Restlessness can be mistaken with depression: Experts

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Kolkata: The present restlessness in the society is often mistaken with depression which in true sense is obsessiveness, according to prominent sociologists and psycho-analysts.

"I am afraid that we are mixing up restlessness with obsession," Presidency University Sociology Professor Upal Chakraborty said during a discussion at the campus on 'Depression and Bipolar Disorder'.

He said that the situation is on the rise in our society and needs to be addressed.

"Goal directed restlessness cannot be mixed up with obsessive disorder, which is a different symptom and this has been on the rise," Chakraborty said.

"Once the goal is realised, the restlessness fizzles out," he said, adding that "loss of a headphone can be equated with such restlessness, which is not depression."

Renowned psycho-analyst Jhuma Basak said, "There can be restlessness among people to be competitive and this cannot be identified as depression."

Basak, who is also a member of International Psycho-Analysts body said, "Depression is a more complex issue triggered by professional pressures among people pursuing different disciplines. This also happens due to strain in relationships and can be addressed by short-term measures."

"But if short-term measures fail, then the core area has to be attended on immediate basis, otherwise the consequences can be serious," Basak said.

Basak said that there has been rise in the number of such cases, which occurs mostly among people belonging to the age group of 8 to 28.

"Most number of cases are from the city which reveals that awareness is very low in the remote areas," she said.

Actor Parambrata Chatterjee, who is playing a clinical psychoanalyst in 'Mandobashar Galpo', said at the discussion that "the root cause of the ailment lies in taking us too seriously."

"Take your own work seriously upto a point but not yourself," he said.