
It is the mother of uncountable diseases. Because often it goes unrecognised and in the course of time it brings various physical ailments like ovary cyst, fibroid uterus, diabetes, heart disease etc.
In few cases only it is recognised and in fewer cases only it gets proper treatment. Hence it is very essential to know the symptoms of depression.
Symptoms
Indifferent- When the individual becomes indifferent towards his daily routine duties, towards his loved ones; you can suspect of depression. A mother who was thinking of her child through out the day now hardly cares for that. A wife does not like the very approach of the husband. Such symptoms do not erupt all of a sudden rather following a prolonged hardship of life it develops.
Fatigue- Causelessly the woman feels tired, lifeless and weak.
Lack of concentration- She is absent minded mostly. Nothing pleases her. Out of compulsion she will do the work but not whole heartedly.
Unnatural appetite- Either hunger is decreased a lot, so that without eating she can stay day long or increased a lot, so that she eats voraciously.
Abnormal sleep- Either she does not get sleep for a month long or gets excessive sleep.
Brood over past- An occurrence which ahs happened years before still disturbs her. She goes on thinking the same thing time and again which not only disturbs her but also her surrounding.
False feeling- Usually in a very chronic stage these symptoms appear. She sees something (illusion) which is not really present, hears false sound (hallucination), false sensation (delusion) etc.
Treatment-
Homeopathy avails the best treatment for depression. It recognises the cause first and treats accordingly. The individualistic approach of homeopathic treatment brings gentle and lasting cure. An example of individualistic approach is given below.
Two persons undergo depression from business failure. One develops indifference towards business while the other becomes a workaholic. Hence for the first person symptoms will be considered as ‘ailments business failure from + indifference to duty’ but for the second person we will take ‘ailments business failure from + workaholic’ .Hence the remedies will differ.
Some homeopathic remedies with indications are as follows.
1. Absent minded;
a.makes purcheses and forgets to bring home-Lac.can
b.in old age-am-c,con,lyco
2. Anger;
a.alternating with quick repentance-SULPHUR
b.business about-bryonia,ip,nux vom
c.fits of-staph
d.supressed ailments from-carc,ip,lyco,staph
3. Complaints can not describe properly-pulsatilla.
4. Concentration difficult in children-aeth,baryt.c,carc,phos
5. Discouraged feeling;
a.with cursing-ac.nit
b.and quiet-lyco
6. Ailments from domination by others for a long time-anac,carc,lyco,staph
7. Ailments from egotism-plat,lyco,puls,silicea,thuja.
N.B-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that an extensive analysis of clinical trials showed that antidepressants may cause or worsen suicidal thinking or behaviour in children and adolescents.
The findings are so disturbed that FDA wanted all the manufacturers to label the strong warning about the link of anti-depressants to suicidal tendency .This warning is known as Black-Box.
The warning is printed in bold type framed in a black border at the top of the paper inserts that come with antidepressants.
However all the prescribers and manufacturers do not go by this.
Now I am confused to say that whether this oldest existing therapeutic system is a life giver or life taker? Because I am witnessing many in my daily practice who are in habit of taking anti depressants for years together even without consulting the doctor.