There has been a high rise in the incidence of suicide among Nigerians. Nigeria is the 30th most suicide prone nation in the world with 3% of the Nigerian population attempting suicide in their lifetimes. This is at odds with the impression of Nigerians as the ‘Happiest people in the world’. Nigeria is actually ranked 95th out of 155 countries in the recent World Happiness Report.
Depression is an illness that needs professional help. Leaving depression unchecked can affect our long term mental wellbeing and spill over to our personal and professional lives. Depression is different from sadness. Everybody feels sad from time to time, it’s a very natural human emotion.
Sadness is a normal reaction to an unwanted situation. You feel sad about something. When the unwanted situation changes for the better or when we’ve had the time to adjust and accept the situation for what it is, our sadness reduces and gradually fades away.
Depression on the other hand is a very serious illness and depressed people should seek professional help. It is very wrong to just tell a depressed person to cheer up and be happy. It simply doesn’t work that way. A depressed person can, like a sad person, be sad for a reason. But when the issue is solved, the feeling of sadness doesn’t go away. A depressed person can also be sad for no reason whatsoever and is unable to feel simple day to day pleasures. Severe depression can lead to thoughts of self-harm and even suicide.
It is very important to know this difference as it determines our approach. We shouldn’t confuse depression, an illness that requires treatment for sadness, a normal human reaction. This distinction helps us and our loved ones.
Ways of Dealing with feelings of Sadness:
Identify the cause of your sadness: Sadness can have psychological causes like loss of a loved one, loss of status, health, income. It can be a response to illnesses like diabetes or cancer. It could also be due to loss of mobility or brain functioning. A big part of managing sadness is identifying the cause or causes.
Don’t Judge Yourself: It’s okay to feel. Sadness is a perfectly legitimate reaction. Don’t feel embarrassed or inadequate. Accepting your feelings the way they are help you to manage them.
Focusing too much on your sadness or your mistakes will make it more difficult for you to recover. Distracting yourself by focusing on more pleasant things should help you get over your sadness
Seek help from Family and Friends: Studies show that withdrawing from people can worsen feelings of sadness. Try and interact with friends and loved ones, go out, see a movie. Interacting with loved ones help improve happiness and will help take your mind off things.
Try exercise and meditation: Exercise helps release endorphins that make you feel positive and energetic. Meditation helps center your mind making you feel calm. These feelings help lift your mood
It is important you talk to your Doctor if you experience feelings of sadness for more than two week. If your feelings affect your ability to function or enjoy your day to day life, try speaking to a trained professional.