Time to push the panic button?

Clinical depression - a serious issue:

by Umangi de Mel

When one feels the 'blues' and finds no pleasure in doing anything any more, when one lacks confidence and stays away from loved ones and when one prefers darkness, brooding all the time, well, then it's time to push the panic button.

"There's a lack of awareness among people in our society about depression. Even the so called educated people aren't well aware of it. Not even our senior doctors have received a proper training on the subject. Depression is something that should be detected early. A depressed person may express it in many different ways," says Dr. Kapila Ranasinghe, Consultant Psychiatrist.

Being a third world country, Sri Lankans still live within the cultural frame and keep certain things hushed up. "Our people are a bit shy and reluctant to talk about mental illnesses because of the differences in the social background or parenting style. They may not open out to anybody with their problems which will later on come out as

1. Physical symptoms -

Such as headaches, backaches, lower abdominal pain, irritability, lethargy and relationship difficulties.

2. Psychological symptoms -

Where the person has low self esteem, lack of confidence, is very pessimistic and worries unnecessarily. They misinterpret that every thing will go wrong.

3. Biological symptoms -

Such as sleep disturbances, lose of appetite, various aches and pains, lacking sexual drive and desire.

When it's very severe, the person starts losing weight.

4. Behavioural symptoms -

Shies away from friends, isolates themselves, broods, prefers to be alone, becomes more shy, prefers darkness, loses temper, becomes less tolerant, becomes tearful and sensitive breaking down for the slightest reason.

"The main thing is to identify the problem. Depression is a clinical syndrome that's best identified by a trained professional. They usually range from counsellors to specialist doctors in mental health.

The sufferer may always feel low or down. In western culture, they usually come out admitting that they are depressed.

A depressed person might fail to enjoy the activities that they used to enjoy. (Anhedomia)

They get easily fatigued which is associated with loss of energy." In developed societies, people are usually aware of these symptoms and use the knowledge to monitor the symptoms and seek help before it gets worse. But unfortunately, when the patient finally turns up, his/her situation could be worse, he points out.

"Commonly they go to other medical practitioners, and undergo various medical tests which is a waste of time, money and also, the illness gets worse. The prevalence rate of depression all over the world, goes up.

It's higher in ours. The main reason being lack of recreational activities due to constricted, and routine life styles.

Unpleasant office environments make people vulnerable to depression." Certain activities worsens depression.

He says that things such as computer games, surfing the net, video games and even watching a particular programme on TV for a long period of time, could narrow down one's normal life style.

"Humans have evolved as mobilising social animals that have the capacity to function in various environments. Social stimulation is very crucial for mental well being. But once a person gets addicted to doing just one thing such as computer games over a period of time, only one part of the brain gets stimulated.

Gradually they lose the capacity to enjoy other things which makes them become sedantry. Though later on, the person doesn't find his sole pastime, interesting anymore nevertheless he will continue to do it as a habit.

This makes him vulnerable to depression." Dr. Ranasinghe points out the fact that staying in front of a computer monitor is a stress factor, "It's very dangerous to stay over three hours in front of the monitor.

If a working age adult has given up social activities due to lack of time, they should make an attempt to develop alternative leisure and pleasure activities like walking, jogging or meeting up with friends.

The best thing is to walk in green areas which is good for both eyes and mental well being." Advises Dr. Ranasinghe.

[email protected]