Depression in Nepali Youths

 

You don’t want to work, eat, study, feel constantly tired and drained as, nothing matters anymore. Your parents say you are just lazy and your grades has been decreasing more. You feel like everyone’s else life is better than yours and you lost interest in your hobbies. Those all are signs of depression. But your Nepali parents call you “alxi, jhopte, ghusghuse”.

Being depressed and having depression are two different situations. World Health Organization defines depression as “Depressive disorder (also known as depression) is a common mental disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time.” Being depressed (sadness) longs for few days or a week while as depression can last up to several months to many years.

So, how long have you been sad? And how do you clarify if you have depression?

The major symptoms of depression are;

• poor concentration
• feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth
• hopelessness about the future
• thoughts about dying or suicide
• disrupted sleep
• changes in appetite or weight
• feeling very tired or low in energy.

Depression is like a mind that wants to die but a body that wants to live. In most Nepali household, we can find many people who suffer from this but are afraid to be judged by our own family, friends, community and society. The major question being, how will depression affect your life?

1.      It changes your perception, you become pessimistic.

Even if you get good grades in exam, or do better job than everybody else, it will be never enough for you. You feel worthless .

2.      It affects your emotions.

You feel sad constantly. Feelings of numbness, blue or self-hatred are strong. You might feel you deserved to be punished for the wrongs you haven’t even done.

3.      Physical distress.

Over eating, under eating, over sleeping, under sleeping, poor concentration, stomach ache, headaches, trouble breathing, constant stress or fear causing immense sweating are the common symptoms of depression affecting on your body.

4.      It isolates you socially.

You don’t want to spend time with family members, friends, colleagues or even your partner. You feel like no one understands you but you don’t have the energy or courage to explain yourself. You might feel left out or just don’t want to burden your loved ones with your negative feelings so, you might isolate yourself.

All these are some major behavior changes we can see in people going through depression. If you are suffering, or you know someone who is going through a tough time like this, let them know its okay and support them.

Depression is not just a state of mind that will pass with time, it’s a serious mental illness like any other physical disease; diabetes. You don’t just leave an illness hoping it will heal with time, it needs to be treated.