At some point in our lives we have all flipped through the pages of Harry Potter or
binge watched the iconic movie series. The Harry Potter series is filled with
glorious chants & spells, creatures, potions and us muggles! One of the foulest
creatures that has appeared in these series is the breed of Dementors. They infest
the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace,
hope & happiness out of the air around them. Get too near a Dementor & every
good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you.
In an interview, J. K Rowling revealed that the Dementors were inspired from a
rather muggle disorder, Depression. They are symbolic of her own her own years
of struggle with the disorder.
Depression is a very common mental health disorder with more than 10 million
cases per year in India alone. ( Source : Apollo hospital and others)
It is characterized by persistently depressed mood, loss of interest in activities or
causing significant impairment in daily life.Here are a few symptoms :-
✓ Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood
✓ Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
✓ Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
✓ Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies & activities
As scary as the symptoms look, coping with depression is a difficult but NOT an
impossible task. Here's a short list of the things you can do to beat the
dementors.
• Seek professional help of a psychiatrist or psychologist:
✓ Seeking professional help is highly recommended.
✓ Needing additional help does not mean you’re weak.
✓ Sometimes the negative thinking in depression can make you feel like
you’re a lost cause, but depression can be treated and you can feel better!
✓ In some cases the professional may need to prescribe medication along
with therapy.
• Reach out and stay connected :
✓ Getting support plays an essential role in overcoming depression.
✓ On your own, it can be difficult to maintain a perspective and sustain the
effort required to beat depression.
✓ You may feel too exhausted to talk, ashamed at your situation, or guilty for
neglecting certain relationships. But this is just the depression talking.
✓ Staying connected to other people and taking part in social activities will
make a world of difference in your mood and outlook.
✓ Reaching out is not a sign of weakness and it won’t mean you’re a burden
to others. Your loved ones care about you and want to help.
•Do things that make you feel good :
In order to overcome depression, you have to do things that relax and energize
you.
✓ This includes following a healthy lifestyle
✓ Learning how to better manage stress
✓ Setting limits on what you’re able to do
✓ Scheduling fun activities into your day.
•Eat healthy and stay healthy:
✓ What you eat has a direct impact on the way you feel.
✓ Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should not be skipped.
✓ A healthy, nutrition packed diet includes a variety of fruits and vegetables,
sprouts and buttermilk.
✓ Reduce your intake of foods that can adversely affect your brain and mood
✓ These foods are caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, and foods with high levels of
chemical preservatives or hormones (such as certain meats).
• Get moving :
✓ When you’re depressed, just getting out of bed can seem like a daunting
task, let alone working out!
✓ But exercise is a powerful depression fighter—and one of the most
important tools in your recovery arsenal.
✓ Research shows that regular exercise can be as effective as medication for
relieving depression symptoms. It also helps prevent relapse once you’re
well.(source: www.nhs.uk and Apollo hospital)
These are just some of the ways in which you can fight the Dementors & start
LIVING your life to the fullest. So go on, my friend, be your own Patronus because
YOU CAN!
-Sunaina Sharma
