Mental health and its problems                              

Depressive Illness:

All of us experience feeling blue, low and worried at times but if these feelings become pervasive, being there all the time, and intense, then it is diagnosed as an illness which needs treatment.

How does it present:

The most common presentation of depressive illness is in the form of vague bodily complaints like aches/pains all over the body, weakness, tiredness, feeling of heaviness in the head, gases circulating in the stomach, restlessness and palpitations. Despite repeated consultations and laboratory tests, the person is often not diagnosed.

The presentations can include disturbances of sleep, appetite, feeling him/her self guilty and worthless and deserving of punishment, feeling weepy, finding it difficult to concentrate on his chores and complaining of difficulty with memory.

In severe cases, repeated suicidal thoughts and plans can be there. In some cases, the person may attempt suicide,

Some features of anxiety like being irritable and feeling of impending doom are also commonly seen.

Why Does this Occur?

It is very difficult to answer this question, definitely but a number of factors like inheritance, social, economic and relationship problems, chronic physical illness and /or handicap interact with each other to result in producing changes in the chemicals found in our brain. These chemicals called neuro- transmitters are involved in control of our thoughts and emotions. Experience in early life, like separation from parents for any reason, physical, emotional or sexual abuse can make a person vulnerable to develop depressive illness latter in life.

How to treat it?

Both medicines and psychotherapy are necessary for treatment of depressive illness. Electro convulsive treatment is also used for some severe cases, If given by properly trained personnel it is a useful and safe treatment. Medicines generally take 02-03 weeks to start their action and need to be taken regularly for at least a few months under supervision of a doctor or psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy is also an effective treatment but like medicines takes some tome to provide relief. Generally both medicines and psychotherapy together give better results than any one of these alone. Medicine has some transient side effects about which you must ask your doctor.

What are the potential consequences of not taking treatment?

If not treated properly and in time, depressive illness can reduce the person ability to function effectively, socially, professionally and emotionally, impairing the quality of his life.

Suicide and in case of depressive illness in women following childbirth, infanticide is a serious potential consequence.

What can the friends and family do?

The patient needs care and support of his family and friends. The most important thing to do is to listen to and understand the person's feelings. It is not necessary to agree with them. They should not be criticized and condemned as being weak willed or morally weak.

It is important to convince them to seek treatment and comply with the advice of their doctor

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