Depression by Eniafe Isaac

By Bright Olorungbotemi

In the world which we reside in today, depression has been the major cause of death. This is not limited to the uneducated citizens alone but also to the educated, the rich, the poor, young and old. The latest figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO), show that Nigeria has 7,079,815 sufferers of depression.

That is appropriately 4 percent of the nation's population. With an additional 4,894,557 Nigerians (2.7 per cent of the population), suffering from anxiety disorders as at February 28, 2019.

What is depression?

Depression is a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way ( Merriam-webster dictionary). Depression may also be classified as a mood disorder.

It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But if you are feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression.

Signs and symptoms of depression

Signs of depression include reduced interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed. For example losing interest in education, family or life itself.

Feeling of worthlessness or guilt, hopelessness.

Reckless behavior: You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.

Weight loss (without dieting) or low appetite.

Aches and pains: An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

Difficulty in sleeping.

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.

Impaired ability to think, Concentrate or make decisions.

Loss of energy.

Most importantly, reccurent thoughts of death or suicide or attempt at committing suicide. For example: an individual thinking what if I jump over from the 3rd floor? What if I drink hypo, what if I sleep on the highway while a vehicle is coming?

These are strong signs of depression.

Types of depression

The two main types of depression are Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent

Depressive Disorder.

Major Depressive Disorder: This is the more severe form of Depression. It's characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness that do not go away on their own.

Persistent Depressive Disorder: it is also called dysthymia. It is milder but chronic form of Depression.

Risk factors that can make you more vulnerable to depression

Now we know the signs and symptoms of depression, what might be the possible causes of depression?

The most common factor that may make you vulnerable to depression include:

Recent stressful life experiences: Major life changes such as a bereavement, divorce, unemployment or financial problems can often bring overwhelming levels of stress and increase your risk of developing depression.

Early childhood trauma or abuse: Early life stresses such as childhood trauma, abuse, or bullying can make you more susceptible to a number of future health conditions, including depression.

Marital or relationship problems: While a network of strong and supportive relationships can be crucial to good mental health, troubled, unhappy, or abusive relationships can have the opposite effect and increase your risk for depression.

Loneliness and isolation: There is a strong relationship between loneliness and depression. Not only can lack of social support heighten your risk for depression, but having depression can cause you to withdraw from other. Having close friends or family to talk to can help you maintain perspective on your issues and avoid having to deal with problems alone.

Personality: Whether your personality traits are inherited from your parents or the result of life experiences, they can impact your risk of depression. For example, you may be at a greater risk if you tend to worry excessively, have a negative outlook on life, are highly self-critical, or suffer from low self-esteem.

Alcohol or drug abuse: Many people use alcohol or drugs as a means of self-medicating their moods or cope with stress or difficult emotions. If you are already at risk for depression, abusing alcohol or drugs may push you over the edge.

Chronic illness or pain: Unmanaged pain or being diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes, can trigger feelings of hopelessness and even lead to depression.

The warning signs or behavior to watch out for in a person suffering from depression:

Talking about killing or harming one’s self.

Expressing strong feelings of hopelessness or being trapped

An unusual preoccupation with death or dying.

Acting recklessly, as if they have a death wish (e.g. speeding through red lights).

Calling or visiting people to say goodbye.

Getting affairs in order (giving away prized possessions, tying up loose ends).

Saying things like “Everyone would be better off without me” or “I want out”

Possible treatment of depression

In most cases, the cause of depression plays a major role in it's treatment.

Depression can be treated through the following means:

Eat a mood boosting diet: Reduce your intake of foods that can adversely affect your mood, such as caffeine, alcohol, trans fats, sugar and refined carbs.

Reach out to other people: Isolation fuels depression, so reach out to friends and loved ones. Even if you feel like being alone or don’t want to be a burden to others. The simple act of talking to someone face-to-face about how you feel can be an enormous help. The person you talk to doesn’t have to be able to fix you.

They just need to be a good listener, someone who will listen attentively without being distracted or judging you.

Exercise: Take a short walk or put some music on and dance around. Start with small activities and build up from there, it will help you.

Light therapy: Exposure to doses of white light can help regulate your mood and improve symptoms of depression. Light therapy is commonly used in seasonal affective disorder, which is now called major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern.

Psychotherapy: Speaking with a therapist can help you learn skills to cope with negative feelings. You may also benefit from family or group therapy sessions.

Using the principle of LET: LET is an acronym, L = Listen, E = Encourage, T = Talk. This principle involve Listening to the individual with depression, just keep listening to them no matter what they are saying may sound or doesn't make sense. Then you encourage them by showing them affection by doing things which are lively, like taking them out on a walk or to the cinemas. After encouragement, you just have to keep communicating and talking to them.

How can you prevent depression?

Depression is not generally considered to be preventable. It’s hard to recognize what causes it because we all have different behaviors and how we react to such as humans, which means preventing it is more difficult, but the following techniques may help.

Regular exercise.

getting plenty of sleep.

Reducing stress.

Building strong relationships with others.

I want us to watch out and be our brothers or sisters keeper. We Know the signs and symptoms to look out for in an individual with depression. Let us Encourage them to think of life and not death. In most cases, depression has led individuals to committing suicide or an attempt to do.

Let us fight Depression together.

Thank you.

#LetUsBuildAGreatSocietyTogether#