(Part 2 of the interview with psychologist Ms. Arosha Dasanayaka. Part 1 appeared last week)
Q: What exactly is your role as a consultant? and what are the common subjects which people seek your consultancy?
A: As a consultant, I perform a range of duties. Basically, it’s general practice and providing health services to the clients who have different psychological issues at all ages. I address various problems related to emotional management, personality, workplace and career, social, school and physical health concerns related to mental health conditions.
Some problems that people face are complex and complicated. Sometimes they need help and the guidance of mental health care professionals to solve the problems. Psychologists are not a group of people who advise clients or offer solutions to their problems. They are a group of experts who come up with scientific approaches to help clients to solve their problems.
So as a consultant I help clients to improve their mental well-being and reduce the feelings of distress and resolve the crisis as well. Young couples seek psychological support for their relationship issues and sometimes married couples too. They find couple therapy and family therapy to resolve their conflicts.
Stress management and the way of coping with negative life events is common among some clients. Parents seek support for children’s behavioural problems, learning difficulties, skill deficits, avoiding schools and some mental disorders like anxiety and depression and many more.
Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, depression are some common mental disorders that people seek for the counselling and psychotherapy. Along with the medication, psychotherapy is more effective for some mental disorders. Anger management, addictions, sexual issues, behavioural and mood changes, traumatic experience, grief, and personality related problems are some common subjects that people seek for psychological assistance and some people have problems in the workplace, career and social interactions as well.
the time I entered rather than now.
Q: Today, psychological disorders such as depression have caused a great deal of issues such as suicide, murder cases etc. what do you think is the main reason for depression? and how would you describe this illness? And what are the main symptoms?
A: Actually it’s impossible to point out one reason for depression and some reasons for people becoming depressed are not always clear and well known. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are only one symptom of depression. According to researchers, depression can come with genetics and brain chemistry (imbalance of neurotransmitters), grief and loss of loved ones, stress, substance abuse, certain medical conditions and poor nutrition etc.
The American Psychiatrists Association states that depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person feels, the way a person thinks and how he acts. Depression causes loss of interest in activities you enjoyed earlier and feelings of sadness. It significantly interferes with a person’s day- to -day life by decreasing his ability to put full potential at work. Not only that, depression leads a person to a series of emotional and physical problems that affect one’s physical and mental well-being.
Therefore, it’s important to recognize the symptoms at the initial stage. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- 5), the two main criteria for depression are depressed mood (sadness or negative emotions) and anhedonia (not feeling any pleasure or interest in the things you once enjoyed).
If any person meets one of these two main criteria, it’s important to consider secondary symptoms that are related to your physical body and thoughts and emotions. DSM- 5 includes that, sleeping difficulties such as insomnia, too much sleep or early- morning wakefulness, fatigue, over eating or appetite loss, digestive problems (if don’t get better even with medicines), aches and pains in body, headache, cramps, loss of interest in pleasurable activities once enjoyed including sex and trouble concentrating are some somatic (physical) symptoms for depression.
Non-somatic symptoms (thoughts and emotions) such as suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempts, pessimism and hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness, guilt and helplessness, irritability, restlessness, persistent sadness, anxious and empty feelings are common in depression.
Q: Is depression mostly common among women only? What are the age groups who are most vulnerable to depression?
A: Depression is not common only among women. But women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with the illness. Hormone changes in puberty, premenstrual problems, pregnancy (dramatic hormonal changes during pregnancy), postpartum depression, Perimenopause and menopause, life circumstances such as overloaded work, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, unequal power and social states are the main causes for the depression in women. Further, onset of depression can be any age and it can affect people of all socioeconomic status like other illnesses. But the median age of onset is 32.5 years old and the prevalence of adults with major depressive disorder highest among individuals between 18 and 25.
Q: Is there a permanent solution for this kind of disorder? and what is the easiest solution to avoid depression?
A: The answer for this question depends on the nature of the disorder. Basically on factors such as type of depression, causes and severity. But it’s good news that depression is highly treatable and manageable. Proper treatment including drugs and psychotherapy can help a person feel better quickly. Further, awareness of mental health is important to avoid depression.