“Sola, what are you thinking about again?” asked an exasperated Georgina.
Sola sighed as she put down her pen which she had been holding in mid-air, lost in thought. Her 21-year old life had been riddled with tragedy upon tragedy. She’d lost her mother at the tender age of 8. Thereafter, she experienced emotional abuse from her stepmother, was sexually abused a couple of times by her step uncle at age 16, and had failed to secure admission into the higher institution for the past 5 years after she graduated from secondary school.
She had become a shadow of herself. Her physical appearance was no longer a concern to her. She had lost so much weight due to a lack of appetite.
Here she was at the state library, studying for the University Matriculation Exam for the umpteenth time. Feeling hopeless, she had already started entertaining thoughts of suicide at her young age.
THE REALITY OF DEPRESSION IN THE WORLD TODAY
Depression is simply a state of mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life or inability to visualize a happy future. World Health Organization refers to it as “a common mental disorder”. It currently affects more than 264 million people worldwide. Up to 1 in 6 people experience depression as an illness. Statistics show that women are twice more affected than men.
Depression can dramatically affect a person’s ability to function and live a rewarding life*.
WHY DO I GET DEPRESSED?
Possible reasons for depression include:
◾ABUSE: Like in Sola’s case, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in the past can lead to depression.
◾BEREAVEMENT: Sadness is a normal reaction to the death of a loved one. Although this can bring serious symptoms of depression, leading to suicidal thoughts or feelings of worthlessness.
◾CONFLICT: in the home, among friends or within oneself.
◾DRUG ABUSE: Up to 30% of people who abuse drugs or alcohol have depression, too. Some people misuse substances when they feel down. For others, heavy use of alcohol or drugs can bring on depression symptoms.
◾GENETICS: A family history of depression makes it more likely for you to get easily depressed.
◾LIFE EVENTS: Even good things, like moving or graduating, could make you depressed. Other changes that can do that include:
🔹Lack of achievement of one’s goals
🔹Loss of employment
🔹Loss of a source of income
🔹A new job
🔹Heartbreaks
🔹Exam failure
🔹Marriage or divorce
🔹Retirement
🔹Having a baby
🔹Good things like changing your environment, graduating, and so on.
◾OTHER SICKNESSES: Sometimes depression comes with, or can be a reaction to, another illness. For instance,
▪️Sleep problems
▪️Chronic pain
▪️Anxiety
▪️ADHD
◾SOME MEDICATIONS: Depression can be a side effect of a drug you’re taking for another illness.
◾ISOLATION: Social isolation due to an illness like COVID-19 can make one feel depressed. Separation from family or a social group can also result in depression.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT I’M DEPRESSED?
If you exhibit one or more of the following, you’re likely depressed:
▪️Persistent sadness
▪️A lack of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities.
▪️Poor sleep or sleeping too much
▪️Poor appetite
▪️Easily getting tired
▪️Feelings of hopelessness
▪️Poor concentration at work, home or school.
HOW TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION
1. Pinpoint the Origin
Just about every sad thought can be traced to an origin, an event, a situation. Identify that situation. What about it exactly saddens you the most? Pinpointing this goes a long way in helping you find a way to feel better about that situation. Then…
2. Understand the Root of Depression
You need to realize that depression is simply A FEELING OF SADNESS. Feelings arise from THOUGHTS. When you understand that you have the ability to control your thoughts about a situation, you would be more willing to seek out the path that helps you maintain positive thoughts. This, in turn, would result in more POSITIVE ACTIONS AND RESULTS.
3. Share with a Friend/Psychotherapist
Many times, we cannot overcome depressive thoughts on our own. We need someone with a listening ear or/and with more experience in the matters that bother us, to help us resolve how we feel about them.
4. Sing Out!
Music has a way of bringing joy to the soul. King Solomon said, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22).
5. Replace the Negative with the Positive
Miss Maria in the epic movie, The Sound of Music, sang:
“When the dog bites, when the bee stings,
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
and then I don’t feel so bad.”.
Recalling fond memories often help to relieve mild depression.
6. Be Your Neighbor’s Keeper
Reach out to persons around you who show signs of depression. For all you know, they may just be a decision away from taking their own lives.
7. Visit a Doctor
Sometimes, medications may be needed to relieve depressive moods. Doctors also offer psychotherapy to depressed persons.
Depression is a recognizable mood disorder. Once we’re able to trace its source and employ possible solutions to the cause(s) thereof, we would have happier professionals making more positive impact wherever they go.
