There’s no doubt that suicide rate has increased globally. Statistic shows that over 800,000 people die from suicide every year– It is twice the number of homicide in a year.
One of the major cause of suicide is “DEPRESION”.
What is “DEPRESSION” and how does it affect our everyday lives?
A lot of people have had symptoms of sadness from time to time, a SHORT TERM DEPRESSED MOOD where recovery comes relatively quickly. A short term depression can be caused by a major life stressor e.g. losing a loved one or losing a job. A lot of times, these feelings are experienced almost daily with no obvious reason.
One of the definitions of Depression: Feelings of severe despondency and dejection. This is where”self-doubt creeps in and that swiftly turns to DEPRESSION”. The most common mood disorder among adults is called “DEPRESION DISORDER”. This affects most people with their first episode before they are thirty-two.
Once a person has had an incident with depression, they are most likely to have a follow-up episode. A major Depressive Disorder episode would last for at least two weeks and affect a person’s ability to carry out his/her everyday activities, have fulfilling personal relationships, and also their ability to work.
A depressed person would experience one out of the following two symptoms for no less than two weeks, nearly every day: An unusually sad mood or loss of interest in activities that they used to find enjoyable.
They may also have the following symptoms below👇
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Changes in eating habits, either eating too much or not at all
- Thinking about death often or wishing they were dead
- Changes in sleeping habits, too much or not enough
- Feeling guilty even though they are not at fault
- Feeling worthless
- Easily Agitated
- Moving slowly
- Inability to settle.
Just because the symptoms do not equate to an official diagnosis, they can still leave a lasting impact on life. If you discover you are experiencing any of this symptoms, then make sure you book an appointment with your general practitioner that will recommend doctors in your area or therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors.
Depression is a mental illness that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness. It’s one of the most common mental illnesses that affects millions of adults globally on a daily basis.
Next on our Healthcare Time with Priscilla: We will be dealing with, How Depression Affects Physical Appearance, Emotions, Behavior, and Thoughts, and how to personally handle it.