STORY OF THE WEEK

Are you a ware that  mood swings and idiosyncratic behaviors of our workmates, friends and brothers may be a sign of mental disorder? George Adriano writes

When I set my eyes on her, she looked away! Jolie is a beautiful young girl of 21 years old. She is leading a single life after dropping out of school at form five. She is not employed and stays  with her grandparents at Gongo la Mboto.

I failed to restrict myself and said, “Talk to me baby!” She was shocked at my voice like someone from deep thoughts, but she kept quiet. “I am sorry” I said. She didn’t answer anything and instead walked away.

  I decided to inquire from the other girl who was standing next to me about this beautiful quiet girl. She was her elder Sister, Nashie. “Is she dumb?” I asked.  “No! She is my young sister, her name is Jolie” Nashie replied. “Is she mentally okay?” “Yes”  “So what is wrong? Did I offend her?” Mmh! Nashie was not sure but she told me a full story about Jolie.

Jolie was very okay until three years earlier when she insidiously started being very shy. She avoided walking together with other students and sometime covered her face with clothes. Later on she did so even to her close family members. 

After some months, she refused coming out of her room and she was looking at herself in a mirror complaining that she looked ugly with ‘a big nose’ and that other people will laugh at her. She ended up breaking the mirror. She was very irritable when forced to come out of her room.

Later she also developed insomnia. Sleeping at midnight and getting up very early at around 4.00 a.m and remaining a wake on the bed. Strange enough, she even spent most of the day time in the bedroom not actually sleeping but engrossed in her own thoughts. She also lost appetite, ate with difficulties ending up into food wastage as noted by her relatives.

It took her a year, and then she completely refused to go to school. She lost interest in various daily activities like cooking, watching TV or fetching water claiming that all these were boring and life was not good.

Two years before, their father had died after being involved in a tragic road accident with a motorcycle, Jolie felt very sorrowful and  spent most of the days and nights thinking  about her father.

In the same year, something happened to Jolie, when she was fetching some water from a shallow well, a stone throw  distance from home at around 8:00 pm, a middle aged man abused her sexually (forcefully, he had unprotected sex with her). She narrated the story to her relatives, but no action was taken against the perpetrator, she felt very bad but she was unable to do anything. Consequently, she has been experiencing lower abdominal pains even when not in menses.

I told my friend who is a doctor, about Jolie, the girl whom I loved so much. This was his response;

Doctor: Does your friend Jolie have a big nose?

Me: Aah No! She has a small really cute nose, I admire it.

Doctor: Jolie might be suffering from mood disorders. Mood disorders involve the disabling of the emotions.  It is convincing that, Jolie has Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which is one of the mood disorders. She may also have somatoform disorder as she thinks that she has a big nose. The doctor offered  me a cold yet insightful analyses of mental disorders which opened my understanding with regards to Jolie.

He explained that depression is an emotional state characterized by,

·         Sadness or loss of connection with the ordinary world

·         Feelings of worthlessness and guilt. You may not think that you are a valuable person which leads to having low self esteem.

·         Withdrawal from others. you isolate yourself.

·         Lack of sleep; You don’t fall asleep though you may need to sleep

·         Reduced or loss of appetite.

·         Lack of sexual desire. The victim may erect and perform but minus the usual testosterone triggered urge

·         You may attempt or think to commit suicide, arguing that it’s better to die rather than to live

·         Inability to concentrate which occurs nearly every day.

·         Depression impairs important normal functions (such as work or personal relationships).

·         Drugs, alcohol, or other substances do not cause them.

When these conditions persist for two weeks (14 days) or more, then it is a Major Depressive Disorder. A person loses interest in most of the things or activities she/he used to enjoy. It is mostly prevalent among people of above 25 years. The duration and the severity of the symptoms vary. The likely cause of the ailment depends on several factors: a manifestation of a previous mental illness to the individual and sometimes having a relative who has ever suffered from the same (genetics) poor social support, poor adherence to the medication .However, faith in God can help to deal with mental disorders whereby the patient surrenders to the divine providence. A good job or a healthy relationship which you enjoy can also immunize someone against them.

Me: My God! Is it a mental problem?

Doctor: Oh, yes. It’s a psychological condition but as you can see it may affect the social, economic and spiritual life of a person.

Me: I am finished. Okay, thank you, bye!

Doctor: Hey! Sit please! I have not finished. This condition is curable. There are several ways of helping your friend which will undoubtedly restore her former self and you will go on enjoying life with her

Medication is among the modalities of treating Major Depressive Disorder. The medical treatment is usually accompanied by Psychological, social and even spiritual therapy. It’s quite common for the symptoms to diminish and then appear again after a period of time.

Me: Huuu! What should I do?

Doctor: It’s better to take your friend to the mental health professionals; clinical psychologists, and a psychiatrist. It’s very important to adhere to the medication in terms of dosage and duration, and make follow up to the mental clinic. Consult your doctor for any adverse changes which Jolie may notice in the course of treatment.

Me: Okay, thank you very much. Bye

When I was just about to shut the door and walk out, the doctor reminded me  not to forget  testing for HIV/Aids both of us, and pregnancy test for Jolie.

Written by;

Mwitha Thomas

Computer science student at UDSM

Mob: +255 714689297

E-mail: mwithathomas@gmail.com