One Step At A Time

A health expert offers these self-help tips for dealing with depression.

- Rina Ahmad Sapiuddin

Sadness can be a difficult emotion to deal with – not only because of the pain it causes, but also because of the factors that cause the sadness in the first place.

Sadness can be the result of loss, helplessness or disappointment, among many other things. It is important to remember that sadness is actually one of the most common human emotions, and it is something that will ultimately help us appreciate our happy times.

However, sometimes it is possible for sadness to deepen, and this may be a sign that you are suffering from a form of depression. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 300 million people (equivalent to 4.4 percent of the world’s population) suffer from depression. In fact, the statistics show that depression is the leading cause of mental and physical disabilities worldwide. By 2020, it will become the worst non-communicable disease, surpassing hypertension and diabetes. 

According to Vizla Kumaresan, clinical psychologist at Ara Damansara Medical Centre, depression is different from normal sadness.

“We all feel sad. This is a normal aspect of human life, behaviour and emotions. Depression, however, is different in that the sadness does not go away and is present for a prolonged period. This sadness affects your daily functions. Those with depression find that their ability to perform even the simplest of tasks (especially if they are ones that they are used to doing) extremely challenging.”