DEPRESSION; ANGER WITHOUT MOTIVATION
by Onyeka Ehiwuogwu
by Onyeka Ehiwuogwu
Perhaps, my dear reader would be wondering why Depression of all topics.If so, then this week's issue is probably for you.
Depression is not that point when you feel heartbroken or very downcast because she said "No" or "Let's be friends", or " I see you as a Brother". Its is not that low financial ebb, when you are very broke and believe the world hates you because it hasn't come to your aid in a rescue 911 fashion.
Depression is when a mother of a 2 weeks old baby gives in to an urge to commit suicide by scuba-diving into the Gwagwalada River with neither a snorkel nor an oxygen tank. It is when a graduate from a certain private University in the South-East broods for weeks before he opts to dissect himself or a German goal keeper treats himself to a head-on-collision with a moving train. That is Depression!
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Depression can make one's life seem painful, empty and meaningless. Simply dismissing these feelings as ‘irrational’ or a symptom of ‘illness’ is the stock-in -trade of most of us Nigerians. The Nigerian notion is that the word 'sickness' or 'disease' only refers to 'PHYSICAL conditions or depreciation in health'.
Hence, the idea of mental or psychological ill health is totally banished to an afterlife or to a very few rich and enlightened people. Thus besides malaria, typhoid, catarrh, pneumonia, 'jedi', etc, all other mental or psychological conditions of ill health are classified into water-tight compartments like insanity, madness, 'kolo' or control from some negative extra-terrestrial forces like 'Ogbanje' and 'remote controls'.
Newsflash! Depression is even a greater killer than most of 'our common conditions' put together. Its termed a killer because at its crest, it either pushes the 'depressed' over the edge, or makes victim of an innocent person who finds himself in the bulls-eye of the depressed.
From a recent study involving the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative, in which 20 centers collaborated to investigate the prevalence of depression around the globe comes this stunning facts;
Who am I?
What is the meaning of life?
Is it possible to make meaningfully relate with others or are we all alone?
These questions no doubt constantly feel our minds and they never fail to pop-up even at the most unwanted times. Mind you, they are normal, and if you don't, please do not scream 'uhuru' yet because your case might be worse.But that’s another story.
The fact is that questions about the meaning of life are endless thoughts which we face every day and are not confined to just one person. It is a common question which we must resolve within us to set the part straight for better self realization, examination and ultimately, self-development. According to Socrates "an unexamined life is not worth living".
There are a barrage of questions plaguing the human race as a whole- famine, war, terrorism, racism, cancer, HIV/AIDS, global warming, SYRIA, devastating natural disasters, widespread human poverty, and BAD GOVERNMENT to name a few. They challenge us all with grand questions about our future and these questions we MUST answer. In the words of a depression survivor, Tade, “I just needed answers ,I wanted to runaway or achieve something bigger, but I couldn't find any meaning at all. I couldn’t find anyone to tell about my pains or share my feelings with"
Depression as I see it, is a failure or rather inability to answer or confront these life's puzzling questions as they come and as they stare us in the face. At every point in time, those questions, which remains in constant evolution, presents appropriate quizzes to us at every stage we find ourselves. Hence, it never asks you questions on issues and stages you've passed in life. No! They address your current and future affairs!
Hence, the idea of mental or psychological ill health is totally banished to an afterlife or to a very few rich and enlightened people. Thus besides malaria, typhoid, catarrh, pneumonia, 'jedi', etc, all other mental or psychological conditions of ill health are classified into water-tight compartments like insanity, madness, 'kolo' or control from some negative extra-terrestrial forces like 'Ogbanje' and 'remote controls'.
Newsflash! Depression is even a greater killer than most of 'our common conditions' put together. Its termed a killer because at its crest, it either pushes the 'depressed' over the edge, or makes victim of an innocent person who finds himself in the bulls-eye of the depressed.
From a recent study involving the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative, in which 20 centers collaborated to investigate the prevalence of depression around the globe comes this stunning facts;
'To be classified as having had a Major Depressive Episode (MDE) a person was additionally required to fulfill five out of nine criteria including sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration. Based on detailed interviews with over 89,000 people, the results showed that 15% of the population from high-income countries (compared to 11% for low/middle-income countries) were likely to get depression over their lifetime with 5.5% having had depression in the last year".
Thus,one can reliably say close to 11% of Nigerians might currently be depressed. That being the case, it stays to me ironic how this scourge has meteorically risen, quietly, in a manner that even the very conscious and cautious among us do not notice.
Some of the big existential questions which we grapple with everyday include:Who am I?
What is the meaning of life?
Is it possible to make meaningfully relate with others or are we all alone?
These questions no doubt constantly feel our minds and they never fail to pop-up even at the most unwanted times. Mind you, they are normal, and if you don't, please do not scream 'uhuru' yet because your case might be worse.But that’s another story.
The fact is that questions about the meaning of life are endless thoughts which we face every day and are not confined to just one person. It is a common question which we must resolve within us to set the part straight for better self realization, examination and ultimately, self-development. According to Socrates "an unexamined life is not worth living".
There are a barrage of questions plaguing the human race as a whole- famine, war, terrorism, racism, cancer, HIV/AIDS, global warming, SYRIA, devastating natural disasters, widespread human poverty, and BAD GOVERNMENT to name a few. They challenge us all with grand questions about our future and these questions we MUST answer. In the words of a depression survivor, Tade, “I just needed answers ,I wanted to runaway or achieve something bigger, but I couldn't find any meaning at all. I couldn’t find anyone to tell about my pains or share my feelings with"
Depression as I see it, is a failure or rather inability to answer or confront these life's puzzling questions as they come and as they stare us in the face. At every point in time, those questions, which remains in constant evolution, presents appropriate quizzes to us at every stage we find ourselves. Hence, it never asks you questions on issues and stages you've passed in life. No! They address your current and future affairs!
Some think that the pain of depression can be seen as a kind of ‘signal’ for stock-taking and reassessment of our lives. At the very least, we may need to recognise and change unhelpful habits like depressed thinking and dwelling too much on issues. It may also be the opportunity to figure out how to make our lives more meaningful.
The point being made here is that what answers you give to those questions are up to you. There is no predetermined, 'generally accepted' standard or meaning to life–it is up to us to try to make our lives meaningful and become the 'right standard'. Create the yardstick for its measurement. No individual should help you answer them. Because like finger prints, different people; different questions.
The point being made here is that what answers you give to those questions are up to you. There is no predetermined, 'generally accepted' standard or meaning to life–it is up to us to try to make our lives meaningful and become the 'right standard'. Create the yardstick for its measurement. No individual should help you answer them. Because like finger prints, different people; different questions.
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As individuals we have to find what values or goals or occupations will give our own peculiar lives some meaning. The answers will be different for everybody.Finally, having done a little research on some anti-depression tips, permit me to suggest a few tips from my lay point of view which should help to some extent.
1. Love yourself. Become selfish if you have to.It’s called self-preservation. See yourself as too precious to be wasted.
2. Learn to talk to/ and listen to family and good friends, good friends I said!
3. Avoid brooding or dwelling too much on issues.Let it go!
4. Love what you do, or do what you love to.
5. Love people just as much as they love you. Treat love like a business- don't invest all you've got .You give as much as you get. It pays to be mindful of how much attention you show people, especially when you're not guaranteed of reasonably proportionate returns.
LEARN TO BE HAPPY
7. Try to be your mirror. Never use other people's view of yourself to conclude. Establish your standards, create your yardstick, and don’t borrow people's own. Saving the best for last;
8. Fear your God. Not some lip-service/'let them know I'm holy' stuff. Be realistic. Having a religious belief or a value system which gives meaning; being in touch with the natural world; or simply each day reminding yourself what you are thankful for.
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