Indian Women: Joy not Depression

Depression in women is a very common illness. These days, it is to such extent that being a woman in some states of India can itself be a cause of depression for many women. Women are a significant contributor to the disease with suicidal tendencies. According to World Health Organisation, depression is 50% higher for females than males. The World Mental Health Report adds that depression is two to three times more common in women (Courtesy: TOI).  In India, this is becoming a silent killer of potential great citizens of the world.

Dr. Parul Saxena (MD, Family Medicine) says that sometimes symptoms of a disease for which the subjects are being treated, are actually because of underlying depression only. For example, uncontrolled diabetes despite following a healthy lifestyle with timely titrated insulin dosage or sudden rise in blood pressure or some very ordinary looking dangerous problem like obesity. Dr. Priyanka Pal Mantri (MD, Dermatology) confirms that emotional condition of a woman can considerably aggravate her skin and hair related problems. Prof. Manjul Pande Parvez (Department of Psychology - AGDC, Lucknow) says that occasional emotional outburst doesn't mean that a person is depressed, but if the situation stretches with time then of course, it is a cause of concern. It is important to take an expert consultation with prescribed medicines and if required, counseling sessions, to overcome depression. In fact, any behavioral disorder which grows with time and is self-destructing in terms of health and progress, it must be addressed immediately because in advanced stages depression becomes fatal. Many experts have also stated that what we see and feel has to do a lot with depression. So, it is recommended not to take daily soaps seriously but bring variety to your watch-list on television too, apart from other vital changes in your lifestyle.

As psychologists put it that in India, people condition girls to be like girls and for being like a girl, it is compulsory for her to carry out certain gender specific roles chalked out and accepted as norms by Indian society. Not only in India but also in several other nations this conditioning exists. Still it is more in India as compared to developed nations. If we try and change this conditioning and instead rear girl children on general moral principles, we might succeed in cutting off the cases of underlying personality crushing depression in women later. The problem is that society takes it too far, so much so that it considers it normal for a woman to bear unnecessary pain and carry out all the responsibilities of the house and work alone. Working women also are unable to handle work pressure, expectations of elders in family, responsibility of her husband and children and multi-tasking everywhere. In the end, they hardly feel accomplished and there is hardly anyone who makes her feel otherwise. Psychologist Beena Mahadevan said that infidelity and adultery in married women is lesser in women than men in India but among those women also, it is mostly because it made them feel 'special' and 'wanted' and most of them are suffering from depression. However, in young men it is either heart-break or mostly 'boredom'. In comparison with women, cases of adultery in men is very less because of depression.

Even the soap operas have cashed on this disease. Many of the women have, in fact, developed depression because of them. The reason might be emotional melancholy disturbing the normal secretion of hormones in the body. People unknowingly start drowning in this black hole like space, which doctors call depression. Television, apart from its various glorified and entertaining boons has brought with it a new cause of depression too. Watching repeat telecast of the same accident, terror attack or communal riot also can make fear the governing emotion in our minds, which further grows into a dangerous kind of depression. Women are more prone to depression because of being more emotionally vulnerable. 

Today, when we hear terms like 'Women Empowerment' or schemes like 'Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao', it is also important to think about them in our homes too. Next time, if your mother or wife doesn't seem to take interest in dressing up and eat properly, although carries out all her household duties deftly; if your sister shuts herself in her room doing nothing or sleeps more than she ever did over the period of time; it is time to pay attention and make them happy in every way possible without being too obvious. It only takes little efforts like appreciation, encouragement, giving time and support wherever required. And yes, do not let them watch depression initiating or aggravating programmes on TV to escape from real life. Of course, Yoga and meditation helps but the motivation is important and for that above cautions must be practiced otherwise if only they she could feel motivated, she wouldn't have been a victim to depression in the first place.

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