Our people say it is entertaining to watch lunatic displays, but very agonizing to bear or have one as a relation. Untreated and wrongly managed depressive bouts are becoming harbingers of poor mental health, psychosis disorder and sometimes cranking up acts of suicide
Depression is real. It’s different from being sad. Yes, the vicissitudes of life are characterized by lows and highs, sometimes you feel sad and reclusive and at other times you display emotional and physical excitement of happiness. It isn’t abnormal to feel sad, but it’s not normal to accept helplessness and hopelessness about the sad situation. The moment you rationalized and accepted sadness as ‘faith and cross’ to carry, would mean the moment you opened door for the on-set of depression into your life.
Depression makes you feel lifeless and empty, makes you feel unwanted, makes you feel like “living in a black hole”, makes you overwhelmed with the feeling of ‘armageddon is in the corner’; a feeling of impending doom. Depression is more than just sadness in response to life’s struggles and setbacks, depression changes how you think, feel, and function in daily activities. It affects your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and enjoy life. Living in depression is like being defeated by normal life routines.
Experts say that depression must be treated before it becomes a very serious health condition. It is very dangerous to toy with depression. Depression is not only emotionally traumatic; it has the capacity to cause mental health problems that may end in psychotic disorder cases and death.
Symptoms
Apart from feeling hopeless and helpless about life challenges; the creeping feeling of ‘no light behind any tunnel’ and bleak outlook for most of the day, for like 2weeks; World Health Organization(WHO), medical & psychiatry experts and journals say that you may be in danger if your depressed mood include some or all of the following within the same period:
Loss of interest in what you used to enjoy. You don’t care anymore about former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
Loss of appetite. The foods that you used to like no longer appeal to you
Weight changes. + or- 5% in a month
Sleep changes. Either inability to sleep(insomnia) or oversleeping.
Anger &Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Intolerance, short temper; 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.
Feeling of self-worthlessness. Always feeling you are nobody; you amount to nothing
Reckless behavior. Alcoholism, drug abuse, reckless driving, dangerous games etc.
Concentration difficulty. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
Unexplained aches and pains. Headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.
If you are in these depressive boats, you need to quickly disembark, else you might be on a journey of no return. It is imperative to snap out of depressive conditions or get help to snap out before it becomes suicidal.
Key facts (WHO)
–Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5.0% of adults suffer from depression.
-Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
-More women are affected by depression than men.
-Depression can lead to suicide.
-There is effective treatment for mild, moderate, and severe depression.
Prevalence
Depression is a common global illness. According to WHO an estimated 3.8% of the world population is affected, including 5.0% among adults and 5.7% among adults older than 60 years is affected.
Approximately 322 million people in the word have depression.
At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Over 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.
A 2017 World Health Day Dashboard published by HealthThink Analytic estimated depression sufferers in Nigeria at 7miilion. Depression according to the report is more common in Nigeria than we think. 25%, 26.2% and17% of Nigeria’s young adult, elderly and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) suffer depression. Others include people living with HIV 20% -50% and 44.5% of clinical patients
Depression in Africa affects more female than male. Data available put the figure at 5.95% to 4.9% respectively. Factors responsible for this include: lower socio-economic factors; spousal violence; physical and sexual violence; illiteracy, single- motherhood postpartum and unwanted pregnancy.
Another factor for the rise in depression figure in Nigeria is lack of help to the patients despite availability of evidenced based treatment. Patients of mental illness disorder like depression face shame, stigma and discrimination
WHO says despite known effective treatment for the mental disorders, more than 75% of people in low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria receive no treatment. The barrier to treatment, according to the global health body, include lack of resources, lack of trained health-care providers and social stigma associated with mental disorders.
From Depression to Suicide
Studies have established correlate between depression and suicide. A WHO report asserted that the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries. According to the report, many suicides is prone to happen in moments of depressive experiences like financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.
Another report “Suicide Prevention” by National Institute of Mental Health, posted in Mental Health and Substance Abuse said 60 percent of people who commit suicide have had a mood disorder (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia). Adding that younger persons who kill themselves often have a substance abuse disorder, in addition to being depressed.
Nigeria has the highest rate of suicide in Africa. According to a report published in the Africa Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (AJPSSI), Nigeria has the 13th highest suicide mortality rate of 9.5 per 100,000 above the Regional (African) average of 7.4 (World Health Organization, 2018c). Males have a higher suicide rate of 9.9 per 100,000 population while females have a rate of 9.2 per
100,000 population. As at 2012, there were 7,238 reported suicides in the country – 5,653
males and 1,584 females – with the likelihood that the figures are under-reported.
Other key facts about suicide-WHO
More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year.
For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.
77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.
In today’s global rat race where there is fierce pursuit of everything, depression remains a very big health challenge particularly in low- and medium-income countries, with shrinking economy, job loss, political instability, religion conflicts, social unrest and inadequate health facilities and personnel.
How to Overcome Depression
Health shocks, economic shocks, loss shocks, social shocks are incidences that may push individuals into depression. Do you have the capacity to handle shocks? How strong is your shock absorber? Like we noted, shocks are part of what life throws at individuals; Do you have the capacity to snap out of the shock or you brood over it helplessly and hopelessly?
Experts say you must do the following to snap out of the depression symptoms
Look for emotional support: Getting emotional support plays an important role in overcoming depression. Engage with support groups like genuine friend, family member, or mentor to share the burden with.
Go back to your hobby: Engage yourself in your hobby instead of spending hours brooding on the bed. reading, music, games, socializing, travelling
Make Healthy Habits: Brief day time nap, spend time outdoor, avoid screens (TV, laptop, smartphone, tablet etc) before going to bed to avoid the negative effect of the blue light on your body system.
Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. Go to movies, a concert, or a small get-together. Often when you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell, but being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
Find ways to support others. It’s nice to receive support, but research shows you get an even bigger mood boost from providing support yourself.
Care for a pet: Take a dog for walk, play with favorite pets
Join a support group for depression. Being with others dealing with depression can go a long way in reducing your sense of isolation. You can also encourage each other, give and receive advice on how to cope, and share your experiences.
Go for a walk with a workout buddy.
Do things you used to enjoy
Support your health
–Aim for eight hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems; whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Learn healthy sleep habits
–Keep stress in check. Find ways to relieve yourself from from pressure of work, money, stressful relationship.
Practice relaxation techniques. Experts say daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Exercise: exercise is a powerful depression fighter and one of the most important tools for recovery. Research shows that regular exercise can be as effective as medication for relieving depression symptoms. It also helps prevent relapse once you’re well.
If you can not snap yourself out of depression with these self-help techniques, then you obviously need the help of a professional
We hope you find this post useful.
Join us next week to know when depression requires professional touch.
Source: Dare Agbeluyi, Chief Publisher
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