DO YOU FEEL LOW? ASK FOR HELP!!! PLEASE STOP WHAT YOU ARE PLANNING RIGHT NOW!! PLEASE DONT HIDE IT

 Today is World suicide prevention day. 

PLEASE READ TILL THE END AND SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIEND, if you can make this post viral then please :) I will be glad that in my own simple way help and STOP you from harming yourself

  I would like to ask this question for you:

or in our term in Filipino is "KAMUSTA KA NA?"

  As a depression victim and now advocate to stop it, I would like to blog first my experience as 1st person who suffered depression, then I would like to share some of my knowledge how to detect someone who is depressed, and third when and where will you ask for yourself

This is how you would typically look if you are depressed:

In my experience, it just started when I become depressed which started during my first day of clinical clerkship (4th year Medical Student), I always feel very low everyday that I don't want to wake up, go to  the hospital, you have to try  your best yes, but I feel that I can't do it anymore, I easily becomes tired, almost everyday even that I didn't reached yet the half of the day. I also feel that no one is there to help. Honestly it worsens, due to many jobs that a clinical clerk would need to accomplish which aside from physical burnout, mentally emotionally you are burned out also few failures, few questions that you didn't answer, you will be scolded or even you will be embarrassed by your seniors, your colleagues that you feel no one will help you, parents also that I was always hurried and shouted when I slow since due to the fact that I feel low and doesn't want to go to hospital, and an easy demerit in which you will be extended, and much worse even some patients will embarrass you in front of other people. then there is a time that associated with it  feelings of you feel something is choking you or in tagalog sinasakal  ka, or vomiting or nagsusuka na, which accumulated that i feel so low, helpless and I felt no one is out there to understand what I feel, that until:

Not my actual, just a sample i get from the internet

 I write a letter already about apologizing to everyone and goodbye that I plan to jump off the stairs in the hospital, then I was asked to go to guidance office to have a psychiatric consult then I was Diagnosed with Severe Depression and Anxiety. I was given medication (Escitalopram + Clonazepam) until I used Escitalopram as my maintenance dose and I also stopped for almost 10 months in my rotations. After these I feel better now, and fighting. Also as of now, in my simple terms like what I am doing right now via writing this, to be an advocate to help prevent more depression especially now during this pandemic

Now for the signs and symptoms of Depression I will share some of my knowledge:

Depression or Major Depressive disorder occurs without history of manic or too high, or hypomanic syndrome, little bit to high of AT LEAST 2 WEEKS. This quote i found is helpful to define what depression is:

and according to WHO:

Depression is a common illness worldwide, with more than 264 million people affected(1). Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. Especially when long-lasting and with moderate or severe intensity, depression may become a serious health condition. It can cause the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide. Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds.

This may be the signs that you are already feeling depressed or what you may observe to a person with depression for again AT LEAST 2 WEEKS (taken from DSM-5 Criteria)

1. Depressed  mood most of the day, nearly every day as indicated by subjective report (feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observed by other  people (appears tearful or irritable in children)

***Take note of the word subjective, meaning its WHAT YOU FEEL, just like what i've written above

2. Markedly diminish interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, nearly everyday [nawawalan ako ng gana sa buhay ko] (subjective or observed)

3. Weight change (either gain or loss) or Appetite change (either ginaganahan or walang gana)

4. Insomnia ("di ako makatulog") or Hypersomnia ("sobra sobra tulog ko)

5. Psychomotor agitation or  retardation nearly everyday (di ako mapakali, di ko alam gagawin ko)

6. Fatigue or loss of energy everyday (madali po akong mapagod)

7. Feeling of worthlessness (pakiramdam ko wala akong kwenta), nearly everyday

8. Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly everyday (loss of efficiency to work)

9. (***THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!) Recurrent thoughts of dying (not just fear of dying) recurrent SUICIDAL ideation with or without plan ("gusto ko nang mamatay/magpakamatay!!!!!!)

which impairs a normal life of a person via causing distress or impact in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning.

Now for others I will show you a diagram to know if you or you're relative or friend is showing this symptom

Depression may also  be involved with 

1. Anxiety- you're heart beats so fast, you vomit, you feel something is choking you

2. Melancholy (meaning feeling low)- loss of pleasure in everyday, depression worse in early morning, excessive feeling of guilt

3. With psychotic features- delusion, hallucination

As I learned if not treated early this will go into two main complication

1. PSYCHOSIS  ("Nabaliw")-in time if the person cannot handle it anymore. This may trigger him/her due to overfunctioning of the brain to have, delusion, hallucination, Disorganized speech, or disorganized behavior

2. (the worst) SUICIDE ("nagpakamatay"), or even there's a warning sign called Parasuicidal Behavior meaning ("naglaslas") using a sharp weapon usually seen in the wrist.

Now perhaps the question is how that i'm shy to ask help ("nahihiya po akong humingi ng tulong?"):

  - my answer is no, you should ask help from SOMEONE WHOM YOU REALLY TRUST, its hard to hide it, your chances of thinking a suicide or go to psychosis increases. If your relatives or friend or if you are the relative, parent or friend but cannot handle it anymore. YOU MUST SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY

another question, when I go to psychiatrist they think of me as psychotic or crazy or in tagalog baliw po ako?

Well for you or for those who are thinking this, this is my simple illustration to show  my answer

Consulting from Psychiatrist doesn't mean that you are already baliw, rather to help you and treat you so that you will enjoy more of life can give you.

since today we are in a pandemic you may do this, the doctors here will be glad to help you I found this picture is comforting too..

take note this is a 24/7 hotline

What are the processes

  Well using some questionnaires as standard to see how you're depressed, your doctor will ask you some questions on what are you feeling right now, from there it will depend how you will be treated

How will I be treated?

  Your doctor will give you anti-depressant drugs, also during your follow up check-ups, you will undergo Psychotherapy meaning, via counselling, you are being also treated.

How long will I be treated?

  Some Literature said that at least 1 month, BUT take note IT DEPENDS ON YOU. how long or how are you recovering from depression.

I hope this could message or this InfoBlog may help others to fight for depression and reduce the rates of suicides. always remember DON'T HIDE IT, ASK FOR HELP, and most important which must NEVER FORGET is to PRAY since:

and

Thank you! and Please enjoy your life,

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