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Meditation is the key to gain a calm state of mind. It’s a very simple technique to breath deep while concentrating your mind towards positive thoughts. It’s a practice to train your mind to lighten up and focus. Meditation is practiced all over the world and has been proved to be a great way to get rid of depression.

In today’s busy life when people are suffering due to depression or anxiety, you probably feel so isolated and trap your mind with negative thoughts. Over a period of time situation get worse and you become habitual of pilling negative thoughts in your mind. You constantly struggle to unwind but it becomes harder and harder by each passing day.

Meditation provides needed support to renew your disturbed mental state and helps you to train your mind to have positive outlook towards life. Many people have made meditation as a part of their daily routine. Its evident that how meditation has transformed millions of people’s life and provided clarity of mind. Meditation ritual has a tremendous power to heal your mind and help you to get rid of anxiety and depression.

If you have been suffering from depression for whatever reasons then meditation will surely rescue you. Meditation control and relax your mind, furthermore it enables you to create positive thoughts in you.

In order to gain the benefits of meditation you need to practice it on a regular basis. When you try it for the first time, just do it for over 5-10 minutes all you have to concentrate is on your breathing process.

1. Sit down in a calm posture at a comfortable place. Then close your eyes while focusing on your breathing process.
2. Later focus on the sense of relaxation by channeling your thoughts in the positive direction. The only key to meditation is to be focused. Slowly you will gain the power of focusing, don’t feel discouraged if you don’t get it right in the fist 10 attempts.
3. Experience the air going to your nostrils and then leaving it from your mouth. Once you get into the flow you will start feeling the pace of your breathing process.
4. Don’t quit in the middle of the meditation process. If your mind starts to wonder about other thing and get diverted, simply examine those thoughts and slowly come back to the breathing process.
5. Meditate for at least 10 minutes and then open your eyes. Ask yourself do you feel relaxed? If the answer is yes then congratulations you have learned the art of meditation. If you are unable to get it right then don’t get dishearten you will understand it after few rounds of practicing.

I can tell you from my personal experience! Initially, I was bit skeptical about how meditation works. But trust me! Within a month of practicing meditation I realized the significance of meditation.

We like to read novels in which the hero and heroine after all hassles live happily ever after. We like happy endings because we like similar things to happen in our lives. But alas! Life is not a novel and we have to endure many ups and downs as regards different relations are concerned.

Especially when it comes to male and female relations, those are beyond the realms of “just friendship”, there are all the more complicated issues to handle. When the happy going relation turns sour and breaks up, many issues crop up for both the partners, but the one who is emotionally vulnerable may succumb into the depths of depression.

There are different ranges of break up depression-

* Temporary depression- If the person experiences the world going against him or her for initial period after the break up, it is obvious feeling and there is nothing much to worry about. A good counseling with examples of similar events also helps one get over the crisis. Rather, this type is a normal symptom after break up and should not be termed clinically as depression.

* Teenage depression- being a period of transition both physiologically and mentally, teenage is the most vulnerable period for heart break ups. It has been roughly estimated that out of five teenage romances, one teenager suffers from teenage break up depression. At times, the crisis requires alarming sensitivity on part of parents or well-wishers, as a teenager may become violent due to suppressed feelings.

* Critical depression- After break up, some people react unusually alarmingly and represent suicidal thoughts and/or actions. This is definitely a clinical depression and even the slight awareness about it is enough to treat the case. Usually it affects those people more who have low self esteem.

How to deal with the break up depression?

It is found that break up depressions take more time to heal than other types of depression. Also it is a fact that most people loathe counseling during this period, because they want time for themselves. However, a well-guided counseling by an expert counselor definitely proves beneficial. Most of the times, people prefer books over counselors that depict situations like them exactly. When a person comes to know there are many similar sufferers like him or her, it is psychologically soothing than just plain words like “it will pass”.

Also this kind of break up depression may need certain anti-depressant drugs to make them compliant with the situation. Well, end of a relationship, whether in marriage or otherwise, is not easy to bear. But remember life is good and everything happens for good!

Postpartum depression also known as postnatal depression is a kind of clinical depression that affects women after the birth of a child. The various significant studies or reports show that the prevalent rate of this kind of depression rates among the women from 5% to 25%.

Maternity Blues-A Mild Depressive State!

Maternity blues or baby blues refer to the transitory or mild mood swings by which 80% of women suffered after pregnancy.  In some cases fathers also suffer from maternity blues or baby blues.  The symptoms of this depression last from a period of few hours to several days.  They include irritability, tearfulness, sleeplessness, hypochondriasis,   concentration impairment, headache and isolation.  The baby or maternity blues don’t have the same nature as postpartum depression.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

These symptoms may occur anytime at the very first year postpartum. They include:

* Sadness
* Low self-esteem
* Hopelessness
* Sleep disturbances
* Guilt
* Inability to be comforted
* Eating disturbances
* Emptiness
* Inability to enjoy things one previously enjoyed
* Social withdrawal
* Becoming easily frustrated
* Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby (or feeling like one cannot take care of the baby
* Low energy
* Exhaustion

Risk Factors Of Postpartum Depression

There are thirteen factors that are considered as significant predictors of Postpartum Depression. They are:

* Low self esteem 
* Prenatal anxiety
* Childcare stress
* Low social support
* History of previous depression
* Poor marital relationship
* Life stress
* Maternity blues
* Low socioeconomic status 
* Infant temperament problems
* Single parent
* Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

Some women suffering from Postpartum Depression believe that they aren’t able to take good care of their baby. Some are worried that they might create problem for their baby or can even harm them. It’s really important to understand the normal postpartum emotional changes. Don’t think too much and try not to have feelings that something may be amiss. If you’re really at trouble by your thinking just consult your physician for the immediate help.

Since 20th century depression is as the major psychiatric disease, affecting eight million people approximately in North America. In the case of depression, adults suffering from psychiatric illness are more prone to death from suicide or accidents than the adults not having any psychiatric disorder. Major depression, including bipolar disorder, often appears at its initial stage during adolescent age, and has severe effects on later morality and morbidity.

Depression in adolescents-A significant severe problem!

Depression has actually raised the rate of suicide in adolescents.
In the present times adolescent suicide is more evident for deaths of youths aged 15 to 19. Through the recent survey, it is clearly shown that 20% of common adolescents in are suffering from emotional disorders or problems. Depression leads to the serious problems that include difficulties in work and workplace, school, and personal adjustment that continues till adulthood.

Depression- An Emotional Turmoil!

Adolescence is an age or time that brings along with it mood swings, emotional turmoil, gloomy introspection, heightened sensitivity, and great drama. It indicates behavioral experimentation.

The diagnosis of teenage depression not only a part of formal clinical interview but a close study of the person affected by his parents, community advisors, and teachers.

The premorbid personality of the patient must be closely observed and taken into account.

In this case therapeutic alliance is important because the adolescent usually will not be ready to share their feelings with any adult or a stranger unless they have trust or any kind of rapport with them.

Faith and confidentiality should be there in order to treat them with the best possible methods.

The diagnosis will further require many precautions while dealing with the patients of depression.

The Common Symptoms of Adolescent Depression

Depression has essential symptoms in adolescents and in adults.

* Pervasive sadness may be epitomized with the black clothes, composition of poetry with diseased themes or music with nihilistic themes.
* Sleep disturbance visible through by watching television all-night watching, getting up late and with difficulty for school, or sleeping throughout the day.
* Lack of energy level or motivation.
* Loss of concentration and unable to think properly.
* Boredom.
* Loss of appetite that eventually result in anorexia or bulimia.
* Adolescent depression can also be observed through conduct or behavior disorder, alcohol abuse, family turmoil.

In this kind of complicated depressive episodes, formal psychological testing will prove to be of great help. In the cases that are difficult most to handle, a trial of a treatment is required to prepare an effective study of the patient suffering from clinical depression or emotional turmoil. 

Clinical depression also known as unipolar depression or major depressive disorder is a psychiatric disorder, generally characterized by diffused low mood, lack or loss of interest in any kind of activity or pleasure. Depression is a mood one is feeling completely blue.

Chronic Depression

Chronic depression is really serious as it often disables the condition of the person being affected by it.
The course of depression varies widely from person to person.
It can happen once in a life-time or can have multiple recurrences that appear gradually or suddenly.
It can last for an only a period of few months or can actually be there as a life-long disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression

The term depression has a variety of signs or symptoms. They are:

* Persistent anxious or sad, or gloomy mood
* Loss of weight or appetite.
* Patients get prone to insomnia, oversleeping or early-morning awakening.
* Irritability or restlessness.
* Feelings of helplessness, inappropriate guilt or worthlessness.
* Feelings of pessimism or hopelessness.
* Inabilities to think, remember, concentrate, or make decisions.
* Suicidal tendency or always thinking about death.
* Complete loss of enjoyment, pleasure or interest in usual activities.
* Having low spirits always or being sluggish.
* Headaches, chronic pain and digestive disorders.
* Major Depression

Major depression persists for the whole two weeks as it indicates the severe mood of the person affected. . The episodes of this type of depression may be recurrent or isolated. They can be further categorized as mild, severe or major. The Diagnosticians actually recognize the different subtypes of the depression that is severe or major:

Depression with melancholic features – It indicates loss of pleasure, an engrossed depressed mood, early morning waking, anorexia or psychomotor retardation.
Depression with Psychotic Features – Some people who are affected by this major depression may experience common psychotic features. They include delusions or hallucinations.
Depression with atypical features – It is characterized by the reactivity of mood swings, weight gain or increased appetite, excessive sleep, or leaden paralysis etc.

It is quite possible for a person to be affected by these subtypes of depression. As the person loss pleasure in the usual activities or all of a sudden tends to over-eating and gains weight. So all would one need is to try to make himself feel light and remove the level of depression by best medicine and laughter.

Do we always get what we dream of? And the truth is NO.

Needless to say, life is not bed of roses, we do we have our share of ups and downs. Everyone goes through tough times; some people just trap themselves in sadness because they don’t find a way to fight out of the tragic and unfortunate times.

It’s natural to feel upset or sad during some rough times, but when the slight sadness turns into depression, and then it becomes a matter of concern. Once in a while, I also face tough times but I never let those tough times last for a long period. It’s always recommended to find the root cause of your problem and resolve the issue, before it becomes out of control. Let’s think realistically – 

Do you think, that in life you will always get what you expect or desire?
Do you think that there won’t be any hurdles in your life; it will be a smooth ride?
Firstly, you need to have a right approach towards life. In rough times, people tend to feel that they are the only ones who are facing hard times, but the fact remains, that every individual has to struggle in order to achieve something in their lives. Instead of trapping yourself in a situation where you drift away from life and isolate yourself, it’s advisable to get hold over the situation.

What I do in my personal life is simple things, like talking to my close friends, working out, changing the style of my bedroom, read inspirational biographies. Fortunately, this has always worked for me.

My perception is that, little things like these can actually help you in breaking out from an emotional distress, instead of just dwelling around your life’s problem, we should stand strong, so guys lets get started !

Sometimes, I wonder that do people really show what they are going through deep inside their hearts. Whenever we ask our loved ones, friends that how are you doing? Mostly you will get an answer saying- I am fine. Not many people express their sorrows and pain which they are going through. Few days back I went to see my ill best friend and encountered something which was totally deplorable. I saw a drugs packet in my friend’s drawer.

I was totally shocked when she confessed that she has been taking drugs for the last many months. I was startled when I discovered that, needless to say that I wanted to confront it to her that why she never told me that why she was taking drugs. Her mother explained me her condition, that she is diagnosed from chronic depression for the last many months. I was so devastated, that I didn’t know how to react.I started looking back and asking myself that why I never noticed that my own best friend was going through traumatic feelings. I was too occupied with my new job that I didn’t have enough time to meet up with her. Watching her on the bed was agony, but still I wanted to talk to her about how she was feeling.

She broke down in tears while sharing her pain, when she shared her suffering; I felt a deep guilt inside me as I was not there for her when she needed me by her side. It made me think that when you are alone and facing certain problems in your life how can you tackle them.

I did lot of search on the medications you can take, as prescribed by health professionals, antidepressant medication are considered to be the right option. It actually relives you from depression, for example Tricycle drugs are commonly advisable for the cure of depression.

Here wishing blissful life to anyone who is thinking of ending their life. I know for sure that your pain is unimaginable and you are at the stage where you find it hard to continue because you are lost .I can’t derogate that pain you are going through, nevertheless I can still try to share my opinions on suicidal acts.

I want to share a tragic incident which shook me when my cousin committed suicide. The final gust when he discovered that his girl friend dumped him .I was just figuring out the reasons that why did he end his life like this? He was my childhood friend and I knew his relationships with his family members, he left his family and started living in a hostel from his school days.

He had an extremely tormented past, he used to show me the scars caused by brutal fights between he and his father. He was badly abused by his father because his father always used to cause psychological devastation to his mother, finally it lead to end her life. Even after an emotional loss of her mother still his father used to beat him severely, Ronal was no saint he was also a brutal person.

No matter how bad he was still he had a right to get loved and cared by his father. He carried all that rage and anger from his childhood abuse that he always used to be very depressed. When he discovered that his girl friend also left him he couldn’t take it. It was the final setback which he couldn’t take it, as he loved his girl friend so much. He was always deprived of compassion and sometimes I blame myself too for not giving him enough time.

I always tell myself that god never promised us a perfect life, we live in a world where good times comes in installments and rest of the time you struggle to fight with ups and downs.

A woman has to perform a multifaceted role in her life - a spouse, mother, sister, daughter etc. Her family, career and above that she has to cope with the menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. As a woman she has a plenty of issues to handle.  The worst thing to handle is depression. Statistics reveal that women get depression more than men do. There are many factors, which lead to the study of women and depression. 

Depression is the chemical imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the cells to communicate with each other.  Some of the reasons for women to be depressed are death of a loved one, divorce or leaving home sweet home for higher studies or for a better prospect, taking certain medicines or using drugs or alcohol or due to certain illness etc.

Women with premenstrual syndrome are likely to be depressed, one week before her menstruation. For some women, who have delivered, few weeks after the delivery, they tend to have depression. It is also known as post delivery blues. Some women, who are having birth control pills, are prone to have depression and sudden increase in weight. The weight increase adds to the depression, as she feels she is not attractive anymore.

Some of the symptoms of depression are feeling sad or crying a lot, loosing interest or pleasure in some things, which you used to enjoy a lot — sex, feeling guilty, or worthless, feeling attracted towards death and suicide, sleeping too much or not sleeping at all, feeling tired and lethargic, loosing appetite, loosing weight, having trouble in paying attention, or in taking decisions, having pain and aches that don’t get treated easily and so on and so forth. 

Biological Factors—the female body itself decides the development of depression. At various stages of depression, the hormones and other related factors influence it. Women, who are less educated and unemployed, are at a higher risk. Low status and high stress jobs, poor health, larger family sizes and single parenthood are also risk factors, which contribute to depression.

Research should be made to study each and every pattern of women and depression. Depression recurs in women, who recover from an initial episode. Insurance coverage should be given for the mental health problems of the women. Depression can be treated with counseling or antidepressant medicine or both. When you are in depression, it is better not to blame or isolate yourself. Avoid taking major decisions like divorce etc, sleeping too much or too little. Try the exercises and follow a healthy diet, while taking medicines. Call your doctor or local suicide crisis centre, in case you feel the same.

Antidepressants medicines can be taken in normal cases, but if a woman wants to become pregnant, consult with your doctor.  In case, a woman accidentally becomes pregnant while she is on an antidepressant, it is recommended that the doctor be reported immediately. 

In case of breast feeding while on antidepressants, inform the doctor and get his advice.  If you are on hormone replacement therapy or oral birth control pills, it is advisable that they don’t take depression medicines. Women and depression are more related; however, it is important for you to beat the depression.