Afya Kenya Foundation

Are You Medically Depressed?

Posted on 25. Jan, 2010 by afyakenya in Blog

Are you suffering from depression?

Life is full of ups and downs. But when the down times last for weeks or months at a time or keep you from living “normal,” you may be suffering from depression. Depression is a medical illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things.

It is different from feeling “blue” or down for a few hours or a couple of days. It is not a condition that can be willed or wished away.

What causes depression?

There is no single cause of depression. There are many reasons why a person may become depressed:
-Hormonal factors – menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, perimenopause, and menopause
-Stress – at work and home, single parenthood, caring for children and for aging parents
-Family history – inherited (it’s in your genes); it can also occur in people with no family history
-Medical illness – stroke, heart attack, cancer
-Chemical imbalance – changes in the brain chemistry

What are the signs of depression?

Not all people with depression have the same symptoms. Some people might only have a few, and others a lot. If you have one or more of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks or months at a time, see your doctor.
-Feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”
-Feeling hopeless
-Loss of interest in hobbies and activities that you once enjoyed
-Decreased energy
-Difficulty staying focused, remembering, making decisions
-Sleeplessness, early morning awakening, or oversleeping and not wanting to get up
-No desire to eat and weight loss or eating to “feel better” and weight gain
-Thoughts of hurting yourself
-Thoughts of death or suicide
-Easily annoyed, bothered, or angered
-Constant physical symptoms that do not get better with treatment, such as headaches, upset stomach, and pain that doesn’t go away

What if I have thoughts of hurting myself?

Depression can make you think about hurting yourself or suicide. You may hurt yourself to:
-Take away emotional pain and distress
-Avoid, distract from, or hold back strong feelings
-Try to feel better
-Stop a painful memory or thought
-Punish yourself
-Release or express anger that you’re afraid to express to others

Yet, hurting yourself does just that — it hurts you. At first, it may make you feel better; but it ends up making things worse. If you are thinking about hurting or even killing yourself, PLEASE ASK FOR HELP! You also can talk with a family member you trust, a clergy person or a doctor. There is nothing wrong with asking for help — everyone needs help sometimes.

You might feel like your pain is too overwhelming to cope with, but those times don’t last forever. People do make it through suicidal thoughts. If you can’t find someone to talk with, write down your thoughts. Try to remember and write down the things you are grateful for. List the people who are your friends and family, and care for you. Write about your hopes for the future. Read what you have written when you need to remind yourself that your life is IMPORTANT!

How is depression treated?

Most people with depression get better when they get treatment.
Once identified, depression almost always can be treated either by therapy, medicine called antidepressants, or both. Some people with milder forms of depression do well with therapy alone. Others with moderate to severe depression might benefit from antidepressants. It may take a few weeks or months before you begin to feel a change in your mood. Some people do best with combined treatment — therapy and antidepressants.

How can I get help for my depression?

Below are some people and places that can help you get treatment.
-Family doctor
-Counselors or social workers
-Family service, social service agencies, or clergy person
-Employee assistance programs (EAP)
-Psychologists and psychiatrists

If you are unsure where to go for help, check the Yellow Pages under “mental health,” “health,” “social services,” “suicide prevention,” “crisis intervention services,” “hotlines,” “hospitals,” or “physicians” for phone numbers and addresses.

Regards,
Oduwo Noah Akala
Chairman,
Afya Kenya Foundation.