Feeling unhappy? Changed appetite? Sleeping more than usual? Do not dismiss these health cues from your body as they could signal depression! Your health depends on it.
Persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities, for at least two weeks are a major sign that you are suffering from depression, reveals World Health Organization (WHO) 2018 depression report.
Nutrition therapist Kayole II Sub county hospital, Milton Mbaja says when one is depressed the body reacts by sending impulses to the brain, which then directs a message to the muscles making the person sad.
“The body reacts when someone is depressed by sending impulses which are then converted to message-as a result the person mood changes suddenly and he might end up in an acute headache, restlessness, crying or negative thoughts which are a sign of sadness,”
Additionally, Mbaja says that sadness causes more than 300 muscles to relax thus people who are sad appear “swollen” while they are simply having a muscle reaction.
Other signs of depression include; loss of energy; anxiety; reduced concentration; indecisiveness; restless; feelings worthlessness; guilt, or hopelessness and thoughts of harm and suicide.
The report indicates that more than 300 million people of all ages suffer from the condition globally which is linked to the suicides of over 800,000 people each year.
Last year the organization ranked Kenya as the sixth country with the highest number of depression cases among Africa countries.
Mbaja says depression is a common illness worldwide which is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in life.
“Almost everyone is depressed in a way, at least each day people come to the hospital and upon assessment and diagnosis we find out that it’s actually depression and this could amount to 90 per cent of our patients,” Mbaja says.
The physician added that depression can be major or persistent depressive disorder (PDD). Major depression is characterized by persistently sad mood, fatigue, difficult in concentrating and suicidal thoughts while PDD is a depression present for a longer period-for at least two years.
WHO further warned that depression can happen to anyone? You could be worried -about the future; that your child is not making you happy; Feeling like you are not worth living, while the list is not limited these, and other worries could lead to depression.
“These years can also be a time of stress, if you are feeling overwhelmed rather than excited by your life challenges then you need to know about depression,” read the report.
Noting that depression is treatable WHO advised people who think they are depressed to talk to people they trust or seek medical advice.