Almost every week, newspaper headlines carry reports of fatal road accidents, passion killings, murder, suicide as well as increase in drugs and substance abuse cases.
All these are signs and symptoms that we are living in a society of depressed people.
How many times do we come across someone who looks like ‘they have woken up on the wrong side of the bed’ and, when you ask what the problem is, they simply respond by saying, “It’s nothing much, I am just a little stressed out.”
That statement may be true, but, over time, if you find the same person in the same mood and get the same answer, it may be advisable to recommend for such a person to get professional help. According to experts, prolonged stress can be one of the major causes of depression, others include, loss of a beloved one, lack of finance, unstable relationships as well as conflicts.
The signs and symptoms of depression include loss of interest in activities that were once interesting or enjoyable, including sex; loss of appetite, weight loss or overeating with weight gain; loss of emotional expression (flat affect); a persistently sad, anxious or empty mood; feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; social withdrawal; unusual fatigue, low energy level, a feeling of being slowed down; sleep disturbance with insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping; trouble concentrating, remembering; unusual restlessness or irritability; persistent physical problems such as headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain that do not respond to treatment; thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts; alcohol or drug abuse may be signs of depression.
Koziba Malibala, a qualified psychologist and youth activist, explained that depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts that affect the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things.
A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depressive disease cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better.
Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression.
Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual’s ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850 000 lives every year in the whole world.
Depression occurs in persons of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. It can affect anyone who is faced with the above causes and especially if the person does not seek psychological assistance.
Depression can be reliably diagnosed in primary care. Antidepressant medications and brief, structured forms of psychotherapy are effective for 60-80 percent of those affected and can be delivered in primary care.
However, fewer than 25 percent of those affected (in some countries fewer than 10 percent) receive such treatments. Barriers to effective care include the lack of resources, lack of trained providers, and the social stigma associated with mental disorders including depression.
