Dead End

Good, informative piece on suicide. Would` ve been nice if you couldn`ve cited references for such tidbits as ``at least 17 per cent people [in Karachi] suffer from depression, not counting other mental illnesses.``

I was startled to hear that Pakistani law holds attempted suicide a punishable crime. That is siply ridiculuos! Why would someone contemplating taking his/her life be worried about possible consequences?? If anything, the fear of the consequences of `failure` would just increase the incentive to `get it right`, would it not?

This was sad: ``For males, marriage acts as a preventive measure, because they feel socially secure, but the opposite is found to be in females, because they are usually found to lead unhappy married lives. `` Is this true for all/most socieites or only particular ones? Please do say.

Finally, I was kinda drawn into the story you began about Faraz Ehmad. Philosphically-motivated suicide is something I`d only heard about. It would be interesting to get more details on Faraz`s thought processes and philosophies, and also his background and scocio-economic situation.

#10 Kamath

Kambakhat Kamath (K2),

K2, the good doc is reluctant to write it as it is and here you come - in all your shining glory - to dissuade him further. I disagree with you. The doc should write it here and publish it here. Here is why:

(1) The chowk crowds are so busy sitting on their fannies right here that it is unlikely they would go look for his articles elsewhere - and would therefore be deprived of his stuff unless he publishes it here.

(2) Publishing here does not preclude publishing elsewhere later. In fact, the feedback can be used to improve upon the first draft.

(3) In view of the large number of people here who display the symptoms - he can include their reaction as additional data in his write-up.

Re: # 2
Dear Sir:

If you intend to write a review articles on Psychiatric disorders why waste such valuable time to inform readers here in Chowk? Please write and publish in newspapers to educate and inform the public, educated or otherwise in faraway countries like Soth Asia . That is where your writing skills are needed and not for readers in say N.America. here most people are generally know and informed about the importance and need of the world of psychology and psychiatry.

I made a quick analysis when you take few minutes to write to Chowk! I was surprised, you seemed to pen before 8AM, sometimes even late hours at night, in between patients` note keeping etc. So why not make translation in a language like URDU and send it to Dawn, Dailytimes or Asianage in Delhi etc.

Kamath

Mood change (either extremely irritable or euphoric). In the classic mania, people are euphoric, but just as many are irritable.
Distractibility. You can`t concentrate very well; you initiate projects, but get distracted so that you can`t finish them.
Decreased need for sleep. You sleep less or the same, but have more energy than usual.
Grandiosity. You are more self-confident than usual, out of proportion to your circumstances. It doesn`t have to be extreme or delusional.
Racing thoughts. Your thoughts are running through your head rapidly; they are not necessarily illogical or abnormal thoughts, just fast ones.
Increased goal-directed activities. You are doing more activities than normal. Maybe instead of working 40 hours a week, you work 50 to 60 hours a week. Instead of going out with friends one night a week, you go out five to six nights a week. The classic scenario is someone waking up at two or three in the morning and cleaning the house. You have a lot of energy.
Pressured speech or increased talkativeness. You speak very rapidly or speak a lot. For example, you are up late making long distance phone calls for hours on end.
Risk-taking behavior. You are engaging in impulsive activities. You go on spending sprees, or spend impulsively. It is common for people to spend a lot of money or go bankrupt. Other common behaviors are sexual indiscretions, such as affairs or unsafe sex; reckless driving at high speeds; and impulsive traveling. Also you may get into arguments or particularly men may get into fights.
Significant social or occupational dysfunction. Some of the risk taking behaviors or manic symptoms lead to trouble for you with your spouse, your coworkers, or your boss. The divorce rate for bipolar disorder is quite high. You lose relationships and have serious conflicts with family members. You don`t have to be psychotic; you don`t need to have the classic impulsive behaviors; you just need to have serious problems with relationships

These ae comon symptoms of Manic Depression or Bipolar and there many meer allpathic medications loke Geodon ,Neurontin Seraquel and others

Focused and informative article. Thanks for this piece.

Re: # 6, ahmedmadani saheb,

Please don`t start taking ignatia on your own but consult a homoeopath and start pranayam and yoga. I`m not a homoeopath myself. But in my opinion allopathic drugs will be harmful for you in the long run.

Samar

Re: # 3, ahmedmadany saheb,

My friend`s mother who was suffering from depression, has almost been cured by pranayam/yoga. In fact, allopathic drugs have had many side effects on her and she used to take some homoeopathic medicine (ignatia) which gave her relief. But it was temporary sort of medicine, i.e. to be taken when attacked by depression. Now, for last 3 years or so she is doing pranayam/yoga for about one hour in the morning and is almost cured.

Samar

Doc Sohail,

When you DO get your butt moving on this topic, make sure you deal with the issue raised by #4.

Cheerios!

A good hobby, active sports, Runners High, Meditative Yoga Asanas, Vipassana type or word less meditation and a strong will to live cultivated by true spirituality and not by religiosity is the cure for depression. Drugs are addictive esp. allopathy ones. Word based thought is a very destructive drug if one is stuck at that level of consciousness. The level of consciousness from which these words came is real goal. Words are worse than stone idols. For most who touch the idol with reverence is always cognizant of its purpose to symbolize universal consciousness (Shiv) or one who occupies every thing (Vishnu).

Meditative yoga is little explained here, http://www.esolibris.com/articles/yoga/yoga_meditation_03.php

I read carefully the article.
Being person affected by depression can understand depth of Sadness suffered by young man. Depression is not easy to go through , most will never feel depth of anguish and sadmess the sufferer goes through. Sad part is there is no fool proof method to control mood swings. New medicine do help to smooth out or average out mood and GER ( general anxity reducers help. Unfortunately one slowly goes through medicines to more potent. I found Prozac very effective medicine , it really elavates mood but after some days one collapses and with prozac that drop from very good feeling to very sad is very high. New medicines keep more averageing. Some of these medicines in young men have led to suicides and manufacturers have warned doctors.
I feel peace fpr that young man he has passed and no depression can trouble him , he is at peaceful place and its not hard on his beloved people also.
I many times came to that state but I not that courageous , still attached to present which is not happy thing. Due all experience I have gone through if one wants to end misery he has right, no point in tortured and unreasonable live which is living hell.
Good day to all.

Re: # 1

dear bjkumar...i received your response on my discussion board on God is a Metaphor as

Khurram`s letter. He told me that you were remembering me on this article. i agree with

you that people suffering from Depression....with psychological or biological or combination

reasons need to get professional help. Famous philosopher Schopenjour once said that

when horrors of living outweigh the horrors of death people commit suicide. I am writing an

article on Depression for chowk. Hopefully I will present in the next few months and you

will have my views in detail rather than just two cents worth. Thanks for thinking of me.

sincerely sohail

I was among those who commented on your first article. I am glad to see that you have overcome the loss of your friend and are trying to make something positive come out of it by drawing attention to the problem of suicide and the depressive conditions which lead to it.

It can not be overemphasized that manic depression is a PHYSICAL, medical disorder which needs treatment through medical drugs! Those who suspect it should not be shy about getting a diagnosis (from a properly licensed doctor) so that they can get the help they need.

I hope the Sohail gets his butt over here and adds his own two words instead of merely gloating in inanities on his own board!! :)