LAST week, space constraint limited my analysis on how vital our mental health is to our way of life. Today, let’s continue, its an under-statement to say, our mental health is an integral part of our lives and, as important as our physical health. The alarming rate of suicides in our societies today has made it paramount to discuss this issues openly and honestly. Lots of people think bringing an end to their lives is a solution to their problems, even the rich and famous have these thoughts and a common reason for that is DEPRESSION.
Let’s talk about depression:
Depression is a disorder otherwise known as Depressive Disorder that causes feelings of sadness or loss of interest and in some cases giving up on life. This is the basic and most common definition of depression.
Depression is a common mental disorder which is globally estimated that about 5% of adults suffer from it. More women are affected than men and in some cases leads to suicide. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29 years old. But then, there are treatments for mild, moderate, and severe depression which are effective. And please, don’t misunderstand mood swings with Depression or changes in everyday life.
Depression can happen to anyone especially those who lived through abuse, pregnant women, and women who just gave birth. (postpartum depression) Although there are treatments for mental disorders, most people in low and middle-income countries receive no treatment. During a depressive episode, a person experience sad irritable, and epmty. Depression can cause difficulties in all aspects of life including the community, at work, home, or school.
Feeling low and down is part of growing up, But these emotions can be worrisome when felt intensely over long periods, particularly if they affect one’s social, family, and school life. Although it’s hard for anyone to feel optimistic when they’re depressed, depression can be treated and there are things you can do to help you feel better. Before then, lets look at some causes of depression;
When connection is missing from your life you may carry distress in the nervous system.
Loneliness brings pain & it can also activate the sympathetic branch of your nervous system. This can leave you feeling both unhappy, unsafe and depressed , because a chronic message of loneliness sends an ongoing message of danger to the nervous system causing stress, anxiety, or depression. Which causes most of the below if not all of the below;
🔵Dissociation: Feeling disconnected from yourself or reality.
🔵Difficulty asking for help: Struggling to reach out and share your pain.
🔵Codependency: Relying too heavily on others for emotional stability.
🔵Self-isolation: Withdrawing from social connections and relationships.
🔵Unprocessed anger: Holding onto unresolved anger from past experiences.
🔵Fear of abandonment: A deep-seated fear of being left or rejected.
🔵Difficulty trusting others: Having a hard time building trust in relationships.
🔵Sleep difficulties: Insomnia or recurring nightmares.
🔵Sense of shame: Carrying a heavy burden of guilt and shame.
🔵Hypervigilance: Constantly feeling on edge and alert.
To get over these, a quick solution is a nurturing relationship is perhaps one of the most powerful forms of medicine there is to cure depression. Relationships can help you to shift your nervous system back to a state of safety, especially after a big state of depression.
Although prevention programs have been shown to tackle depression. Approaches include school-based programs, interventions for parents of children with behavioral problems, exercise problems for older persons, and therapy or support circles.
Healing from depression is a journey, not a race. It begins with acknowledging the pain and ends with reclaiming your inner peace.
Self-care plays an important role in promoting overall well-being and managing depression. First, Don’t panic when you discover you are depressed, and remember you are not alone and many people have gone through what you are experiencing at the moment and found help.
If you have thoughts of self-harm or have already self-harmed, seek help from emergency services or a healthcare professional. Don’t delay getting in touch if you’re worried. seek help and try doing activities that make you happy. stay connected with people of positive thoughts, especially family and friends, exercise regularly, and stick to regular sleeping and eating habits. If you think you are in immediate danger of harming yourself, SEEK HELP – this can never be over-emphasized
A popular blog on Instagram ‘momentswithray’ recently held a session with the question tag, “At what point did you realize you were too stressed out?” The responses were hilarious and all laughs, but the truth is, when you sit and reflect, you’ll realize people are doomed for good. The situation in the country is adding to the personal problems of the people.
I will like to share some of the responses here;
“I was driving, I suddenly assumed I had forgotten the car keys, I began to search my handbag to look for the car key. I was about to take a U-turn to go back home to look for the key then I realized ‘How could I have left the key to the car I was driving, at home for that matter.’
Another wrote, ‘I was so tensed that I put fish inside my wardrobe and ankara inside the fridge’.
‘When I put my phone inside the microwave instead of the plate I was carrying’.
‘My househelp came to ask me what to cook, I just started yelling at her for no particular reason. she just kept staring at me until I was done. And she said madam be taking things easy’.
‘When I first gave birth, my baby was crying I was confused about what to do. I performed ablution and instead of facing the Qiblah, I faced another direction without even wearing a hijab. it was at that moment my aunt came in that I realized what I was doing’.
‘I walked barefoot to a nearby shop, and on getting there, I forgot what I wanted to buy. I just sat on the bench outside the shop’.
Amusing but worrying.
To be continued…
Kabara, is a writer and public commentator. Her syndicated column, Voice, appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Mondays.