Depression is a serious condition that negatively affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. While normal sadness is common in all, but clinical depression is continued and often interferes with a person’s ability to experience or anticipate pleasure and it significantly interferes with functioning in daily life. If untreated, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years; and if inadequately treated, depression can lead to significant loss, other health-related issues, and in some cases, it can lead to suicide.

Adolescence depression can lead to emotional changes like irritability, low self-esteem, and anger, as well as behavioural changes such as over sleeping, loss of appetite, withdrawal, binge-eating and a decline in academic performance. Treatment options, which should be discussed with a psychologist it can include psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication.

Depression is twice as common among young women as among men. About 20 percent of women will experience at least one episode of depression across their lifetime. Scientists are examining many potential causes for and contributing factors to women’s increased risk for depression. Biological, life cycle, hormonal and psychosocial factors unique to women may be linked to women’s higher depression rates. Researchers have shown, for example, that hormones affect brain chemistry, impacting emotions and mood. Women experience natural hormonal shifts during several key life stages: puberty, menstruation monthly cycle, pregnancy, postpartum (after childbirth), and perimenopause and menopause. More than 50% of children will engage in a form of sexual behaviour before the age of 14 (around puberty), including sexual experiences with other children.

Before adolescence, girls and boys experience depression at about the same frequency. By adolescence, however, girls become more likely to experience depression than boys. Research points to several possible reasons for this imbalance. The biological and hormonal changes that occur during puberty are likely to contribute to the sharp increase in rates of depression among adolescent girls. In addition, research has suggested that girls are more likely than boys to continue feeling bad after experiencing difficult situations or events, suggesting they are more prone to depression.

Adolescence presents challenges related to physical changes, emotions, and social development, including issues with body image, mood swings, and peer pressure. Teens also face risks like substance abuse, early pregnancy and abortion , and violence, as well as mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. Developing a sense of identity and independence is a major focus during this time. Hormonal changes lead to puberty, which can cause self-consciousness about body image, weight, and height.  Adolescents are vulnerable to stress, depression, and anxiety, which can be heightened by hormonal shifts and academic pressure.

A desire for independence and peer approval can lead to risky behaviours like consuming drugs, alcohol, unsafe sex, and violence. Common health issues include mental health problems, early pregnancies due to unsafe sex, sexually transmitted infections, violence, and malnutrition.  Teens feel a strong need to belong to a peer group, which can lead to conformity and risky behaviors to gain acceptance. At adolescents’ youngsters crave for identity and independence.

German-born American psychoanalyst and developmental psychologist best known for his theory of psychosocial development and for coining the term “identity crisis”. He is renowned for his work on human development, which he theorized occurred across the entire lifespan in eight stages. According to Erik Erikson, the teenage years are defined by the fifth stage of development, identity versus role confusion. During this time (ages 12–18), adolescents grapple with the question “Who am I?” by exploring different roles, beliefs, and goals to forge a sense of self. Success leads to a strong identity, while failure can result in a confused sense of self and future.

Adolescents experience intense emotional swings, such as anger, jealousy, and frustration. Majority of the youngsters get attracted to excessive use of electronic devices can contribute to problems with self-esteem, cyber addiction, and even musculoskeletal issues from constant texting, as well as impact school performance and behaviour.  Adolescents face problems with social media including mental health issues like depression and anxiety, cyberbullying, poor body image, sleep disruption, and exposure to harmful content and predators. Excessive use can also lead to a fear of missing out (FOMO), reduced in-person interaction, and difficulty focusing on other activities like schoolwork.

Social media use is linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, especially with excessive use. The fake social media shows curated versions of others’ lives which can lead to negative feelings about one’s own life and self-worth. The pressure to stay connected, maintain a certain image, and receive approval (likes, comments) can cause significant stress. Constant exposure to others’ leads to anxiety about being excluded from social events or trends.

Adolescents are frequently targets of cyberbullying. Online harassment, which can involve name-calling, rumours, threats, and unwanted explicit content. Social media platforms can expose teens to content like pornography, self-harm depictions, violence, or illegal substances and drugs. Online predators target teenagers who exploit and times extort them.

Careless online activity can lead to long-term reputation damage and make them more vulnerable to marketers and fraudsters. Body shaming, physical and behavioral issues, sleep disruption due to using social media before bed, especially with blue light from screens, can disrupt sleep patterns and delay melatonin release. Children get sluggish because of bad junk food consumption and decreased physical activity their body clock goes haywire. Time spent on social media often displaces time that could be spent on physical exercise and other healthy activities.

Conclusion

Though depression affects people of all ages, teenagers are at a high risk, with recent estimates suggesting that up to one in five adolescents may experience depression. This is a major public health concern, with depression being one of the leading causes of illness and disability in this age group, notes the World Health Organization. Several factors contribute to this, including a combination of genetic, biological changes like hormonal changes, and environmental factors, such as stressful life events, family history, and peer issues. Adolescent health requires directed attention from parents, family, teachers and society due to their vulnerability to risky behaviours. In India, overall, 39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.5% attempted suicide. Overall, the teenagers and early twenties behaviours need attention. I have written this passage because of my experience as a teacher of Management Studies for past 24 years. 

Social scientists have shown in many studies for past few decades that caring touch can have good effects in several different mental and physical problems. Consider this case: a doctor hugged his patient who survived a complicated surgery of six hours; when the patient regained his consciousness after surgery, the doctor felt so happy, he gave the patient a gentle hug.   

A hug is a universal and widely accepted ways to show our affection and love. It communicates many emotions that words fail to express. There are different types of hugs that express different emotions. When you feel low, angry, distressed, or sad, a quick squeeze or hug is all you need to lift your mood.

Hugging helps lower our stress throughout the day. Hugging a person is one of the most natural and emotional physical touches one can have with others. It gives us a sense of security and makes us feel loved and cared for. There are many different types of hugs one can coddle in; few are romantic while others are just friendly, they are emotional and supportive. For example, a side hug is friendly; hugging from behind portrays intimacy; in a friendly hug two people engage in arm-hug; hugging around the waist is romantic; a bear hug is for warmth; one-sided hug shows caring.  And there are many unseen benefits of hugging; the biggest is boosting of dopamine hormone which is ‘feel good’ hormone and in case of loving hug, oxytocin hormone boosts feeling of love.

Research shows that hugs can be healthy. Hugs cause a decrease in the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, and another research indicates that hugs decrease our blood pressure and heart rate in stressful situations. The stress-reducing effects of hugging keeps us healthier. In a study of over 400 adults, researchers found that hugging reduces the percentage of falling sick. From childhood to old age people who are hugged by near and dear ones stay healthy.

According to one study, it takes merely 7 seconds of a hug for our brain to signal the release of oxytocin hormone that is associated with, amongst other things, increased levels of trust, calmness, and creativity. Hugging often creates a feeling of calmness and relaxation. That’s because of oxytocin which is sometimes called the “cuddle hormone.” Oxytocin is released when people or pets snuggle up or bond socially. This release can have a domino effect throughout the body and has been found to reduce inflammation, improve wound healing, it lessens cravings for drugs, alcohol, and sweets and lowers heart rate and stress. Domino effect is a situation in which one event causes a series of related events, one following another.

Getting a firm, reassuring hug before or during a stressful event, such as waiting to receive the results of a medical test, waiting for an examination result, waiting to receive a near and dear one at station, can help you stay calm because your oxytocin levels remain elevated.  A hug a day may, in fact, keep the doctor away.

They make us happier. An assuring hug is much better than gulping anti-depressants. Hugging triggers the release of serotonin in the brain to create happiness and ease sadness.  They Help deepen our relationships. As human, we automatically want to hug those we know are in pain. In many ways, hugs are a form of meditation. They allow us to be present in the moment, to let go and flow with the energy of the embrace. It’s easy to forget how meaningful a hug can be, but it can truly deepen your connection with another person. Hugs convey, in a nonverbal way, an understanding of each other.

Humans and dogs have been together since primitive times, and both have a primal need for physical touch. All monkeys, from chimpanzees to Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) to humans, are hard-wired to console others and transmit affection by hugging. Even a reptile, a hen, and a fish look enjoy some human affection. Bears, koalas, deer, elephant, and even birds such as parrots, crows, pigeons, sparrows, peacocks love human touch. Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose showed that plants can experience sensations and feel pleasure and pain. Like birds and animals, plants also respond to human touch.  

Don’t underestimate the healing power of a hug. Just as we exercise to stay in shape and diet to stay healthy, we should make the effort to stay connected to the people. We can never get enough hugs. They are priceless gifts of unconditional love because a hug communicates a thousand words.

Last Sunday, 14th December 2020 entire nation is shocked hearing the news of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. News reports say that SSR showed signs of clinical depression and was consulting a psychiatrist for the same. However, he had abruptly stopped taking any medication. The police interrogated the actor’s friends, colleagues and family members and we get to read since past one week many evidences showing that the actor’s personal life was not stable.
He had a great fan following. He was an intelligent guy; he had cracked the Physics Olympiad, he was a student of engineering. I had watched his video clip addressing the students of Delhi Engineering College; he came across as the very sensible and grounded person. The world feels he had everything at the age of 34, while for sure he was going through unsolved mental problems and took the most drastic step of ending his life. In past one year many television and movie artists have commixed suicides. There is a substantial rise in suicides globally.
The reasons could be increased sense of isolation; rise of technology has replaced important face-to-face interactions. People have become very selfish; it’s a cruel heartless world out there. All said and done, let’s look at some warning signs people give prior to their suicidal attempt. I am writing this article to be responsive if we see this warning signs in anybody around us.
People are a complex bundle of behaviours. It is difficult to understand withdrawn behaviours such as shyness, rocking, staring, anxiety, phobias, truancy, and social isolation or hand flapping, nail biting.

Some people are observant and have the ability to read others. I think it’s a God’s gift to have. If you understand others and deal with them cautiously, you are doing a service to mankind. If you understand how another person is feeling, and adapt your message and communication style to make sure it is received in the best way possible, that’s great.

What are the warning Signs of Suicidal Behaviour?

People have different peculiarities and patterns of behaviour. For example, they might clear their throat or look at the floor while talking; some might cross their arms, and scratch their head, stroke their neck, squint, pout, or jiggle their feet frequently. Initially, we may not even notice when others do these things. If we do, we don’t give it much attention. They could simply be mannerisms. Sometimes, however, these same actions could be indicative of deception, anger, or anxiety.

• Sadness or moodiness

Watch out for long-lasting sadness, mood swings, and unexpected rage.

• Hopelessness

Feeling a deep sense of despair about the future, with little expectation that circumstances can improve.

• Sleep problems

Sleep is a complex biological process. While you are sleeping, you are unconscious, but your brain and body functions are still active. They are doing a number of important jobs that help you stay healthy and function at your best. So when you don’t get enough quality sleep, it does more than just make you feel tired. It can affect your physical and mental health, thinking, and daily functioning. So when people experience difficulty in falling asleep, pay attention, http://www.papsociety.org/ambien-zolpidem-10-mg/.

• Sudden calmness

Suddenly becoming calm after a period of depression or sullenness can be a sign that the person has made a decision to end his or her life.

• Withdrawal

Choosing to be alone and avoiding friends or social activities also are possible symptoms of depression and leading cause of suicide. This includes the loss of interest or pleasure in activities the person previously enjoyed.

• Changes in personality and/or appearance

A person who is considering suicide might exhibit a change in attitude or behaviour, such as speaking or moving with unusual speed or slowness. In addition, the person might suddenly become less concerned about his or her personal appearance.

• Dangerous or self-harmful behaviour

Potentially dangerous behavior, such as reckless driving, engaging in insecure sex, and increased use of drugs and/or alcohol might indicate that the person no longer values his or her life.

• Recent trauma or life crisis

A major life crises might trigger a suicide attempt. Crises include the death of a loved one or pet, divorce or break-up of a relationship, diagnosis of a major illness, loss of a job, or serious financial problems.

• Making preparations

Often, a person considering suicide will begin to put his or her personal business in order. This might include visiting friends and family members, giving away personal possessions, making a will, and cleaning up his or her room or home. Some people will write a note before committing suicide. Some will buy a firearm or other means like poison.

• Aggressive or talking about suicide

From 50% to 75% of those considering suicide give someone it can be a friend, a relative a warning sign. However, not everyone who is considering suicide will say so, and not everyone who threatens suicide will follow through with it. But, every threat of suicide should be taken seriously.

Let us not forget that being considerate, being caring of others is an integral part of what it means to be human. 

In our life, we often feel intimidated by others. Many people make us nervous. This covers a whole gamut of personalities ranging from some rich and famous, higher ups at work, love interests, some highly qualified people, politicians, people we don’t know at parties, popular people from society, our professors, some renowned professionals and celebrities. It’s very natural to feel intimidated occasionally. It pushes us to become better person. It happens often due to our imaginative gap we see between people we look up to and self. Some such people can bring up feelings we harbor about ourselves that we are not good enough, striking enough, interesting enough, intelligent enough or many more deficiencies.

Have you ever thought that many people must be getting intimidated by you? Your behavior, your mannerism might be misunderstood by many. Shyness is misunderstood as aloofness all the time. Silence is misunderstood as snobbishness; similarly chattiness is misunderstood as gossiping, getting emotional everyone and then is misunderstood as drama queen/king. A very successful doctor – an acquaintance of mine who appears aloof confided in me in one of the parties over a drink that he somehow can’t liberate from his shyness and he thoroughly enjoys when people interact with him. When I told him that he comes across as an aloof person he was astonished as it is just the opposite of his intent; in fact he looks forward to chat and interact with people. Sometimes, if we make the first social move and say hello, we might be wiping out two people’s nerves.

I think everyone feels a little uneasy and off-balanced when they’re around that handful of people who just seem to have everything going for them. They may be really outgoing as well, which can add in all the problems from the point above. You will find their intimidating impression shrinks when you just have more experience with them. When you get used to them, start seeing them as normal people, you will learn firsthand that they too have flaws and quirks and insecurities like everyone else. And, this might improve your own confidence and social skills. You then see these people as closer to your level, rather than them being on a pedestal and your feeling you’re a walking example of lame, awkward unworthiness that’s lucky to even be talking to them.

I would add here a very well managed movie ‘English Vinglish’ which is the story of Shashi, a woman who doesn’t know English and is intimidated by her family and society at large. The film though light-hearted is about the touching and transformational journey of Shashi. Circumstances make her resolute to overcome this insecurity, master English language, teach the world a lesson on the way to becoming a self assured and confident woman.

And, don’t we all believe in stereotypes about looks, styles, mannerisms, eating, drinking, about certain subgroups positive as well as negative. Many times we group religion, races or individuals together and make a judgment about them without knowing them; this is a pattern of a stereotype. Racial remarks, sexual remarks, and gender remarks are the biggest stereotypes. A common stereotype about Asians is that they are good at math and that all Asians like to eat rice and drive slow. Another example is that Irish like to get drunk and they love eating potatoes. And commonest of all is that all boys and men mess up their surroundings and girls are not good at sports. Most stereotypes probably tend to convey a negative impression.

We all want to consider ourselves as liberal, progressive, open-minded citizens of the world while we sometimes subtly act on negative stereotypes about certain groups without giving much importance to it. At University, someone who comes from rural area may feel nervous around young stylish men and women speaking fluently and without any hesitation. Someone may feel a little hesitant to try to be friendly to the Chinese students, because of a negative stereotype going around campus that they’re all selfish and aloof and only associate with each other. I know many people who feel very insecure about their educational qualifications. It is either because their love of education and not having so many degrees.

When someone is intimidated by really outgoing people it’s that they’re worried about having to talk to them and feeling really besieged about feeling that they won’t be able to keep up or know what to say. Let me tell you the moment we think that we won’t be able to converse freely and we might fall short of words trust me that’s what happens. If we’re inhibited, we may assume everyone is constantly looking for a reason to review our flaws. Some people come across as snobby and judgmental without intending to as well.

I think we need to face our fear and just get more used to talking to people we feel intimidated by. We must try to analyze our intimidation. The first time might be tough, but once we get used to talking to them asking question, conversing with them freely the fear evaporates.

I have seen sometimes more of a problem for young adults when they’re still in high school, where all kinds of students are mixed together and they run into some very intelligent, dull, whacky, flamboyant, argumentative, foul mouthed, cheater, sober all sorts of students. It sometimes becomes difficult for peace loving and sober students to fit in a class of tough guys. Once someone has moved on to college or the work world they usually don’t run across as many tough guys. The fear in the work world is that these people are dangerous loose cannons who may kick your ass at any second. This world is more political and full of bias where you face sweet tongued people who say something and do something in contrast.

Some men don’t feel comfortable hanging out with other guys. They find them to be too macho, destructive, cutting in their humor, or impulsive. They may feel that way because they got picked on as a kid, or because they never really felt like they fit the male stereotype. Some women feel the same way and see other females as being too catty, girly, backstabbing, or dramatic, among other things. This is another area where some childhood experience can take the intimidating edge.

We all are product of our subconscious mind; we are what we think. If we think we are unsafe, we are going to remain unsafe till end. If we see someone as threat, the person will surely turn out be a threat. You can take back your power by just changing the way you see yourself. When you learn to see yourself perfectly, you will feel safe in any condition. Don’t care too much what others think of you. Other people can think you are a terrible, stupid, poor, ugly person. But,   does this change what you actually are? You are born with a purpose; understand that purpose, there is no reason to feel threatened by anyone, because in reality they can’t hurt you. Occasionally spend time on yourself – deep down you are an amazing, complete, secured, beautiful and good enough. Off and on you might experience some storms they will come and go. You are matchless, one-of-a-kind soul on a journey of learning and growth. Your value cannot be questioned – your value is infinite and absolute.

Do you crave for buying things which you really don’t need urgently? Do you always shop until you drop? I have seen so many people around me who are anytime, any hour, anywhere ready for shopping. Even when they just think of shopping, their eyes glitter. They are happy and just zap out from their seat to shop.

A lot of times people spend over their budget and get into deep financial trouble, spending more than their income. And they don’t regret their decision of unwarranted shopping. They can go all over the mall, and keep shopping.

Some people are such addicted buyers that when they go to buy one handbag, they will end up buying 10 handbags and come out of the shop. And some people will spring out and go on buying spree when they are emotionally low; such people are called ’Compulsive shopaholics’.

‘Trophy shopaholics’ are perfectionists by nature. They want to buy everything that perfectly suits them. They are sticklers. One day I went with a friend of mine for shopping just to kill time; and  got so exhausted; she bought pink, blue, green upholstery, mugs, glasses, pillow covers, bed sheets, linen and what not just to suit her occasional change of wallpapers!

Some guys want to be seen as big spenders. They get a kick out of it. They want to be seen as ‘generous’ spenders. But, such people like ‘flashy’ items. They will buy very gaudy things to show off their wealth.

Whereas, ’Bargain Seekers’ are people who are obsessed with sale; they feel high with discounts, and buy one get one/two/three free kind of schemes. They will purchase items they don’t need, still go for the sale because things are sold cheaper.

And the ’Bulimic shoppers’ are the ones who get trapped in a sadistic cycle of buying and returning items. They will go on haggling with shop keepers about exchanging items they have purchased.

Some are ‘Collectors’ or ‘Connoisseurs’ who are never happy with the number of items stored by them on a typical collection such as wine, rum, perfume, watches etc. They never feel complete unless they have more and more addition to their collection.

“Compulsive shopping and spending are defined as inappropriate, excessive, and out of control,” says Donald Black, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University Of Iowa College Of Medicine. “Like other addictions, it basically has to do with impulsiveness and lack of control over one’s impulses. In most of the nations in world whether progressed or under progressed, shopping is embedded in the   culture of mankind.

There are certainly a lot of commonalities among shopaholics and other addicts. A research says about 10 to 15 percent of the population of world is shopaholics. They are confirmed addicts and they are liked by the marketers. Why not? The shopping addicts make up for half the sale of any brand.

In my opinion the ’Innovators’ and ’Early Adopters’ are typically shopaholics. They are described as curious, adventurous consumers who buy first, talk fast and spread the word to others about the pros and/or cons of what they have purchased. According to Everett M. Rogers in Diffusion of Innovations, the landmark 1962 textbook that popularized the study of how new ideas and technologies spread through societies, early adopters make up 13.5% of the consumers who will adopt an innovation.

You might have some shopaholics in your family; they might be your siblings, kids, and spouse, parents anybody. It is important to note that going a shopping spree once in a while does not mean you are a shopping addict. However, there are several signs and symptoms shopping addicts display that you must watch out.

And, if you are one, please don’t feel shy; visit a shrink before you are gripped with it.