Depression. A feeling of severe despondency and dejection; at least, that’s what the google search says. A quick google search will also badger you with thousands of articles on what it is and how to supposedly ‘deal’ with such an illness, but one thing that none of these articles ever consist of is how to come out as someone with depression in the country we live in; Bangladesh.
Depression, anxiety, panic disorders are not something that most people in this country even consider a problem. They are considered more of a taboo than anything. Anyone suffering from the illnesses may have heard the following phrases quite often: “Why are you sad? There is a roof over your head and food on your plate,” “Depression? Oh, it’s just exam season.” or “All of this could be avoided if you prayed five times a day and studied properly.” These sentences may seem meager and paltry but when your head feels like it’s been slammed into a metal locker by a figurative bully and the realization hits that there is no escaping this because the bully is your own mind; these words may be what push you over the edge, especially when the people you hear them from are the very people you’d consider the closest.
Bangladesh is a country where certain things are deemed as ‘non-existent’ or ‘not real’ by most people. ‘Seeing is believing’ for the majority of us. So, unless you’re coughing your lungs out or are losing hair from chemotherapy, You Are Not Sick. You’re just a sad teenager who is too incompetent to get good grades like Mr. Chowdhury’s son even though the both of you get the same accommodation from your parents (he got a Playstation for his birthday and so did you ). The first step towards removing this stigma on mental illnesses is addressing that they exist. The awareness needs to unfurl that there is a cosmic difference between being physically tired from all of the studying or pressure we take on from a multitude of sources and being so deep into a pit of despair that trying to feel a modicum of happiness seems like a herculean task. Whenever you come across someone ridiculing mental illness or playing it down as something unimportant, speak up; stand up for the millions suffering from this huge ordeal and present a rational argument. And of course, refrain from making light of such a serious issue, at all times, yourself.
Tackling such an adversity may seem impossible, at first, but it is curable. There are certain measures; starting from addressing the problem to certain steps we can yield to get better.
Identifying the problem:
Studies suggest that most people feel the symptoms of depression as they step into adolescence. Major pointers include, but are not limited to:
-Declining academic performance, -Reluctance to hang around with friends, -The inability to feel joy even during moments when nothing is awry and everyone else around you seems happy, -Low self esteem, -Unhealthy drug habits, -A hatred towards authority, -A fading sense of responsibility and consequence, -Low tolerance and high irritability towards certain things, -The fact that your laughs are scarce when not in the presence of an animated Donald Trump sitcom.
These are just some of the underlying symptoms that us teenagers need to look out for. The next step is to decide whether it will be fruitful to talk to our family about it.
We usually know the nature of our family and what kind of people they are. Use that knowledge to determine who to come clean to. Reach out to those you confide in but don’t despair at any negative response; especially if you’re expecting it. If talking to family doesn’t help, open up to friends, teachers or even online chat rooms that provide mental support. Depression is treatable and help is out there. For those of us who don’t have to go through its agony, let’s try reach out to those who do and remember there has to be as many people looking to help as those looking for it.
Now, this step is extremely important. Seeking professional help. Although this may come as a surprise to some, there are medical professionals trained in the field of mental illness in Bangladesh. They’re shrouded by all of the heart surgeons and medicine specialists going around, but they’re not your standard unicorn. Asking your friends or people you know will reveal ways to get in touch with them. This is extremely important because navigating the rough waters of mental illness can be exceedingly daunting when done without the help of a professional.
This last step is a bit more disconcerting than the previous ones. It’s knowing that life finds a way and this is not the end. If you’re a teenager that’s stuck in what may seem like an endless tunnel of despair with no way out, just remember that you have friends; you have people who love you and that you are not alone. It’s not easy to get out of the state you’re in and it might feel like you have no one to talk to but you have to try. Sometimes we surprise ourselves. You will find that light and you will be okay.
Rifa Rahman Samantha Editor
Students’ Mental Health
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