What is depression?

According to the American Psychiatric Association depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression is characterized by experiencing feelings of sadness, and lack of interest in activities that once excited you.

According to research done by the World Health Organization, an estimated 76–85% of people suffer from depression worldwide. Kenya is rising fast in the ranks of countries majorly affected by depression. According to a report aired on one of the the local tv stations (NTV), Kenya found itself being ranked 4th in Africa and 9th in the world. Over 1.9 million people in Kenya today suffer from depression.

What is more alarming is that 5 out of 6 people suffering from mental illness do not receive treatment. This maybe due to the stigmatization that comes with it or sometimes just negligence. Most people actually maybe suffering from depression without even realizing that, that is what is ailing them.

To help clarify further on depression, let’s dive into the types of depression.

1. Major Depressive disorder: A doctor can only diagnose you with this if you experience five or more symptoms of a depressive state for long periods of time. This is usually over a prolonged period of time averagely 2 weeks.
2. Persistent Depressive Disorder: This a type of depression that has lasted for a period of approximately 2 years or more.
3. Bipolar Disorder: A state characterized by extreme mood changes. One alternates between feeling high on energy to low depressive sad states.
4. Peripartum Depression: Experienced by new mothers after childbirth.

If you feel you fit in any of these categories, don’t loose hope because the advantage of it, is it’s treatable. The first course of any treatment offered is narrowing down the symptoms being experienced.

Symptoms

1. Mood swings.
2. Irritability.
3. Anxiety.
4. Fatigue.
5. Low self-esteem.

It is easy sometimes to mistake grief or sadness with depression. The only notable difference between them is that depression develops over a period of time. Hence, it is advisable to be on the look out for some of the symptoms in order to be able to seek treatment.

When you check most of the boxes in the symptoms the next step would definetily be seeking treatment. Depression can be treated in different ways, with the most common being talking your feelings over. Most people associate therapy with extreme cases and lack to realize that, that would be the best place to off load. If therapy doesn’t work for you there are medications such anti-depressants that help with the balancing of chemical levels in your brain. This helps check your mood imbalance.

I know we Kenyans are stubborn and most of us, especially men, would rather die with our problems. But that’s just it. Most people end up taking their lives due to lack of treatment. This needs to change as depression is treatable. Let’s learn to create environments where we can openly talk about issues affecting us without fear of criticism. I know with me you have a confidant so don’t be afraid to reach out. If you are in need of professional help please visit befrienders Kenya. Mr. Coffee Pot signing out.