I WAS THERE

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It is amazing how far the world has come and all the events it has gone through the over years. Many wars have been fought and lives lost. It is honest to say that things are not as they used to be yet they are still the same. You can take your time in making sense of that.

Technology seems to be evolving day by day as new inventions pop up and people find new ways of doing the same things they have been doing for years. This is something that we can be proud of as the now generation. Our ability to reinvent the wheel so many times, our ability to find new solutions for problems that have existed for decades and our desire to out-do our forefathers.

As great as our times may be, there are far more challenging issues that people deal with on a daily basis, but never find the right solution that will put their hearts at ease. As soon as they think all their pain is gone for good and they can finally be happy something drastic happens in their lives causing them to question their strength to carry on. Many people might see this as an easy way to deal with problems, but when one is alone in a moment of darkness and everything seems to fail the easy way out seems to be THE only way to bring peace to their lives; even though that might bring heartache to many other more people.

There’s a lot of effort being put in by world leaders and social groups in addressing some of the challenges affecting the youth of today. The amounts of money being spent to educate and empower the youth of this world goes into the billions, which is a great thing because at least there’s a step being taking to resolve an issue that might spiral out of control if ignored.

There is one threat though that most people seem to be taking for granted and it is not affecting only the youth, but people of all ages and gender. It is one pandemic that is not acknowledged in many African cultures and most of the time an individual might end up being misdiagnosed due to a simple lack of understanding.

Most families have to deal with loosing a loved one in a car accident, gang violence or war. But one thing that is just as heart breaking if not the most is losing a loved one to something that only exists in their mind. Most illnesses can only be identified through a symptom, but sometimes those symptoms come when it is too late and there’s fewer options or they are just not as obvious as one may expect.

For those who are wondering where I am going with this or what I am talking about, I am talking about depression. Many people have lost their loved ones to this illness yet fewer people know how to deal with it or how to identify someone going through it. Many varsity students, police officers, fathers and mothers have either ended up committing suicide or being committed to a mental institution as a result of being depressed. This has torn many families apart as most people are left grieving and asking never ending questions to why such a thing would happen to them. To be honest such things don’t choose to whom they happen to, but they do happen. A mother can give birth to a healthy baby only to lose their beloved child at a young age. That doesn’t mean that the mother did anything wrong, that doesn’t go to say that she was a bad mother. Without doing proper research and communicating with your loved one it is very easy for most people to miss all the tell tale signs of someone who is depressed and basically crying for help to a point where it is too late.

Here are some tips of seeing if you or someone you know are depressed; they can vary from person to person but these are the common ones:

Common signs and symptoms of depression:

  Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook-nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.

  Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.

  Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain-a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.

  Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).

  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.

  Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.

  Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.

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

  Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.

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

Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. The deep despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. Thoughts of death or suicide are a serious symptom of depression, so take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously. It's not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide: it's a cry for help.

Warning signs of suicide include:

      -       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”

      -        A sudden switch from being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy

It takes a strong willed person with the help of loved ones who are able to pick up most of the signs at an early stage to recover from a depressive state of mind. In most cases it may require the support of a spouse, friends, and family members or in extreme cases medical practitioners. Families have been torn apart and relationships broken as dealing with such a case is not the same as dealing with an ordinary fever. If you know anyone exhibiting some of the symptoms mentioned above you need to make a very crucial decision whether you want to help them or not because it will require your patience and sacrifice to get them out of the pit they would be in at that moment in time.

Some of the few causes of depression include the following:

Loneliness

Lack of social support

Recent stressful life experiences

Family history of depression

Marital or relationship problems

Financial strain

Early childhood trauma or abuse

Alcohol or drug abuse

Unemployment or underemployment

    Health problems or chronic pain

People become depressed for different reasons and understanding the cause helps find the treatment. The most important thing that one can do when they know someone who is going through depression is to offer them support. Nothing is worse than feeling alone and still have no one to turn to for. And there is nothing more heartbreaking than watching someone you care about go through a depressed state and you don’t know how to help.

If you know someone who displays some the signs mentioned above try to get them help as soon as possible before they do something regrettable.

To read more on depression visit: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/living_depressed_person.htm