Saturday, August 11, 2012

COULD YOU BE DEPRESSED?


Everyone feels bad or sad at one point of their life or the other. While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time and often without reason. People with depression find it hard to function every day and may be reluctant to participate in activities they once enjoyed. Many of my friends have reported feeling depressed at one point of time or the other. Sometimes I am concerned, other times I just roll my eyes because I have a fair understanding of what depression entails having studied psychology for four years.
Depression if unattended to can lead to among other things a destabilization of one’s mental health, stress related illnesses and even suicide in its most extreme cases. It is now in deed a fact that most of the reported cases of suicide especially among teenagers are as a result of depression. Cases of depression have been on a steady increase especially in the western world. One might be tempted to think that this is only so in the Western countries but they would be gravely mistaken. The reason for this is not that depression is low in Kenya but its because psychology and psychiatry as fields are largely nonexistent. We can only boast of one mental institution…one mental institution in a country of about forty million. Did I mention that the institution is overcrowded and lacks an adequate number of specialists in the field of mental health?
It can’t get any worse than this, right? Wrong, the situation on the ground far more grave. I have to restrain myself from smacking the large number of people who keep asking me not to read their minds whenever I tell them I have studied psychology. The fact that majority of Kenyans get their information about psychology from fiction is amusing at best and depressing(pardon the pun) at worst. As a result of this confusion about what the field can and cannot do has led to mistrust of the professional as a whole. Many Kenyans think that counseling is largely a waste of money. After all how can paying someone to listen to your problem possibly help to resolve them they say. You have to appreciate the irony that these are the same people who pay charlatans in the name of religious leaders every Sunday to read to them excerpts of an ancient archaic book (buybul). I don’t mean to compare the two fields because one is clearly based on science while the other is based on a few ramblings of first century goat herders. Given that you are reading my blog I assume you know which is which, but I digress.
So what is depression? When should you seek professional help?
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless. They may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable; experience loss of appetite or overeating, have problems concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions; and may contemplate or attempt suicide. Insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may be present.
Common signs and symptoms of depression
  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
  • Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
  • Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
  • Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
  • Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
  • Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
  • Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
  • Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
  • Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
  • Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.
If you experience a majority of these symptoms then you should make it a point of seeking professional help. Interpersonal therapy has been found to be very effective when combating various types of depression. The earlier the condition is recognize the better the chances of dealing with it before it escalates and causes too much damage.

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