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Help tackle those BLUES
A COLLEAGUE walks into the office late and dishevelled. For the past one week he has not been his normal self and appeared preoccupied, tense and uncommunicative. Today he seems more nervous and fidgety. You walk up to him for some small talk, but he ignores you and even snaps back at you. Your feelings hurt, you withdraw and you give him the cold shoulder. You may even try to snap back at him at the slightest provocation. However before you have your fair share of `revenge', do ponder for a minute. Your colleague harbours no ill will towards you. In fact his offending behaviour may be a cry for help. For he may be having a bout of a very common and increasing problem called depression.
Depression is a word widely and interchangeably used to cover a vast spectrum of symptoms, syndromes and diseases in the medical field. Psychiatrists feel that due to the very divergences in depression in all its aspects, the problems encountered both at the theoretical and clinical level, though stimulating and challenging, are often frustrating and inconclusive.
However the common depression caused by stress is a very normal emotion. All of us at certain times undergo high and low spirits. In certain cases it becomes intolerable and problematic. Sometimes we feel a disgust and aversion towards everything and temporarily withdraw into a shell. But we emerge out of it and bounce back into our routine. However the problem lies with those who remain trapped and lack resources to bounce back. For, if depression persists, it can wreck an individual, who may resort to drug abuse, alcoholism and other vices as an escape.
Depressive disorders are one of the most common psychiatric disorders and most likely to go undetected till it develops into a more serious mental or physical condition. Thus overcoming it initially is crucial. Depression is found to be more common among women than in men at an approximate ratio of 2:1. Though found to be more prevalent among the middle age group _ 35 to 55 years _ the present life style makes all age groups vulnerable to this disorder.
In children masked depression manifested by tantrums and hyperactivity can arise due to feelings of neglect. In adults loss of employment or bereavement can lead to a temporary state of depression. Old age can also set in feelings of loneliness and gloom, while menopause in women which is a natural process, a positive experience and a normal reproductive life cycle, can set in despondency and despair due to its psychological and emotional impact.
A person under severe stress and depression can get into all sorts of practical difficulties with finances, family relationships, employment and management of his own personal affairs. Living with a depressed person can also be very difficult and trying. However it is up to us to rise to the occasion and give all our support and understanding to a friend or colleague who shows signs of breaking down.
For s/he may be in terrible need of help and timely intervention from friends and loved ones can prevent him from worsening to a point of requiring professional help. One should have the farsightedness and dexterity to tackle the situation by offering him a congenial atmosphere and calm his mental uneasiness. Never get irked by his behaviour or exhibit anger, for it will make the atmosphere volatile. As he feels unworthy and a sense of loss of self-esteem, never make the atmosphere threatening by asking him to do things beyond his capacity. For in such situations he temporarily looses even his normal faculties.
A lot can be done for the depressed individual to control his trauma and prevent worsening of the condition. All it requires is a keener perception, patience, tact and warmth. One of the greatest fears of a depressed individual is that things are getting out of control. Reach out to him and assure him that the bad patch is temporary and only a passing phase. For his feeling of inadequacy, restore his crumbling confidence. Bring him out of his shell by rebuilding his social adaptation and the ability to respond to the complexities of living in society.
This can be done by friendly assurances and convincing him that there are millions like him out there who undergo silent screams and are paralysed with fear, but bounce back once the bad patch is over.
Enhance his emotional capacity by warding off irritations and reducing sadness. Focus on the particular condition or stress, which makes him highly strung and sort it out at least temporarily so that he is free from pounding heartbeats. This will give him the opportunity for ventilation and a release to talk things out. Encourage him to take a break or go for a holiday to soothe his nerves. See that he gets proper nutrition and rest. A break can do wonders for a battered soul. It provides valuable time for inner retrospection, to think clearly and regain one's mental equilibrium.
So next time if you see a friend or colleague pounded and shaken, reach out and try to get him out of the quagmire. It may call for a lot of resilience and tact and though you may not succeed at first, do try, for it is worth the effort when you see the smile of peace back on a loved one. Advise, encourage, reassure, inform- do whatever your instinct tells you. For in this hectic pace of modern life with all its demands to meet and targets to achieve one cannot be sure who may be the next victim.
HEMJIT BHARATHAN
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