Rapid urbanization in the capital city has pressurized many, including the youth population, to work harder and get life going, only to realize that they aren’t getting what they want and falling into what many may presume to be mental illness – depression.[break]
“I stopped enjoying things I used to like. I stopped socializing and I really thought that my life had to end and that I had no reason to live anymore,” says Deepak (name changed for privacy).
As a student in the US, Deepak had a tough time working in his research due to unavailability of grants and labs which eventually turned to frustration and depression. He took to alcohol, hoping it would fix things, but to no avail.
“I went to the student counselor [in my college] for help and it helped me to some extent,” he adds.
For Deepak, returning home and coming back to reality was a gradual process. But he says that he’s much more social now after medical treatment.
According to Dr. Surendra Sherchan, Acting Director at Nepal Mental Hospital in Patan, though depression has become a common problem at present, there’s a solution to it.
He says, “With proper medical attention and medication, one can come out of depression and it doesn’t have to be the end of life.”
Sumi (name changed) thinks that she may be suffering from depression. Heartbroken after a failed relationship, she battles the urge to slip into the darkness that depression can be seen as. Moreover, she doesn’t know where she should go for consultation.
“My family doesn’t know what I’m going through and I don’t think they will understand, either. But my friends recommend that I see a psychiatrist. But again, our society is such that if anyone knows about it, I may be tagged as a mental patient,” worries Sumi.
Many in Nepal may be facing similar situations but Dr. Sherchan recommends one to see a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist who is available in major hospitals for consultation.
“There are three types of depression: mild, moderate, and severe. Mild and moderate depression can be treated easily but severe cases may need medication for some time, depending on the situation,” informs the doctor.
Dinesh (also name changed) underwent severe depression and started taking drugs until his family found out about it and took him to a doctor.
“I was insane and I didn’t know what I was doing. But I did what I did because it, in some ways, gave me happiness,” says he. He, for one, fell into depression because his family wanted him to study harder but he couldn’t meet their expectations.
“When I couldn’t study further, I started working. I had money to spend. First, it was alcohol and then eventually drugs,” he says.
“The problem is growing among youths because of failed relationships, or not enough support and guidance available from parents. They live in nuclear families and easily have access to substances and its abuse,” shares Dr. Sherchan.
Mood swings, rash behavior, sleeping problems, alcohol and drug abuse, lower performance capacity than usual at work or in school, distress, heavy feelings, low memory power, and peculiar negative feelings are all symptoms of depression, according to him.
Dr. Sherchan suggests that those who think have depression symptoms, they can cure it themselves by joining activities like exercising, sports, yoga, meditation, socializing more and other fruitful activities, which will increase one’s resilience power.
“My life back when I had depression had no meaning and I thought it was the end of the line. But now it’s a different scenario and I’m much happier,” shares Deepak.
“Committing suicide out of depression or just letting the disease linger on isn’t the way out and is, definitely, not a solution. Help is around the corner and visiting a doctor for consultation is perfectly fine. People need to realize that this is a common disorder in developing nations and it can be treated with medical attention in time,” says an optimistic Dr Sherchan.
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