Depression is a serious health condition. It is different from usual mood fluctuations but is long lasting, severe and intense emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly in the society, work at school and in the family.
Depression results from a complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. People who have gone through adverse life events (unemployment, bereavement, psychological trauma) are more likely to develop depression.
Depression can in turn lead to more stress and dysfunction and worsen the affected person’s life situation and depression itself.
Globally, over 322 million people are suffering from depression that presents with poor mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite and poor concentration.
Depression in Nigeria is more common than we think and millions of Nigerians are battling depression every day. Have you ever been asked “How are you?” you answer “not well” or something similar, and the inquiring person responds, “Oh that’s good” and walks away or lunges into a conversation?
Unfortunately, this scenario occurs frequently. Typically, when the inquirer is not listening. Maybe because they are too busy, too self-absorbed, or too afraid to intrude. Consequently, they don’t follow up with appropriate questions or remarks, even to simply say, “I am sorry to hear that.”
As so you feel as if the inquirer really isn’t interested, which leaves you feeling sorry that you answered honestly. If this happened to you, would you want to answer the question honestly ever again or would you opt for the very common and mostly expected “I am fine?”
Here’s a twist, maybe you are the inquirer and you just couldn’t deal with the blinding honesty of a response other than “I am fine”
Let us take home this exercise, ask somebody “how are you?” You might not give advice in response, but be sure to demonstrate sympathy. Leave comments to tell us how it went.