Why Karan Johar's confession is inspiring – Five lesser known facts about depression!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: “You stop feeling the zing, you stop feeling the excitement, you stop feeling the happiness ... I can't explain to you the pain and the anxiety and anguish.”

Coming out in the open with his two-year-long battle with depression, one of Bollywood's biggest names, director Karan Johar is deserving of immense appreciation. Opening up about something so personal, definitely requires courage and strength.

Last year, in 2015, one of Bollywood's reigning actresses Deepika Padukone inspired the world after she admitted to have battled the same.

Clinical depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a serious mental disorder that most people take lightly. It can happen to anyone and acknowledging the fact that you suffer from it, is the first step towards recovery.

Depression is something that needs more awareness, so that it gives those suffering from it the courage and strength to ask for help and overcome their struggles.

These tales of personal conflict are proof that even if everything may seem hunky dory on the outside, the reality is far from glorious.

Below are some facts about clinical depression that may contribute towards making you more aware of what a person suffering from it might be going through.

1. Distorted thinking:

If you're sad or depressed, it can cause you to overthink things and your thoughts can go from one tangent to another. Every sad thought is a step towards another. If you're having suicidal thoughts, immediately ask for help without hesitation.

2. You become less giving:

It's very easy for someone to say that a person suffering from depression is being selfish, however, you need to understand that there is so much pain and sadness within that person that it becomes hard for them to think of anything or anyone other than that.

3. Depression is 65% anxiety:

Karan Johar revealed that he felt he was going into a cardiac arrest, which after consulting a doctor, turned out he was having a severe anxiety attack, which is what led to the diagnosis of depression. Therefore, it is extremely important to get an accurate diagnosis.

4. Persistent irritability is a symptom:

If someone around you has been feeling low for sometime and has noticeably become increasingly irritable, there are chances they could be suffering from depression. This irritability can lead to anger, which further has the tendency to make that person feel withdrawn from everyone.

5. Acceptance:

This is one of the hardest things to do, but it needs to be done in order for you to recover. It's okay to call someone close to you, confide in them and admit to the disorder. Denying your symptoms will only make the problem worse.