Depression And Plane Crashes

Depression And Plane Crashes Wreckage from the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 (image via www.pamelagetler.com) Soon after the tragedy, the cockpit recorders were recovered from the plane and handed over to the authorities who analyzed the tapes. From this and other evidence it was preliminary determined that this crash was a murder-suicide brought by an onset of depression and psychosis in the copilot, Andreas Lubitz. Yet another tragedy has occurred and headlined news involving suicide. Months previously, one of America’s most beloved comics, Robin Williams, committed suicide as well. Just this week a teen took his own life in McKinney, Texas after severe bullying. These three are not isolated cases. In the U.S., suicide is the number 10 leading cause of death according to the Center for Disease Control. The World Health Organization says that depression, one of the most common causes of suicide, is the leading cause for disability in the developed world. Approximately 1 in 20 Americans have dealt with, will deal with, or are experiencing depression, although this number is estimated to be skewed down. Depression is simply a chemical imbalance in the brain brought on by a lack of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. These are neurotransmitters that cause good feelings and happiness. Typically, this is accompanied by an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone. People with depression with can experience lack of energy, apathy, consistent feelings of sadness or being down, disinterest in former hobbies and activities, insomnia or increased sleep, and thoughts of guilt, death, and/or suicide. This disease is remarkably treatable. With treatment, symptoms usually alleviate in a matter of 8-12 weeks. Treatment can include therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. With the end of the semester approaching, stress is piling on. (image courtesy of blog.fit.edu) Sadly, while depression is the most treatable mental illness, it is also the most frequent and the most frequently ignored. The problem arises when people will brush off symptoms as just “being down” or “in a funk.” Patients themselves might feel this way or parents and friends. Make no mistake; depression is not just a state of mind or attitude. It is a real, serious, life-threatening disease that has readily available treatment. In professional life, stress is an expected part of life. No one can escape the frustrating problems of bills, responsibilities and work. When stressed our bodies try to help us out by releasing cortisol. This neurotransmitter can give you a boost to your adrenaline system allowing you to cope with the problem easily. However, if the body experiences high levels of cortisol all the time, it can be very detrimental, leading to depression some studies have suggested. Pilots, actors, and even high school students all have high levels of stress. However, like I said before, stress is not necessarily bad. It can help you get things done, but the problem arises with how Americans and many other countries and cultures deal with stress. Many accept it as part of a job or environment and certainly that’s true to an extent, but stress can be minimized through a variety of mediums. When dealing with stress, try to take some time away from your problems. Find time for you. Some of the best ways to reduce stress in the body include exercise. With the weather finally warming up, it’s time to get outside. Sunlight has been shown to stimulate the release of dopamine and exercise has been proven to remove cortisol in the body. So find some friends and toss a Frisbee or play some street ball. Besides getting out in the sun, make sure to eat well. Being busy makes it really hard to push back carbs and sweets, but these foods can make you sluggish and decrease your energy levels. Make sure to increase your vegetable and fruit intake. Eating lots of these can re-energize you and make you more capable of tackling a tough day. (image courtesy of msw.usc.edu) If you’ve already fallen into the pit of despair, it’s not too late. Right now, you’ve realized you’re there so you can still get help. First, talk to your friends and family about how you are feeling. Let them know what’s going on. Have some time to complain. Just talk to someone and let it out. Purge the system of all the problems. Then go do something. Spend time with that friend doing something else. Get away from the problem for a bit. If you are experiencing depression or believe you are, please seek help for it. Depression success rates are amazing. Talk to your family doctor, a counselor, or a friend about it. They can set you up with services in your area that can help you deal with this illness. You don’t have to let depression win. If you are having thoughts of suicide or death please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This last number is staffed 24/7, 365 days of the year by volunteers who care and will help you. Our culture is not the best about stress and work. Americans work more than most cultures and certainly the most in the developed world. This worker bee attitude is great for the country, but can be very bad for individuals. If school, work, or life is stressing you out too much, don’t let it beat you. You can do it. If you need help reach out. You can get better.