referred to and discussed. As I
was reading through the Daily
Nation on 27th February this
year, it stated that 1.9 million
Kenyans are depressed, driven
primarily by unemployment and
poverty. This marks an increase
of 15% since 2005.
Globally, 300 million people of
all ages suffer from depression.
April 7th this year marked
World Health Day and the
World Health Organization
concentrated on depression with
very crucial insights.
The depressed in this country are
many unfortunately and whilst
many would consider themselves
‘mentally strong’, we shall all
most assuredly face pain. The
self-care tips below are some of
the means I used to cope with
pain; some immediately, others
progressively.
Please note these tips are
applicable in the case where
depression is as a result of a
stressful life event. In the case of
depression as a result of faulty
mood regulation by the brain e.g.
in the case of bipolar disorder,
genetic make-up, medications
and medical problems, one would
need to consult a certified mental
health expert.
The only way out the door is
through the door
Accept that you’re in pain. Don’t
try to defer or repress; eventually
you will meet your pain. To be
able to get out of the worst pain
allow yourself to hurt. It ’s what I
did, it’s what I still do.
More than anything else I’m not
hard on myself for the tears on my
pillow, in the shower and in the
toilet sink. I let them flow. When
they come, I let them flow and
there’s nothing wrong with that.
24 MAL 17/17 ISSUE
‘‘ It’s easy when
you’re sad or
depressed to lie in
bed and do hardly
anything all day
but you can take
incremental steps
towards productivity.
Start with just one
thing per day and
congratulate yourself
for that. In good time
you’ll be back to the
same person with the
‘S’ on your
chest. Oh!’’
Productivity drop
When in pain your mental and
emotional immunity is low.
When your brain and your heart
are trying to nurse the pain
from a stressful life event, little
is left for other things. That’s
the reason why I wasn’t able to
undertake the simplest of tasks.
Fortunately, it doesn’t feel so
horrible all the time and it ’s at
those moments when you can
do the heavy duty. That too is
also okay. Sadly for me though
I find that I still beat myself up
for those months I feel I ‘lost’.
I hope eventually I’ll be less
critical of myself.
Don’t isolate for too long
For this I’m more than guilty.
I literally ran away from the
world, for LONG! For some time
I think it ’s okay to pull away
and lick your wounds but what
I would advise is to purpose to
meet with a friend or a group of
friends at least once every month
as a start and then increase that
frequency with time to every two
weeks then to every week. At
least that way you don’t disappear
from your friends too long and
you give them the opportunity
to love you and let you feel loved
(very critical!)
If you feel you need professional
help then seek it
If my tooth hurts a bit for a
few days then I’ll probably
just swallow some pain killers.
However if my tooth continues
to hurt for too long and the pain
just keeps increasing then I’ll
certainly seek out the services of
a dentist.
We all have different thresholds
when it comes to emotional pain.
Whilst we don’t seem to have a
problem visiting the doctor for
our physical pains, we look down
on people who seek professional
help for their emotional pain and
that just sucks! We label them
with terms like ‘mentally weak’
and we tell them to be ‘strong’
(the same ‘strong’ they use when
lifting weights in the gym …).
Truly sad.
If you feel you can’t handle it
anymore then by all means seek
help. Let them talk if they want
to; that ’s up to them, this is your
life not theirs.
Nature can be a best friend
There is nothing as beautiful
as trees, a cold breeze or an
animal when you’re in pain. I
can’t explain how but when I
was at the peak point of pain
just looking at a rabbit made
me smile, better yet holding
one and patting it.
Taking walks, standing under the