Category
depression.
27 posts
When trauma does not simply fade away: Understanding PTSD
Most people will experience a deeply distressing or frightening event at some point in their lives. War, violent crime, natural disasters, serious accidents, abuse, or sexual violence can leave emotional scars long after the moment itself has passed. For many, the shock gradually eases with time. But for others, the experience continues to intrude into […]
20 May 2026
Talk about it
One of the biggest obstacles to people getting treatment for depression is stigma. Because many people still feel ashamed of suffering from depression, they are reluctant to admit they have it. They don’t – or won’t – talk about it. Now, if you break your arm, your friends and family will sympathise with you and, […]
9 May 2026
Victims of everything
There’s a moment in almost every conversation – at work, over dinner, in a queue – when the tone shifts. Someone starts explaining why things aren’t working out. The boss, the economy, their upbringing, bad luck. It’s rarely dramatic. It’s familiar. And if you listen closely, it reveals something deeper: a quiet, pervasive habit of […]
23 April 2026
I discover a cure for loneliness
I had been in Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal for two months when I moved into a cottage on Adam’s farm. My social life was completely non-existent. Apart from the odd lunch on a weekend with Adam and family, I spent all my time either at work or looking for somewhere to live or reading at […]
22 April 2026
The enigma of antidepressants
Antidepressants are widely used and have helped millions of people – but they are still something of a puzzle in modern medicine. Despite decades of research, scientists are still debating exactly how they work, why they help some people and not others, and what their long-term role should be in treating depression. To understand the […]
16 April 2026
Our ancient alarm system
There is a guard that walks beside every one of us. It has no name, no face, and yet it has saved your life more times than you will ever know. It is your ancient alarm system. Long before cities, before language shaped into poetry and law, before even the first fire was tamed, our […]
8 April 2026
Dale Carnegie and depression
One of my all-time favourite books is How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. It should arguably be required reading in every educational institution. In an increasingly crowded and interconnected world, the ability to relate well to others may be one of the most essential skills we can develop. “Yes,” I hear […]
1 April 2026
Why modern life is fertile ground for depression
Modern life has brought incredible convenience and connection. Yet at the same time, it has quietly created the perfect conditions for rising levels of depression. At the heart of the issue is a mismatch. We humans evolved for slower, more social, and more predictable environments, yet now live in a fast, digital, always-on world. The […]
26 March 2026
Six steps to supporting a loved one with depression
When someone you care about is living with depression, it’s natural to want to help. You might feel a strong urge to “fix” things, offer solutions, or cheer them up. But depression isn’t something that can be solved with quick advice or a pep talk. The most meaningful support often comes from patience, understanding, and […]
18 March 2026
My BackABuddy campaign
In 2015, I went to the gym like any ordinary day. I didn’t come home. I had a heart attack and died on the gym floor. By sheer chance, a doctor was training nearby. He used a portable defibrillator to restart my heart and saved my life. Two years later, that same man took his […]
11 March 2026
Which torture would you prefer?
I recently came across an interview I did back in 2008 for Business Day with Murphy Marobe, then CEO of Kagiso Media. As a young man, he was a political activist and became a target of the apartheid security police, who apprehended and tortured him. When the interview wrapped up and we were saying our […]
26 February 2026
Understanding depression: More than just feeling sad
Depression is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Too often, it’s reduced to the idea of “feeling sad” or “going through a rough patch.” While sadness can be part of depression, the reality is far more complex - and far more important to understand. At its core, depression is a medical condition that […]
24 February 2026
Why I am interested in the topic of depression
In a previous life I did a year of psychology at Wits, while getting a BA degree. Yet I don’t remember a word of it. Nor did I learn anything I can recall benefitted me in dealing with life, post university. I am now writing a book on depression and am experiencing déjà vu as […]
27 September 2025
Words that capture the very essence of depression
Oftentimes language is a mirror that reflects how different people and cultures experience the world. In English, the word depression has become a clinical shorthand for a medical diagnosis, a global public health concern, and, for many, a personal battle. Although it is also often used very loosely. When a child can’t have his birthday […]
16 September 2025
The silence that hurts: Confronting suicide in Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time when the world collectively pauses to confront a subject often cloaked in silence and stigma. Suicide remains one of life’s most devastating paradoxes: an irreversible, permanent act, chosen to escape what is almost always a temporary problem. It goes against the most primal instinct we have – to […]
8 September 2025
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of joy. It differs from the mood fluctuations that people regularly experience in life. Major life events, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a job, can trigger depression. However, depression is distinct from the negative […]
4 September 2025
Exercise – nature’s antidepressant
Exercise is often called nature’s antidepressant because physical activity can naturally alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety by releasing feel-good endorphins, improving mood, and reducing stress. It can also provide a distraction from worries and promote better sleep, all contributing to improved mental well-being. Endorphin release: Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural […]
19 August 2025
Victim of depression
Depression is a topic that could fill a library. It would therefore be presumptuous to assume I can solve any profound issues you might be having in one chapter. But what I can do is change your thinking to the point that you end up managing your ‘blues’ a lot better than you have been. […]
22 July 2025
‘Depression can only be cured by therapy’
“Therapy is great - but don’t rely on it alone. Don’t put the responsibility of overcoming depression on someone else. Taking responsibility doesn’t guarantee overcoming it - but not taking responsibility guarantees you won’t.” Dr Hussein Naji As a child, my mates and I created our own fun. We bought marbles, made catapults, rode bikes, […]
11 July 2025
Why it’s difficult to eliminate anxiety
Our DNA is reluctant to give up behaviours with a high survival value, and anxiety is right up there with the top ones. Imagine two Homo sapien ancestors eating a meal of raw squirrel 300 000 years ago. One enjoys the sunset so much that he ignores the rustling behind a bush. His meal partner, […]
9 July 2025
The last of the human freedoms …
We all know someone who is negative about everything, who finds any reason to be depressed. In fact, if you have a social circle, hopefully not shrinking like mine, you probably know a number of such individuals. In some cases, they have justification, as they have had tough lives, illnesses, deaths of loved ones and […]
19 June 2025
It will be better tomorrow. The role of busyness in finding purpose
A quote from poet, writer, and essayist Maya Angelou provides much food for thought on the topic of depression: “No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.” In my experience, having a purpose is one of the best ways of combatting depression. And […]
10 June 2025
Champions all: high functioning but clinically depressed
It is interesting to read about Andre Agassi’s depression. He was the number one tennis player in the world – what did he have to be depressed about? And in the same vein, we have Michael Phelps the prolific Olympic gold medal swimmer. He finished on 23 gold medals. But he, too, was prone to […]
30 April 2025
The purpose panacea
Anyone who has listened to one of my talks on depression, will know I believe strongly in having a purpose to combat depression. Funny, but not many people disagree with me. As to whether they go off and find a purpose, is of course another question. However I have come up with my own question […]
23 April 2025
Finding a purpose in unexpected places
My new friend, Timmy, was a skilled glider pilot. We met at work. When I became friendly with him, I was in the process of getting divorced. On a Friday while having a beer at work he invited me to go gliding with him on the weekend. I told him I had the kids. “Bring […]
21 January 2025
Famous people with depression
Given the significant number of people who have depression, it should come as no surprise that many celebrities too have mental wellness issues. Dwayne Johnson He’s one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors, but “The Rock” recently opened up about depression to the Express, a British newspaper. “Struggle and pain are real,” said Johnson, who saved […]
26 September 2024
Are you a victim?
My mum – bless her – just couldn’t get the weather right. If it was raining and the farmers were rejoicing; she would instead wonder about all the shack dwellers who would be flooded out. “Do you know any of these people you are worried about, mum?” I would ask. “Oh, there are probably millions […]
25 September 2024