Depression isn’t a death sentence

According to researchers, women are twice as likely to suffer from depression compared with 40 years ago because they are trying to juggle families and careers. According to scientists led by Professor Hans-Ulrich Wittchen, the strain of trying to cope with having a family and pursuing a career is leaving women with a ‘tremendous burden’.

In Nigeria, statistics dealing with depression in women may not be readily available. For instance, it is said that in the United States of America, about 15 million people experience depression each year and the majority of them are women.

What is not in doubt is the fact that we mostly express depression in our lives and sometime we become so overwhelmed with it that we hardly know the necessary steps to take. When in a state of depression we are overwhelmed with a lot of issues and feel the whole world is coming to an end.

Married couples would tell you that depression became severe when they got married (that is a topic for another day). Research has also revealed that women are more prone to depression than men. They say it is because women are the weaker sex in any relationship.

Scientifically and health wise women have been diagnosed to be prone to depression especially the married one because of child birth. Women are known to suffer post natal depression after child birth. Occasionally we hear stories of women who kill their children or even abandon them after giving birth. Some of them don’t suffer this depression till after a few weeks or months of delivery.

Studies have shown that post natal depression is common in every seven out of ten mothers. “Symptoms of depression which has similarities with post natal depression may include lack of confidence, negative thoughts, feelings of being unable to cope or that life is meaningless, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite. Most times I advice married couples to be closer during this period because you might not know when depression sets it and if it does it can be devastating for the whole family in times like this the woman needs all the encouragement and support she can get from her husband and loved ones,” says Dr. Maryam A. Shehu, a consultant gynecologist.

Below are some symptoms of depression obtained from the internet:

Feeling ‘low’, ‘miserable’ and tearful for no apparent reason. These feelings persist for most of the time, though they may be worse at certain times of day, particularly the morning.

Being unable to enjoy yourself. This may be particularly prominent in new mothers who feel that they are not enjoying having a new baby in the way they expected to.

Irritability is common. This may be with the new baby and particularly with the partner.

Given that looking after a young baby means having less sleep than usual, it is no surprise that mothers often feel they have no energy. This can be even worse in mothers with post natal depression.

Appetite is sometimes affected, with mothers not being interested in food. This can be a particular problem since new mothers need all the energy they can get to look after their babies.

Anxiety occurs. This may take many forms. It may be feeling tense and ‘on edge’ all the time. Normal concerns and anxieties that any mother feels for a new baby may become overwhelming. In addition mothers may experience ‘panic attacks’, which are episodes lasting several minutes when they feel as if something catastrophic is about to happen – such as collapsing or having a heart attack.

Depression is often accompanied by feelings of being ‘worthless’ and ‘hopeless’. These feelings are common. However, mothers with PND feel all the more ‘not able to cope’ and unable to see a way through their difficulties.

When people are depressed, they sometimes feel that there’s no way out of their problems and that they, and their family, would be better off dead. Thoughts of suicide are therefore not uncommon.

Doctors and psychologist have recommended that the best way to help anybody in this situation is the support and patience from family and friends. This could be the most crucial factor in a woman’s recovery. In more severe cases, anti-depressants and other medications might be used to bring about a change in mood.

On the other hand the woman can in many ways help herself out of this condition. If you feel this way, it’s important that you talk to somebody about how you feel, since there are ways out of your difficulties other than suicide. Talking about your feelings particularly with other woman or a professional can be helpful. You should also be aware that your child would be at increased risk of developing mental health problems of their own if you do commit suicide.

As for the men, if you fear that somebody you know feels suicidal, take this seriously and try to talk to them about it. Talking about suicide does not increase the risk of the person committing suicide. Strongly advise the person to visit their doctor or a psychologist

It’s never too late to seek help. Even if you have been depressed for a while, you can get better. Depression isn’t a death sentence; you can get out of it, if you are willing to.