U, me, aur nonsense!!

No offense to those who liked the mush of the much raved You, Me Aur Hum. But in my opinion, it is a very BAD movie, portraying all sorts of wrong information, and misguiding laypersons. UGGH!!

So what is this movie about? Alzheimer's disease? GREAT!
Wonderful concept. Novel. Educational. Informative. Different. Blah Blah.

Did you know that the average life span of someone diagnosed with Alzheimer's is 8-10 years after diagnosis? Going by the average, Kajol should have been dead at 38 considering she was diagnosed at 28.Yeah yeah, FEW people do survive for another 20 years. Do you know what state they are in by that time? A mere VEGETABLE, unable to function on their own, let alone wear pearls on a cruise and blush to the memories of their young adulthood.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disease. What does that mean? It means it gets WORSE as time passes by. That means that Kajol should technically be wearing diapers, be fed with a spoon, and be carried around on the cruise!!!

There is no cure for Alzheimer's. So I wonder what the doctor at the nursing home wanted to do with her? Medication only slows the process down, does not get rid of it!

Alzheimer's has several stages. What you see in the movie is Stage One. Apparently, she remains in stage one for 25 years!! AMAZING! Miracle, blessings, hallucinations, or true love? Only Bollywood can answer that question.

Oh and did I mention that most people get diagnosed with Alzheimer's in their 50s and 60s? Yeah yeah. The doctor mentioned that Kajol is a RARE case. Did you know that the youngest person to be ever diagnosed with Alzheimer's was in their 30's and had Down's Syndrome (a form of mental retardation). All early diagnoses of Alzheimer's are due to this particular syndrome. Did Kajol look retarded to you in any way, shape or form?

So now my dear friends, please do rave about the movie's songs, acting, costumes, dialogues, dances, scripts..whatever! But please do NOT RAVE about its wonderful story and please do not definitely BELIEVE any of it!!

For more information on Alzheimer's disease, please look here.

FYI, research studies have shown that turmeric can prevent Alzheimer's disease and that's why a very low percentage of Indians suffer from it compared to the rest of the world.

Wooo Hooo!!

Story Time!

Before I write my next post, I urge you all to read my story "The Stranger" on Calm Frenzies.

And then, I will reveal to you how what you might have learned from a very recent Hindi Movie is VERY INACCURATE!

Depression or Sadness?

Did you read Keshi's post about depression and suicide?
Here is a chance to learn about it from the professional point of view.

So many of us very randomly describe ourselves as "depressed", describe someone as "having depression", or even ignore the fact that we could be clinical depressed! How can we find out if we are exaggerating or minimizing our own or a loved one's condition?

Here is the criteria that we use to assess for the diagnosis of depression in someone.

See if you meet the criteria, and if you don't you are NOT depressed. Maybe sad, maybe trying to adjust to a life shift, maybe overwhelmed but NOT depressed.

Do you:

Have five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure?


(1) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).

(2) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)

(3) significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.

(4) insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day

(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)

(6) fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

(7) feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)

(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)

(9) recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a Mixed Episode.

(IGNORE THIS ONE)

C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

(THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT!! IF YOU ARE "DEPRESSED" BUT ABLE TO FUNCTION WELL IN YOUR DAILY LIFE, IT IS NOT CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT!)

D. The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hypothyroidism).

( YOU SHOULD NOT BE FEELING THIS WAY BECAUSE OF A CERTAIN SIDE EFFECT OF A MEDICATION OR ANOTHER MEDICAL CONDITION. IT HAS TO BE PURELY PSYCHOLOGICAL.)

E. The symptoms are not better accounted for by Bereavement, i.e., after the loss of a loved one, the symptoms persist for longer than 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms, or psychomotor retardation.

(IF YOU ARE UPSET AFTER THE LOSS OF A RELATIONSHIP, EITHER THROUGH BREAK UP OR DEATH, YOU ARE NOT DEPRESSED. HOWEVER, IF THE SADNESS PERSISTS BEYOND 2 MONTHS, ALONG WITH THE SYMPTOMS MENTIONED ABOVE, THEN YOU QUALIFY FOR DEPRESSION)

Depression is very common. It can happen to all of us. Caste, age, sex, religion, skin color, nationality, skin color, no bar!!

Depression is not incurable. It is one of the easiest to cure if you get the required help at the right time. NO! You do not have to be on antidepressants, if that bothers you. NO! You do not have to be in psychotherapy all your life. Some cases are resolved in less than 4 sessions! And YES! You can make some life changes to prevent a relapse!

Did you know that women are more prone to depression than men?Did you know that children and adolescents also suffer from depression? Did you know that many people can hide these symptoms very well? Did you know that depressed people often feel suicidal but have no energy to execute the plan?

Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. We all live life. We all encounter horrors. Deaths, job losses, breakups, health issues, loneliness, low self-esteem, yada yada yada! We all know its not easy. Sometimes, when everything happens all at once, we are overwhelmed. Our body gets into a panic mode. And presto!! Your brain begins to release all those not so nice neurotransmitters that cannot help but make you feel sad for long periods!

Like Keshi, I will open this post up for anonymous comments if you have any questions for me. I will be glad to help. I want us all to be happy, whether in the real world or blogosphere. This is a great place to start. And I hope you make full use of it!

Have a nice day!!

The answer is...

SPRING!!!!

Most people feel sad during holidays/Christmas when they are alone or do not have the means to celebrate, but they get over it when the season passes. This sadness may not necessarily be DEPRESSION. Not all sadness is depression (which I will talk about in the next post).

Yes there is something called Seasonal Affective Disorder (co-incidentally, the acronym is SAD) which happens only during the winter months. This too is very seasonally based. A lot of us, common people, also experience it. It is quite common, especially in cold places.

However, in the spring, what do you think happens? We all start perking up. Even the ones who were upset about Christmas or the lack of sunshine. Everything around us seems great. Flowers bloom, we walk out in capris, shorts, skirts, and t-shirts, and we start enjoying the outdoors. Those who have been chronically depressed or are suffering from a Major Depressive Episode, will NOT feel better despite the fact that its so great outside.

Consequently, they begin to feel isolated, alone, and confused. They have no reason to attribute to their depression. That is when the suicide rates go up.

Makes sense? I hope it does!! Any reactions?