Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe died on August 5 at the age of 55. Now there is a big revelation about his death. His wife has stated that Graham was suicidal, having suffered from clinical depression for a long time. After the news, 38-year-old former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa recalled the worst period in his life, when he succumbed to depression in the year 2011. He has said on his YouTube channel that- 'I recently heard about Graham Thorpe and we have heard about many cricketers who have ended their lives due to clinical depression. In the past too we have heard of athletes and cricketers who were struggling with this mental illness. In this you feel that you are not worthy. You are a burden to those you love. Despair surrounds you. Each step feels heavier than the last.' Clinical depression is also called major depressive disorder. Due to this a person loses interest in most things in life. Until, she doesn't even feel like looking at herself in front of the mirror. This leads people to commit suicide. That's why today in 'Health Water' we will talk about clinical depression. You will also know that – according to the World Health Organization, 28 crore people are suffering from depression all over the world. 5% of the world's youth suffer from depression, while 5.7% of the elderly above the age of 60 are facing it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, clinical depression is the most common mental health condition. 5 to 17% of people experience it at some point in their lives. This means, almost every sixth person will go through a phase of clinical depression once in his life. What is clinical depression? Clinical depression is a mental health condition. Due to which the mood is constantly depressed. You also lose interest in activities that used to give you pleasure. Clinical depression can also affect sleep, appetite and the ability to think clearly. There are many types of clinical depression, such as- During its diagnosis, it is often known that people suffering from clinical depression are also facing other mental health conditions, such as- Awareness about clinical depression is essential Robin Uthappa on Social Media Platform X It has been written that his toughest battle so far was against depression. It is better to tell than to hide it so that people around you and doctors can help you. If we continue to struggle with it, this darkness deepens and one gets lost in it. This is not a matter of shame or stigma. Awareness about this is necessary. What are the symptoms of clinical depression? Symptoms of clinical depression can range from mild to severe. These symptoms usually last most of the day, almost every day, for at least two weeks. What causes clinical depression? No specific cause of clinical depression is yet known. However, according to the Cleveland Clinic, several factors are responsible for this. Which is as follows. Brain Chemistry: An imbalance of neurotransmitters including serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine contribute to the development of depression. Earlier it was believed that this imbalance was the primary cause of depression. However, studies conducted in the past have shown that this imbalance actually stems from disruptions in neuro circuits. Genetics: If a person has a parent or sibling with clinical depression, they are about three times more likely to develop the condition than others. However, anyone can have clinical depression without a family history. Childhood Development: If a person has been abused or some other unpleasant event in childhood, it has adverse effects on him. Childhood experiences lead to clinical depression later in life. Stressful life events: Difficult life experiences, such as the death of a loved one, trauma, divorce, separation, and loss of love, can also cause clinical depression in people. People who are more sensitive face more difficulties. How is clinical depression treated? It is usually treated with drugs and therapy. Depending on how common or severe a person's condition is, it is determined whether they need one or both of these treatments. A combination of drugs and therapy is most effective in its treatment. Can clinical depression be prevented? It is not necessary that we will succeed in preventing clinical depression, but with the help of some measures we can help reduce its risks. As – if a person has experienced clinical depression before, they are more likely to experience it again. If a person is experiencing symptoms of depression, he should share it with his close people without any delay and consult a doctor.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).