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Depression can occur at any time in a person's life. Teens, and even young children, may be affected, but this is not always noticeable later. That's what Philippa Manning, director of the Pietermaritzburg Mental Health Society, a nonprofit organization that deals with depressive disorders and mental illness, said.
According to Manning, anyone can suffer from depression in mild or major form, and people with other pre-existing medical or mental diagnoses are also at high risk of suffering from depression.
"Depression can be serious and life threatening. If left untreated, it can escalate to suicidal thoughts and projects. Medications and counseling are always considered the best combination of treatment.
"Depression can be caused by several factors: stress; anxiety; loss experiences (death of a loved one); deep debt or relationship problems; unemployment; isolation, etc. With major depression, this may be due to a life situation or a chemical imbalance in the brain for various reasons. If you see signs of depression, it is very important to talk to a professional, get a diagnosis and get treatment. General practitioners are usually the first to diagnose.
"Support is a vital part of treatment because drugs alone can not cope with a person's experiences.
"The support of friends and family is so important, so do not keep your mental health problem under the seal of fear and embarrbadment (stigma).
"The advice of a professional psychologist or a psychiatrist, or a social worker or qualified counselor, is an essential part of healing," said Manning.
Mr. Manning encouraged the families of people with depression to make sure their loved one asks for the help of a professional because some people are sometimes unable to do it themselves: "People with depression are often misunderstood and poorly considered not motivated to change.
"As an organization, we are able to help people get badessed for medical treatment and provide ongoing support, so that people with depression do not feel isolated."
"As a non-governmental organization, we can connect with other services and, hopefully, find practical solutions to some of the causes of depression. Depressed people often can not afford to go to the doctor, but they can afford to contact us, "she said.
The company also provides services to people with disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as intellectual disabilities. Manning said many members of the public are not even aware of serving people with depression.
Ayanda Mavundla, from Caluza, was diagnosed with depression in 2017. She told Echo that the diagnosis was a blessing in disguise for her because she was lucky enough to be fully herself after the experience.
"Depression really affected my decision making and my self-esteem. Before receiving my diagnosis, I did not know anything about depression and I never thought I could diagnose one. At that time, I was not feeling well because of dizziness and I was admitted to the hospital.
"When I arrived at the hospital, they performed all kinds of tests. After that, a psychologist came to see me and she transferred me to a psychiatric hospital where I got help from a professional. It took me about two weeks to find my voice but, with the help of therapy and psychiatry, I managed to get my voice back.
"At first I was so ashamed that I had been diagnosed with depression. I did not even know what I would say to people until my complete recovery. I was put in treatment for three months and I became normal again. My experience has taught me that there is nothing to worry about; depression is only one phase and the treatment is very effective. You just need to ask for help as soon as you see the signs, "she said.
After recovering from her depression, Mavundla wrote a book about her experience, Saved by depression, which was launched last July.
Last November, she created a nonprofit corporation called A Pome Mental Disease Advocacy. She thinks that there is still a lot of work to be done to teach people about depression.
Physical exercise is also considered an important way to manage stress. According to Slondile Nene, a gymnastic instructor at Curves, going to the gym does not just mean being fit and healthy: "If you're in the gym, you forget everything that's going on around you. You focus on your breathing, your posture and your training goals. When a person is exercising, wellness hormones (endorphins) are produced. A person feels good, happier and more positive about things when at the gym. When a person goes through a hard emotional state, it is very important to participate in an intense workout in order to be able to surpbad themselves and release their emotions.
"As personal trainers, we also build a strong relationship with our customers because we give them a platform to confide in us and offer them advice wherever possible," she said. .
What is depression?
A number of mood disorders can be described as depressive disorders, but they all share feelings of sadness, emptiness, or irritable mood, accompanied by physical and mental changes that have a negative effect. on the ability to function their daily lives.
Every depressive mood disorder can have its own causes and triggers. However, it is generally thought that depressive mood disorders are caused by a combination of genetic, physiological, temperamental and environmental factors.
For more information, contact the PMB Mental Health Society at 033 392 7240.
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