Q1: My husband suffers from severe stress and depression. His behaviour is affecting our marriage and children. How do we tackle this?
A1: Thank you for this question. Mental health problems don’t affect just one person — they affect the entire family. Spouses often feel tired, anxious or helpless, while children may become fearful, angry or blame themselves for the tension at home.
Practical Tips 1: Encourage your husband to see a mental health professional. Take care of your own wellbeing — you cannot support others if you are burnt out. Keep communication open as a family. Maintain daily routines, eat balanced meals and do light exercise.
Remember, seeking help is wisdom. Many families grow stronger with the right support.
Q2: I have been using the Depo-Provera injection for family planning. I have gained a lot of weight and my mood has become very low. Is the injection the cause?
A2: Yes, weight gain and low mood are common side effects of Depot injections. Many women experience these changes, which not only affect their physical and mental health, but also has strong impact on the marital relationship.
Tips 2: Speak to your doctor about switching to another contraceptive method that suits you better. Eat balanced meals and walk for 20–30 minutes daily to maintain weight.
NOTE FOR OUR ESTEEMED READERS:
‘Ask Dr Raza’ is a public health education column. It has simple answers to your everyday health questions. It does not replace a consultation with your doctor. Practical tips are added at the bottom of every answer (the identities of the questioning individuals are not disclosed to maintain confidentiality). Please send any medical questions to: askdoctorraza@gmail.com
