DEPRESSION: REASON AND PREVENTION

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in any type of activities,while a major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.


Have you ever wondered what causes clinical depression?
Perhaps you have been diagnosed with major depression, and that's made you question why some people get depressed while others don't.This is because it is a extremely complex disease. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it can occur for a variety of reasons. Some people experience depression during a serious medical illness. Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or the death of a loved one. Still others have a family history of depression. Those who do may experience depression and feel overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness for no known reason.

How depression starts

Depression is a state of mind in which a person feels lonely from inside even a small word or a joke affects him and a person considers himself in that position.But we cannot confirm any starting of depression as it is very  complicated, and there are multiple causes of major depression. Factors such as genetic vulnerability, severe life stressors, substances you are consuming (some medications, drugs and alcohol) and medical conditions can affect the way your brain regulates your moods.

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Hormonal reason for depression

A team of researchers have noted the differences between the brains of people who have a clinical depression as compared to those who do not have.The hippocampus, a small part of the brain that is vital to the storage of memories in the brain, appears to be smaller in size and in some people with a history of depression than in those who've never been depressed. A smaller hippocampus has fewer serotonin receptors. Serotonin is one of many brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters that allow communication across circuits that connect different brain regions involved in processing emotions.



Major Causes of Depression
There are number of factors and situations which pushes a person into a state of depression like 

• Genetics- We know that depression can sometimes run in families. Family history of depression may increase the risk of getting depressed.Research has also shown that people with parents or siblings who have depression are up to three times more likely to have the condition. This can be due to heredity or environmental factors that have a strong influence.
• Serious illnesses- Sometimes a serious illness also results in depression.
• Abuse- People who were neglected or abused as children have a high risk for major depression. Such negative experiences can cause other mental disorders as well.
• Lack of social support- Prolonged social isolation and having few friends or supportive relationships is a common source of depression. Feelings of exclusion or loneliness can bring on an episode in people who are prone to mood disorders.
• Major life events- Like losing a job,buying a house from loan,getting a divorce,retiring.
• Medications- Using continuous medicines for blood pressure, medication,sleeping pills, sedative steroids, prescription painkillers partly results in depression.

Prevention from depression.

• There’s no sure way to prevent depression. But you can:Eat balanced meals with lean protein, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Reduce high-sugar and high-fat foods.

• Practice Yoga that helps in reducing stress.

• Exercising increases your body temperature, which can have a calming effect on the central nervous system

• Find ways to handle stress and improve your self-esteem.

• Take good care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly.

• Reach out to family and friends when times get hard.Share your problem and speak with people.

• Get regular medical checkups,consult your nearest doctor if you are not feeling well.
• Get help if you think you’re depressed.Consult your doctor as soon as possible.

If you are feeling depressed and wanted to talk to any expert then there is a NGO "AASRA". You can contact them with the helpline number 24x7 Helpline.

If you have any question do let us know in the comments section.

HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST PHISHING ATTACK.

Today, along with keeping oneself safe from the corona virus, one has to be mindful of cyber criminals. These criminals are especially targeting users taking the digital route to conduct financial transactions.

One of the classic ways in which fraudster's try to scam people is by convincing them to share their UPI PIN and/or OTP over the phone. Once they have the details, they can authenticate UPI transactions and steal money from the customer's account.One of the channels seeing a rise in frauds is the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), a digital payment platform that facilitates cashless, real-time transactions via mobile phones.

Several banks have issued advisories on their social media platforms warning customers of the same and have asked them to practice 'safe banking'.

How fraudster's can trap you

Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques being used to deceive users.Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details ,banking details by generating fraud links to oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Scammers often update their tactics, but there are some signs that will help you recognize a phishing email or text message

Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information. They may try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could gain access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.

PRECAUTIONS

• UPI eases payment transactions for consumers in a cashless manner.You should be careful and never forward any of your OTP messages to anyone in any case, as that is another way for fraudsters to authenticate fraudulent transactions. You need to be alert and attentive while using UPI apps to stay safe from fraudsters.
• Never respond to any such mails which says Dear customer Dear sir etc as if the message is from a known and genuine source they should have your name in their records.
• A spoofed message often contains many mistakes that expose its true identity. These can include spelling mistakes or changes in domain names. Users should also stop and think about why they’re even receiving such an email.
• Always use TWO FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (2FA) is the most effective method for countering phishing attacks, as it adds an extra verification layer when logging in to sensitive applications. 2FA relies on users having two things: something they know, such as a password and user name, and something they have, such as their smartphones. Even when employees are compromised, 2FA prevents the use of their compromised credentials, since these alone are insufficient to gain entry.
• Never provide your personal, credit card or online account details if you receive a call claiming to be from your bank or any other organisation. Instead, ask for their name and contact number and make an independent check with the organisation in question before calling back.