Depression

   Written by: Muhammad Nasir Serat

Depression affects people of all ages but the risk of becoming depressed is increased in youths in Afghanistan day by day. Depression causes mental anguish and impacts people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients and a physician about this disease.

Hasanat, a resident of Paghman district, Kabul province tells her story as follows: “I am suffering from persistent depression. I do not have appetite to eat anything; I have lost my weight; and also suffer from insomnia. I like to be alone and I always cry. I have tried to suicide so many times.”

Durani, a resident of Ghanzi province says: “I was happy with my normal life but I face with depression, I have lost my patience; I am suffering from anxiety and I do not like to go anywhere and talk to anyone, I hate my life.”

Doctor Fazila Musamim, a neurologist at mental health hospital, Kabul city says: “Persistent depression could cause serious social and psychological problems. For example, a person loses his/her enthusiasm for work; his/her behavior changes, his/ her sleeping and eating habits become impaired, causing him/her to lose weight or become overweight; bored, not thinking well, unable to deal with his/her daily activities properly, socially these people prefer to die.”

What do people think about the causes of depression?

A mother, Razia Azizi says: “it’s my second year that I am suffering from depression. My family problems caused me to lose my patience and disappointed from my life.”

Ameer Khan, a resident of Herat province has left a massage on facebook: “my nephew is suffering from depression and he is more suffering when someone badly behaves him. He is also suffering mental problems and when anyone calls him mental, he feels more uncomfortable.”

Doctor Fazila says: “The cause of depression is divided into three parts, first hereditary depression, if someone in the family has this problem, some members of the family might suffer from the problem. Second, there are some substances in the human nerves that could cause this problem. Third, social factors could also lead to depression.”