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