Depression Verses Exercise

Depression(Pain, disillusion, mental disorder and anxiety) is not something new in human race. It is a natural process of becoming a fully functioning human being. But one has to make a difference, not to entertain depression but to take action against.

Depression is something that great number of people battle with silently, and most of the times it becomes a vast problem especially when proper action is not taken. Depression is a mental disorder that each and everybody is prone to. We are likely to suffer depression almost every day and if we are not knowledgeably enough, we may not know how to drag themselves out.

The thing that keeps one living, is the sense of future that there is tomorrow. Tomorrow that provides purpose of life and that in it there is something to look forward. One thing you must realize is that you are never alone in life. Depression always comes with you all the way long. This is because on the journey of self-realization, you will always meet people who will hurt you, frustrate you or block your way. You will meet people who will disagree with you, oppose you or pull down your achievements. In the course of these incidences, you will encounter deep within yourself anger, frustration, sadness, anxiety, shame and so forth. You will feel out of place and as results, depression takes over.

Mental issues are things we talk about mutely and it is because we do not understand what goes on within ourselves. People with depression battle within themselves, behind closed doors with feelings of hopelessness, despair and self-loathing. What should we do in the situation like this? Should we entertain these nasty feelings? ABSOLUTELY NO. It does not mean that your current situation is your end. There is always a green light at the end of the tunnel.

There are three kinds of solutions that great number of people take against depression. The first solution is PERPETUAL SELF-ISOLATION. In this solution, the victims do not rush to commit suicide, but rather decide to always isolate themselves from the rest of the community. They become violent and antisocial and for them to avoid disturbances, they tend to hibernate in their own cocoons. Self-close up leads them to the second solution ;SUICIDE. This is the most dangerous and worse solution that one can take. It is a solution of self-termination and it indicates signs of giving in to depression. Here the victim is unable to isolate anymore and therefore the only solution is to commit suicide. The last solution is CONFRONTATION. It is the best action to get rid of depression. Here the victim decides to confront such feelings and fights them back. He/she does not allow them to dominate rather confronts them through exercises. 

One may ask, why exercise? Exercises are good because they make the body move and change the position. When the body changes, the brain also changes and subsequently refreshment and new start comes in. Sleeping is not a solution rather it only covers the feelings of depression. Get out and do some exercise because this is the only way forward.

Kate Spade, an American fashion designer and a businesswoman recently committed suicide. Her husband claimed that she has been battling with depression and anxiety for the last five years. This is clear and distinct example of what depression can do.

Jim Eugene Carry, Eminem, and our very own Wahi kagwi have all come out to confess that they have battled with depression at some point of their lives. These are individuals who have everything that money can buy. But still depression pursuits them? This is the notion people have that if you have money, you are a celebrity and that your life is perfect. Money has never bought happiness. Depression is for everybody; “the haves” and “haves not.”

The victims of depression often do not expose their world. Their world is unreachable. They tend to hide simply because self-exposition is a sign of defeat and weakness. The repercussion is, the more they enclose themselves the more the depression consumes them.

It is our responsibility to protect any individual going through depression. We are our brothers’ keeper. Let us not stigmatize or discriminate them. They need our help. We can keep each other happy if we put our efforts together in fighting depression. 

This article was written by Winnicate Muthoni, a student of Nairobi Technical College.