Sushant Singh Rajput: Understanding Depression and the Need for Early Help

Sushant Singh Rajput’s passing left a deep impact on people across India. It triggered grief, confusion, and many difficult conversations about mental health. While it is never ethical to assume or diagnose someone’s mental state based only on news coverage or social media narratives, this moment did highlight something important and often ignored in our society: depression can exist quietly, even when someone looks successful, active, or “normal” to others.

Depression is not a personality flaw. It is not laziness. It is not “attention seeking.” It is a serious mental health condition that affects emotions, thoughts, energy levels, and daily functioning. Many people continue going to work, attending events, and smiling in public while privately struggling with emotional pain, numbness, or hopelessness.

This blog explains what depression is, why it is often missed, how families can identify early warning signs, and why seeking professional help early can make recovery easier and safer.

What Is Depression?

Depression (also called Major Depressive Disorder in clinical settings) is a mental health condition in which a person experiences persistent changes in mood, energy, thinking, and motivation for an extended period of time.

Depression is more than “feeling sad.”

Depression can affect:

•Emotional balance

•Sleep and appetite

•Focus and decision-making

•Energy and daily motivation

•Self-worth and confidence

•Relationships and connection

Depression also impacts the body. Many people experience tiredness, heaviness, or physical discomfort without realising it can be linked to mental health.

Why Depression Needs Early Help

Depression often starts quietly. It may look like stress at first. Many people ignore the early signs because they believe:

•“It will pass”

•“I should handle it myself”

•“I don’t want to worry my family”

•“People will judge me”

•“It’s not serious enough”

However, depression tends to worsen when left untreated. The longer symptoms continue, the more they can start affecting:

•Work performance

•Academic performance

•Sleep quality

•Physical health

•Family relationships

•Self-care habits

Early help does not mean the person is weak. It means the person is taking their mental health seriously.

Depression Does Not Always Look the Same in Everyone

One reason depression is misunderstood is because it does not always appear the way people expect.

Some people experience depression as:

•Persistent sadness

•Frequent crying

•Feeling emotionally heavy

But others experience depression as:

•Emotional numbness

•Anger or irritability

•Withdrawal from people

•Feeling disconnected from life

•A sense of emptiness

Some people continue functioning normally in public and still struggle deeply in private. This is why depression can be missed by friends, colleagues, and even close family members.

Symptoms of Depression (Emotional, Mental, and Physical)

Depression affects the whole system, not only emotions.

Emotional Symptoms

•Persistent sadness or low mood

•Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

•Irritability or frustration

•Feeling emotionally numb

•Hopelessness

•Feeling guilty or ashamed often

Mental and Thinking Symptoms

•Difficulty concentrating

•Overthinking and rumination

•Negative self-talk

•Feeling like nothing will improve

•Indecisiveness

•Feeling mentally slow or “foggy”

Physical Symptoms

•Sleep disturbances (insomnia or excessive sleep)

•Low energy or constant fatigue

•Changes in appetite or weight

•Body aches with no clear medical cause

•Headaches or heaviness in the body

•Digestive discomfort

Behavioural Symptoms

•Avoiding people

•Skipping routines and responsibilities

•Loss of motivation

•Neglecting hygiene or self-care

•Reduced productivity at work or school

•Increased use of alcohol or substances in some cases

If multiple symptoms last for more than two weeks and disrupt daily life, a professional assessment is strongly recommended.

Why Depression Is Often Missed in India

Depression is often missed or ignored in Indian families due to:

•Stigma around mental health

•Belief that emotional pain should be tolerated

•Fear of family reputation being affected

•Confusion between stress and depression

•Tendency to focus only on physical symptoms

•Lack of emotional conversations at home

In many households, people feel more comfortable discussing fever, diabetes, or blood pressure than discussing emotions. As a result, depression becomes something people suffer through silently.

High-Functioning Depression: When Life Looks Fine Outside

Many people believe depression always looks dramatic. But in reality, depression can exist even when someone appears stable.

High-functioning depression may look like:

•Going to work daily but feeling empty

•Talking normally while feeling hopeless inside

•Smiling in public but crying alone

•Meeting goals but feeling no satisfaction

•Appearing confident but feeling worthless

This is why external success should never be used as proof that someone is mentally okay.

Common Causes and Risk Factors of Depression

Depression usually does not have one single cause. It is often a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Biological Factors

•Family history of depression

•Brain chemistry changes

•Hormonal imbalances

•Chronic sleep disruption

•Long-term physical illness

Psychological Factors

•Unresolved grief

•Trauma or long-term emotional stress

•Perfectionism and fear of failure

•Low self-esteem

•Chronic overthinking

Social and Lifestyle Factors

•Relationship conflict

•Workplace pressure and burnout

•Loneliness and lack of emotional support

•Financial stress

•Major life transitions

•Social comparison and unrealistic expectations

Understanding the cause helps professionals plan treatment better, but depression is treatable regardless of the trigger.

Early Warning Signs Families Should Not Ignore

Family members often notice small changes first. These changes may seem “normal” until they start increasing.

Early warning signs include:

•Sleep becoming irregular

•Withdrawing from friends or family

•Losing interest in hobbies

•Increased irritability

•Frequent emotional shutdown

•Crying spells or emotional numbness

•Feeling tired all the time

•Saying things like “I’m done” or “I can’t anymore”

•Loss of motivation in work or studies

If these signs last for weeks, support should be offered early instead of waiting for a crisis.

When Depression Becomes an Emergency

Depression can become severe. If a person shows any of the following signs, it requires immediate professional attention:

•Talking about death often

•Talking about being a burden

•Direct or indirect mention of self-harm

•Sudden isolation and complete withdrawal

•Giving away belongings

•Saying goodbye in unusual ways

•Severe sleep deprivation

•Risk-taking behaviour

If you feel someone may be at risk, do not wait. Seek urgent help from a psychiatrist or emergency medical services.

How Depression Is Diagnosed

Depression diagnosis is not based on one question or one mood moment. It involves a detailed assessment.

A psychiatrist or mental health professional will usually explore:

•Symptoms and duration

•Sleep and appetite changes

•Daily functioning

•Stress and life events

•Medical conditions and medications

•Family history

•Safety concerns and self-harm risk

This process is supportive and confidential. It is not judgemental.

Treatment for Depression: What Actually Helps

Depression treatment is individualised. The aim is not just temporary relief but long-term recovery.

Psychotherapy for Depression

Therapy can help with:

•Negative thinking patterns

•Emotional regulation

•Understanding triggers

•Building coping skills

•Improving self-worth

•Processing grief or trauma

Common therapy approaches include:

•Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

•Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

•Supportive counselling

•Trauma-focused therapy when relevant

Psychiatric Medicines for Depression

Medication may be recommended when:

•Symptoms are moderate to severe

•Sleep and appetite are strongly disrupted

•Daily functioning is affected

•The person has persistent hopelessness

•Therapy alone is not enough initially

Medication is carefully prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist. It is not a shortcut. It is a medical support tool.

Lifestyle Support Alongside Treatment

Lifestyle changes support recovery but do not replace treatment when depression is clinical.

Helpful actions include:

•Consistent sleep timing

•Regular meals and hydration

•Daily movement or walking

•Reduced alcohol and substance use

•Lowering overwork and burnout patterns

•Building small daily structure

How Families Can Support Someone With Depression

Family support becomes powerful when it is respectful and non-dismissive.

Helpful support includes:

•Listening without giving instant solutions

•Avoiding judgement or blame

•Not forcing positivity

•Encouraging professional care

•Helping with practical routines

•Being patient with slow progress

Things families should avoid:

•“Just be strong”

•“You have everything, why are you sad?”

•“Don’t think too much”

•“Everyone goes through this”

•“You’re overreacting”

Support should feel safe, not corrective.

Depression Recovery Takes Time (And That’s Normal)

Recovery does not happen overnight. Many people expect instant improvement, but healing is gradual.

During recovery, a person may:

•Have good days and bad days

•Improve slowly in sleep and energy first

•Feel emotionally numb even after starting treatment

•Need consistent follow-up care

•Require long-term emotional support

The goal is progress, not perfection.

Depression Support in Hyderabad: Where to Seek Help

If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression, professional mental health care can make a meaningful difference.

At Bharosa Neuropsychiatry Hospitals, depression is treated with:

•Comprehensive psychiatric assessment

•Ethical and confidential care

•Evidence-based therapy support

•Medication management when required

•Family guidance and counselling support

•Personalised treatment planning

Care is offered with sensitivity and respect, not judgement.

Bharosa App and Online Psychiatric Consultations

Mental health support should be accessible, especially for people who feel hesitant to visit in person.

The Bharosa App helps individuals and families access:

•Online psychiatrist consultations

•Confidential support from home

•Follow-ups without travel stress

•Flexible appointment scheduling

Bharosa Neuropsychiatry Hospitals provides online psychiatric consultations through the Bharosa App in Hyderabad.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can depression happen even if someone looks successful?

Yes. Depression can affect anyone, regardless of external success, fame, or achievements.

2. Is depression the same as sadness?

No. Depression is deeper and longer lasting. It can involve numbness, hopelessness, fatigue, and loss of interest, not only sadness.

3. Can depression be treated completely?

Many people recover significantly with the right treatment and support. Early care improves outcomes.

4. Where can I seek depression treatment in Hyderabad?

Bharosa Neuropsychiatry Hospitals offers in-person and online psychiatric consultations for depression care in Hyderabad.