Hardship: Psychiatrist advocates management of emotions to avert depression

As economic hardship persists in the country, a mental  health expert, Dr Salau Abiola, has canvassed the need for adequate control and management of feelings/emotions to avert adverse effects of mental depression among Nigerians.

Abiola, also a psychiatric doctor and the President, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, gave the advice in an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

Recall that depression is a mental health condition marked by an overwhelming feeling of sadness, isolation and despair that affects how a person thinks, feels and functions.

The psychiatrist said that mental depression had became rampant among the populace, particularly adults and youths.

He said that the increase of depression cases made it pertinent that more attention should be paid to it to avert adverse effects on the populace and economy.

According to him, every average Nigerian is mentally depressed, saying that depression can be normal, but that it becomes an indicator of underlying disease when feelings become excessive and interfere with daily living.

Abiola listed causes of mental depression to include restless sleep, stress, anxiety, financial troubles, repeatedly going over thoughts, childhood trauma, a job loss or a divorce among others.

The psychiatric doctor added that certain medical conditions might also trigger depression, including an underactive thyroid gland, cancer, heart disease, prolonged pain and other significant illnesses.

“Imbalance in the brain’s signaling chemicals most times is responsible for mental depression in many patients.

“Depression can affect people of all ages, races and socio-economic classes, and can strike at any time.

“And people with depression may experience a variety of symptoms, but most commonly, “a deep feeling of sadness or a marked loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities,” he said.

He said that engaging in positive activities that give happiness, while avoiding anger could help prevent depression.

He explained that anger produces a physiological crash, saying that the angrier one got, the more depressed the person would be.

According to him, anger elevates blood pressure, increases threat of stroke, heart diseases, cancer, depression, anxiety and in general depresses the immune system.

Abiola, therefore, advised that people should learn to control and manage their feelings/emotions at any given time in order not to fall into depression.

“The inability to control emotions and feelings are the major causes of depression.

“If one is in a happy state, it means less of troubles, stress and better wellbeing; but if one is unhappy there will be depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and stress disorder.

“Depression is a significant problem that has affected some youths; which made them to become drug addicts and abusers,” he said.