Are You Depressed?

Rozanne Jagoda points to signals which warn of conditions that are more serious than stress.

It was Sonali's first real holiday in years. She woke up to the soft warmth of the sun on her face and the sound of the calm environs of the countryside. She watched a spider run across the wall and before long, was asleep again. When she woke up, it was past noon. She called room service for some brunch and while having it, winced from the chronic pain in her right arm. Next, she considered the options of birdwatching, canoeing or enjoying a movie in her room. She settled for the last, because she could watch it lying down since she still felt an oppressive sense of fatigue. Halfway through the movie, she fell asleep again.

So, is Sonali lazy, ill or merely making the most of a rare holiday? Considering the fact that she usually needs about six to seven hours of sleep, but was requiring much more recently, could it be a symptom of stress – a sign that her body is shutting down from time to time to compensate for the fact that she has been unusually busy, has taken up greater responsibilities, juggles time to meet pressing personal commitments, is inundated by work and just has too little 'me time'? Perhaps not.

"If such symptoms are experienced for more than two weeks or so, then it is a cue to seek medical treatment," diagnoses Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Swarna Wijetunge. "This is especially so in the case of experiencing mood swings, persistent fatigue or lethargy, and a noticeable reduction in enjoying one's favourite activities," she adds.

Significantly, the side effects of stress and the onset of depressive episodes can be misunderstood and confused. Depression, although not necessarily caused by stress, has a tendency to slow down the body as well. An abnormal requirement of sleep or its opposite are symptoms to watch out for. This could mean that individuals will experience a change in their speed when making decisions, memory lapses and a general feeling of a need to isolate oneself from mainstream social activities. Inexplicable physical ailments may manifest themselves. Wijetunge explains: "People seek treatment for medical illnesses, but are quite ignorant and unwilling to address symptoms related to mental health. Often, they are not aware that they are suffering from problems related to being mentally ill." Being diagnosed as mentally unwell is still something of a taboo in Sri Lanka.

Depression can result in individuals being isolated in society due to mental and emotional non-functionality. In extreme cases, if left untreated, they could eventually become totally estranged from others. For such people, at a personal level, this means that realising their potential becomes increasingly challenging. For this reason, maintaining vigilance in relation to changes in the behavioural patterns of a friend, loved one and even oneself is advised by mental-health professionals. With up to 20 per cent of our population estimated as being clinically depressed and given only three-dozen or so consultant psychiatrists practising in Sri Lanka today, it is time to take clinical depression seriously – rather than attribute its symptoms to stress;

WARNING SIGNS

Says Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Swarna Wijetunge: "People are subjected to trauma because of myths associated with being mentally ill. They seek alternative treatment, which is not always beneficial. Early professional treatment will lead to a better outcome for mental-health patients. Some 20 per cent of the Sri Lankan population suffers from depression. And what's more, we have just 30 to 40 consultant psychiatrists for a population of 20 million."

She points out that although stress can be a contributor to depression, by rendering individuals more vulnerable to depressive episodes, stress alone cannot trigger such a phenomenon. A genetic propensity to the depression, however, can increase the chances of developing the condition. "Body aches and pains, inexplicable bouts of illness, loss of or excessive sleep, change in normal physical habits, constipation, a loss in libido, mood swings, a general reduction in the quality of life, excessive feelings of guilt, suicidal tendencies, regret about the past and a chronic inability to foresee the future are all symptoms that the condition being experienced is not just stress, but depression" Wijetunge reveals.
