BREAKING NEWS: Polsek Candipuro Lampung Selatan Dibakar Massa, Dua Kanit Lari Tunggang Langgang
Jayapura, BUMIPAPUA.CO – Dua warga Mbua, Endis Tabuni, seorang mantri Puskesmas Yigi; dan Ekira Lokbere, salah satu pekerja PT Istaka Karya, harus bertaruh nyawa menyelamatkan beberapa orang saat kejadian pembantaian para pekerja PT Istaka Karya oleh kelompok kriminal bersenjata (KKB) di Kampung Yigi, Distrik Mbua, Kabupaten Nduga pada 1-2 Desember 2018.
🍅
Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Sastrawan Hamsad Rangkuti menghembuskan napas terakhir, Minggu (26/8/2018). Kabar itu disampaikan langsung istri almarhum, Nurwindasari.
"Telah berpulang ke rahmatullah bang Hamsad Rangkuti Minggu pukul 6.00 pagi 26 Agustus 2018. Mohon doa tulus dan maaf," katanya dalam pesan yang diterima Liputan6.com.
Hamsad dikenal sebagai sastrawan yang total mengabdikan hidupnya untuk sastra. Ia melahirkan beberapa karya kanon sastra.
Salah satu karyanya yang paling menarik adalah novel Ketika Lampu Berwarna Merah. Novel tersebut mencerminkan paradoks pembangunan yang dilakukan pemerintah.
Ketika Kampu Berwarna Merah memenangkan Sayembara Novel Dewan Kesenian Jakarta 1980. Karya ini merefleksikan kehidupan para gelandangan dan kaum yang tergusur di Jakarta.
"Novel itu ingin mengatakan, di satu sisi berdiri bangunan raksasa yang megah dan kokoh dengan para penghuninya yang bergelimang kemewahan, dan di pihak lain, sekelompok besar masyarakat tergusur tak lepas dari penjara kemiskinan," kata Maman S Mahayana, kritikus dan akademisi Universitas Indonesia, saat dalam sebuah kesempatan wawancara dengan Liputan6.com.
Lewat karyanya itu, menurut Maman, Hamsad memotret kehidupan keseharian kaum marjinal. Mereka terkukung kemiskinan dan kelaparan.
Kelompok seperti ini ada dan nyata. Maman menjelaskan, kemiskinan dan kebodohan seperti dua sisi mata uang yang tidak bisa dilepaskan. Kemiskinan hari-hari ini menjadi sangat struktural, kultural, dan spiritual menjadi satu kesatuan.
"Hamsad Rangkuti coba mengingatkan pembaca, di sekitar kita, di tengah glamor kehidupan perkotaan, masih terlalu banyak warga bangsa ini yang sehari-harinya hidup hanya berkutat dengan urusan makan," ungkap Maman.
Ia berpendapat, pada dasarnya sastrawan bergerak atas dasar pembelaan terhadap kemanusiaan. Hamsad Rangkuti di mata Maman Mahayana telah menunaikan tugas itu.
"Karya Hamsad Rangkuti ibarat potret tentang perubahan sosial yang terjadi pada zamannya. Jakarta misalnya, bagi dia, adalah kota yang penuh paradoks," kata Maman.
Sejumlah penghargaan pernah diraih Hamsad. Selain Sayembara Menulis Novel Dewan Kesenian Jakarta, ada pula pengakuan dalam bentuk Southeast Asian Writers Award (2008) dan Khatulistiwa Literary Award (2003).
Hamsad juga pernah mengabdi sebagai pemimpin redaksi majalah sastra Horison.
1 dari 2 halaman
Kesehatan Merosot
Sejak pertengahan 2017 lalu, Hamsad terbaring lemah di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah (RSUD) Kota Depok, Jawa Barat.Penulis novel Ketika Lampu Berwarna Merah itu sudah tak mampu lagi bergerak.
Pada 2012, Hamsad pernah operasi by pass jantung. Sastrawan kebanggaan tanah air kelahiran Medan, 7 Mei 1943 itu juga harus membuat saluran pembuangan air kecil di perutnya.
"Bapak juga dua hari sekali mesti tambah oksigen. Makannya cuma bisa satu merek, namanya Proten," ujar Nurwindasari, istri Hamsad Rangkuti saat dihubungi Liputan6.com pertengahan tahun lalu
Menurut Nur, dalam satu bulan suaminya butuh 9-10 boks Proten. Sementara harga satu boks Proten sekitar Rp 256 ribu.
Di akhir masa hidupnya, Hamsad tinggal di rumah petak berukuran 3,5 x 5 meter di Bilangan Depok. Bersama istri, ia mendirikan rumah sederhana tersebut di kebun miliknya.
Rumah lama yang Hamsad tak bisa ditinggali, karena tergusur pembangunan Tempat Pembuangan Sampah Sementara (TPSS).
🍊
HomePolitikPolitik Selasa, 10 Maret 2015 | 05:48 WIB Rekrutmen Begal Terjadi Secara Alamiah di Lampung Rekrutmen Begal Terjadi Secara Alamiah di Lampung Ilustrasi Razia pengendara motor/antisipasi begal. ANTARA/Rivan Awal Lingga Topik #Begal Motor Besar Kecil Normal TEMPO.CO , Lampung – Kepala Desa Tebing, Melinting, Lampung Timur, Bukhori, mengakui soal banyaknya pemuda kampung itu yang berprofesi sebagai begal. Menurut dia, faktor kemiskinan dan tak adanya lapangan pekerjaan menjadikan rekrutmen begal dari generasi ke generasi terus terjadi. “Kalau soal perut, siapa yang tidak nekat?” ujarnya, ketika ditemui Tempo di kediamannya, Jumat tiga pekan lalu. Selain Jabung, Kecamatan Melinting adalah daerah yang kerap menjadi incaran polisi ketika tindak kriminalitas meningkat. Direktur Kriminal Umum Kepolisian Daerah Lampung Komisaris Besar Purwo Cahyoko mengatakan bahwa tiap tahunnya, dari sekitar 1000-an kasus pencurian bermotor dan pencurian dengan kekerasan di Provinsi Lampung, 50% pelakunya pasti berasal dari Lampung Timur. “Kami juga heran kenapa masyarakat di sana tidak kapok-kapok. Padahal, sudah banyak warganya yang meninggal karena tertembak polisi dan dihakimi masyarakat,” ujarnya. Para pelaku dari Desa Tebing memang seperti patah tumbuh hilang berganti. Minak Radin, mantan begal yang Tempo temui, mengatakan regenerasi begal di kampung ini berjalan secara alamiah. Biasanya para pemain baru yang berumur belasan tahun diajak oleh seniornya yang sudah berpengalaman. Tak jarang juga para pemuda itu yang berinisiatif untuk ikut belajar menjadi begal. “Rata-rata mereka lulus SMA, kan, tidak ada kerjaan,” ujarnya. Seorang pelaku lainnya yang enggan disebutkan namanya mengatakan newbie biasanya belajar dengan berperan sebagai "pilot", sebutan untuk pengendara motor yang membawa motor ketika beraksi, terlebih dahulu. Hal ini untuk mengasah nyali dan kemampuan si anak bawang melihat kondisi dan lokasi yang aman untuk beraksi. Setelah memiliki nyali dan insting yang mumpuni, si anak bawang akan naik tingkat menjadi pemetik. Bekal ilmu untuk membuka kunci kendaraan dengan letter-T pun diberikan oleh seniornya itu. Untuk mempraktekkan ilmu barunya itu, para pembegal pemula ini biasanya beroperasi hanya di sekitar kampung atau paling jauh beraksi di Kota Bandar Lampung. “Kalau sudah jago, baru main ke Jawa,” katanya. Waktu satu dua tahun cukup membuat mereka mahir dalam dunia begal membegal. Para begal Lampung Timur yang beraksi di sekitar Jabodetabek saat ini sudah masuk level tinggi meski baru berusia belasan tahun. Soal pola rekrutmen ini diakui oleh Purwo. Menurut dia, para tersangka yang terjaring di Lampung umumnya baru berusia belasan tahun. Nama mereka juga baru terdengar dalam dunia perbegalan. Lain halnya dengan buruan Polda Metro Jaya, Polda Jawa Barat, dan kepolisian daerah lainnya yang biasanya sudah memiliki catatan kriminal cukup panjang. “Kami sering juga membantu polda lain memburu para pembegal di Melinting,” ujarnya. TIM INVESTIGASI TEMPO TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Para begal motor kini semakin sadis kepada para korbannya. Mereka tega menyakiti, bahkan membunuh, bila ketahuan atau korbannya melawan. Kasus terakhir, Acam Mulyadi, sopir taksi Blue Bird yang tewas ditembak begal di rumahnya Jalan Bintara Jaya, Kota Bekasi, Sabtu dini hari, 7 Maret 2015. Ismail alias Minak Radin, 43 tahun, seorang mantan jawara begal dari Lampung Timur, menjelaskan, saat ini para begal merasa harus lebih waspada. Polisi dan masyarakat saat ini lebih tega dan kejam. “Kalau tertangkap, risikonya bisa dipukuli dan dibakar masyarakat sampai mati, atau ditembak polisi,” ujar Ismail kepada Tempo tiga pekan lalu dengan mimik serius. Itu sebabnya para begal selalu membekali diri dengan senjata. Misalnya samurai, parang, dan senjata api. Awalnya senjata-senjata ini hanya dibuat untuk menakut- nakuti korbannya. Tapi sekarang malah digunakan untuk membela diri para begal. “Prinsipnya sekarang, dari pada aku yang mati, lebih korbannya atau polisi yang mati,” ujar Minak sambil meninggikan suaranya. Seorang begal kakap dari Lampung Timur mengaku selalu menenteng pistol rakitan tiap beraksi. Bentuknya mirip revolver, dengan kemampuan bisa menembakkan hingga empat kali tanpa harus mengokang pelatuk. Ia membeli pistol itu dari temannya seharga Rp 3,5 juta. “Supaya menaikkan kepercayaan diri saat beraksi,” kata pria berusia 27 tahun itu. Ia mengaku berusaha menghindari kontak dengan para korbannya. Itu sebabnya ia lebih suka membegal sepeda motor yang parkir di jalan atau rumah. Namun ia tak segan menyakiti korbannya bila melawan atau ketahuan. “Berkelahi juga pernah,” katanya. Ia tak mau menyebutkan sudah berapa kali ia meletuskan senjata itu dan berapa korbannya. Ia berhenti membegal karena teman -teman dekatnya sudah habis ditembak mati polisi. Polisi sampai bingung mengapa begal-begal itu semakin sadis tiap harinya. “Selain bingung, kami juga kesal,” kata Direktur Reserse dan Kriminal Umum Polda Metro Jaya Komisaris Besar Purwo Cahyoko kepada Tempo. Tiap begal yang ditangkap hanya divonis ringan, tak sampai setahun penjara. Padahal, anak buahnya mempertaruhkan nyawa saat menangkap mereka. TIM INVESTIGASI TEMPO
Selasa, 10 Maret 2015 VIVA.co.id - Jajaran kepolisian daerah (Polda) Lampung merilis beberapa titik rawan pembegalan sepeda motor di wilayah provinsi Lampung. Data di Polda Lampung menunjukkan, Kabupaten Lampung Timur, Kabupaten Lampung Utara dan Kota Bandarlampung merupakan tiga daerah paling rawanbegal. Direktur Kriminal Umum Polda Lampung, Kombes Pol Purwo Cahyoko, mengatakan untuk di wilayah Kabupaten Lampung Timur yang paling rawan begal yakni di daerah Jabung dan melinting. Sedangkan di Kabupaten Lampung Utara, yakni di Abung Timur dan Selatan. Sementara di Kota Bandar Lampung ada di daerah Tanjungkarang Barat dan Sukarame. “Seluruh wilayah yang menjadi titik rawan ini karena kondisinya sepi dari pemukiman penduduk dan minim penerangan jalan,” ujar Purwo. Menurut Purwo, polisi mengalami kesulitan dalam mengungkap jaringan komplotan begal. Pasalnya, jika ada yang tertangkap satu pelaku, banyak yang bungkam dan enggan menyebutkan rekan-rekannya. Para pelaku begal ini setiap menjalankan aksinya mempunyai ciri khas sendiri-sendiri, seperti menggunakan senjata api dan senjata tajam. ”Seperti yang ditangkap di wilayah Jakarta, ciri khas Lampung adalah pelaku begal pakai senjata api,” kata Purwo. Purwo mengaku akan bertindak tegas dalam menangani para pelaku begal ini. Berdasarkan hasil yang diungkap polisi di jajaran Polda Lampung, rata-rata para pelaku begal berumur kisaran antara 20-25 tahun. Para pelaku yang masih remaja ini kerap ikut-ikutan rekannya dan mencoba untuk melakukan aksi kejahatan pembegalan sepeda motor. “Dalam tiap penggerebekan, kami tidak segan-segan melumpuhkan para pelaku yang berusaha melawan dan kabur dengan timah panas,” tegasnya. (Pujiansyah / Lampung) Liputan6.com, Semarang - Bila Anda ke Semarang, Jawa Tengah, terutama di kawasan pinggiran kota, Anda akan mudah menemui spanduk berisi kecaman terhadap begal. Seperti ditayangkan Liputan 6 Petang SCTV, Sabtu (7/3/2015), begitulah cara warga Semarang mengekspresikan keresahan dan kemarahan kepada para begal dan penjahat jalanan lain. Sejumlah daerah pinggiran contohnya Muktiharjo yang membatasi Semarang dengan Demak memang rawan kriminalitas, terutama perampasan sepeda motor yang belakangan bahkan makin marak. Lokasi kejahatan terutama di jalan raya yang sepi dan gelap kebanyakan berlangsung pada malam hari. Oleh karena itu, tak hanya mengecam begal, spanduk-spanduk juga berisi dukungan pada polisi untuk bertindak tegas termasuk menembak mati para penjahat. Para warga sudah sepakat untuk melakukan pengamanan wilayah dengan siskamling jika permintaan tembak di tempat tak direspon. Para warga juga mengancam akan mengambil tindakan sendiri termasuk dengan menghakimi pelaku begal yang tertangkap. (Vra/Ein) JAKARTA,
Dulu, pada dekade 1960 -1970-an, istilah begal populer sebagai ”peringatan” sekaligus cermin kerawanan wilayah-wilayah tertentu. Alas Roban di pantai utara barat, hutan karet dan jati di Bangsri, Jepara, dan kawasan lain yang masih sepi dari mobilitas warga masyarakat, yang umumnya didominasi oleh kawasan hutan. Mirip dengan legenda-legenda begal di Alas Tambakbaya, Alas Mentaok di daerah selatan pedalaman Jawa Tengah pada masa lalu.
Istilah itu kini kembali mengemuka setelah deret peristiwa berdarah terjadi di Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, Bintaro, dan Banten; juga di daerah-daerah lain yang merembet sebagai fenomena begal. Sejumlah momen ketika pelaku teradang oleh massa kemudian dihakimi menjadi bagian dari fenomena yang mengikuti. Masyarakat marah karena rasa aman mereka di jalanan terampas. Pengendara motor kini selalu diliputi perasaan waswas.
Kejahatan terhadap pengendara motor dengan motif perampasan, yang juga banyak terjadi di Jawa Tengah, memperlihatkan kebrutalan yang makin mengerikan. Rasa aman warga masyarakat bukan hanya terkait dengan perampasan harta miliknya, tetapi lebih meresahkan lagi adalah keterancaman nyawa. Persepsi tentang ketidakamanan masyarakat inilah yang seharusnya dipulihkan oleh aparat kepolisian dengan pencegahan dan pengungkapan.
Tak sedikit analisis yang merefleksikan fenomena begal itu sebagai ”jagat kecil” yang merupakan pantulan dari ”jagat besar” lingkaran perbegalan yang berlangsung di elite kekuasaan. Kasus-kasus korupsi anggaran negara, seperti yang sekarang dilaporkan oleh Gubernur DKI Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, tentu sama saja dengan perilaku membuat tidak aman. Tentu dalam perspektif yang bertali-temali dengan kepentingan rakyat.
Kepolisian mendapat tantangan untuk mengurai persepsi tentang rasa keterancaman masyarakat pengguna kendaraan bermotor. Fenomena begal ini seperti mengingatkan polisi, betapa tugas-tugas polisional untuk memberi jaminan rasa aman kepada masyarakat akan lebih berharga ketimbang aksi-aksi yang berkecenderungan terpersepsi sebagai tindakan politik untuk mengkriminalisasi para pimpinan Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi.
Tidakan main hakim sendiri masyarakat jelas tidak bisa dibenarkan, namun kita bisa melihat pilihan sikap itu sebagai ikhtiar mempertahankan diri ketika merasa keamanan mereka terancam. Kita pahami berkembang kegeraman karena sudah banyak korban yang jatuh. Maka kerja sama antara polisi dan masyarakat untuk memulihkan kondisi-kondisi mencekam karena pembegalan kini harus dimobilisasi. Jangan beri peluang para begal untuk beraksi.
KOMPAS.com — Tim Anti Pencurian Motor (curas) Polsek Tambora melumpuhkan satu pelaku kejahatan pencurian motor dengan kekerasan atau yang lebih dikenal dengan istilah begal. Kapolsek Tambora Komisaris Dedy Tabrany mengatakan, awal tertangkapnya pelaku ketika sedang beraksi di sekitar Bandengan, Jakarta Barat, pada Senin (9/3/2015) sekitar pukul 02.30 WIB. Saat itu, tim anti curas Polsek Tambora yang sedang berpatroli di wilayah tersebut mendengar teriakan maling dari korban. Polisi pun terpaksa menghadiahi Dede dengan timah panas karena berusaha kabur. Dede adalah salah satu anggota kawanan begal asal Pendeglang. Kepada penyelidik, Dede mengaku sudah melakukan aksi kejahatan tersebut sejak tahun 2005. Itu berarti, pelaku yang saat ini baru berusia 23 tahuh sudah menjalani aksi kejahatan ini semenjak berusia 13 tahun. "Dede sudah melakukan kejahatan ini sejak 2005. Dia dan tiga pelaku lainnya merupakan buronan Polda Banten," kata Dedy saat ditemui di Polsek Tambora, Selasa (10/3/2015) malam. Dede mengaku baru satu kali mencuri motor di Jakarta. Sebelumnya, ia beroperasi di daerah Banten. "Ini baru pertama kali. Itu pun diajak sama teman," kata Dede. Dede adalah seorang penganggur. Sehari-hari ia hanya membantu orangtua di rumah. Dalam melakukan aksinya itu, Dede tak sendiri. Dede ditemani tiga kawannya yang lain, yakni Adi Saputra, Ues, dan Ompong. Polisi terpaksa menembak mati Adi lantara pelaku mencoba kabur dan berusaha melepaskan tembakan ke arah polisi. [Baca: Satu Begal di Tambora Ditembak Mati] "Polisi sudah melepaskan tembakan peringatan. Tetapi, pelaku berusaha kabur. Lalu kita tembak lagi, dia malah mau menembak ke petugas. Terpaksa kita tembak punggungnya," ucap Dedy. Sebelum mengembuskan napas terakhirnya, Adi sempat dilarikan ke Rumah Sakit Kramat Jati. Sayangnya, pelaku kehabisan darah saat dalam perjalanan ke rumah sakit. Adapun dua anggota kawanan tersebut, yakni UES dan Ompong, melarikan diri. Keduanya kini dimasukkan ke dalam daftar pencarian orang.
Merdeka.com - Ulah begal motor kian hari kian meresahkan warga. Aksi main hakim sendiri pun tak jarang dilakukan oleh warga karena saking kesalnya dengan aksi kejahatan jalan ini. Pelaku yang tertangkap dipukuli bahkan sampai ada yang dibakar massa.
Kasus teranyar terjadi di Jalan Bambu Kampung Buaran, RT 03/03, Kelurahan Pondok Karya, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Kota Tangerang Selatan. Seorang begal tewas setelah dibakar oleh warga yang geram, Selasa (24/2) dini hari. Pelaku sebelumnya sedang beraksi dengan melukai korbannya dengan menggunakan pedang samurai.
Beruntung warga ada yang melihat aksi itu dan bersama massa lain menangkap pelaku. Pelaku kemudian dihajar hingga babak belur. Tak puas, pelaku kemudian disiram bensin dan dibakar hingga tewas. Pelaku sebelumnya sempat melarikan diri dengan menaiki genteng salah satu warga di lokasi kejadian.
"Pas ketangkep ditelanjangin bener sama warga baru dibawa ke depan jalan raya terus dimasukin ban kepalanya dan dibakar," kata Matalih (60) RT 02/04 Kelurahan Jurang Mangu Timur, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan, Selasa (23/2), saat ditemui merdeka.com di kediamannya.
Lalu bagaimana cerita lengkap begal motor dibakar massa tersebut? Berikut kisahnya:
Merdeka.com - Wahyu Hidayat dan Sri Tiani sepasang kekasih yang menjadi korban begal motor di Jalan Bambu Kampung Buaran, RT 03 RW 03, Kelurahan Pondok Karya, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Kota Tangsel, menderita luka-luka setelah disabet samurai pelaku.
"Wahyu yang memberanikan diri untuk melawan," ujar Sri kepada wartawan. Tangerang Selatan, Selasa (24/2).
Wahyu berhasil menjatuhkan salah seorang pelaku hingga akhirnya korban Sri berteriak minta tolong. Sontak warga yang mendengar langsung menghakimi pelaku yang tertangkap dan membakarnya hidup-hidup.
Tiga orang dari komplotan begal ini berhasil melarikan diri. Warga membakar pelaku dengan cara menyiram bensin. Pelaku pembegalan akhirnya tewas hangus terbakar.
Merdeka.com - Sebelum dibakar massa, pelaku begal motor sadis di Jalan Bambu Kampung Buaran, RT 03/03, Kelurahan Pondok Karya, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Kota Tangsel, Selasa (23/2) dini hari sempat berusaha melarikan diri dari kejaran massa. Pelaku tersebut sempat melarikan diri dengan menaiki genteng salah satu warga di lokasi kejadian.
"Pas ketangkep ditelanjangin bener sama warga baru dibawa ke depan jalan raya terus dimasukin ban kepalanya dan dibakar," kata Matalih (60) RT 02/04 Kelurahan Jurang Mangu Timur, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan, Selasa (23/2), menirukan keterangan pelaku saat ditemui merdeka.com di kediamannya.
Matalih mengatakan massa yang sudah geram dengan aksinya akhirnya memukuli dan menelanjangi pelaku lalu menyeretnya ke jalan raya dan dibakar. Selain itu kejadian serupa yang pernah terjadi di daerahnya membuat warga semakin beringas main hakim sendiri saat kejadian.
"Kalau massa mah kan sewot begini, udah motornya mau diambil orangnya juga dilukain. Jadi gregetan," imbuhnya.
Seperti diketahui, seorang pelaku begal sadis di Pondok Aren tewas dibakar warga yang geram, Selasa (24/2) dini hari. Pelaku sebelumnya sedang beraksi dengan melukai korbannya.
Beruntung warga ada yang melihat aksi itu dan bersama massa lain menangkap pelaku. Pelaku kemudian dihajar hingga babak belur. Tak puas, pelaku kemudian dibakar hingga tewas.
Merdeka.com - Seorang pelaku begal motor yang tewas setelah dibakar massa saat menjalankan aksinya di Jalan Raya Pondok Karya, Kelurahan Pondok Betung, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan, Selasa (23/2) dini hari rupanya tak sendiri menjalankan aksinya. Dari keterangan pelaku yang sempat diinterogasi warga, saat itu ia menjalankan aksinya berlima orang rekannya.
"Kalau dari informasinya berlima," kisah Matalih (60, RT O2/O4, Kelurahan Jurang Mangu Timur, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan, Selasa (23/2), saat ditemui merdeka.com di kediamannya.
Matalih mengatakan, dari keterangan pelaku yang naas tersebut, dalam aksinya dia membagi peran masing-masing terhadap empat rekannya. Menurut Matalih, pelaku tersebut mengaku dibonceng dengan dua rekannya dalam satu motor, sementara dua rekan lainnya berboncengan hanya satu motor.
"Dua motor. Yang kena ketangkep naik motor dinaikin bertiga," kata Matalih mengingat keterangan pelaku.
Menurut Matalih, saat ditangkap warga tak ditemukan identitas satu pun dari pelaku. Hanya saja dari pengakuannya kepada warga pelaku merupakan warga Lampung.
"Ngakunya dari Lampung," katanya.
Merdeka.com - Seorang pelaku begal sadis di Jalan Pondok Betung, Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan tewas setelah dibakar oleh warga yang geram, Selasa (24/2) dini hari. Sebelum ketangkap dan dibakar, pelaku sempat berusaha kabur dengan naik genteng rumah salah satu warga sekitar lokasi.
"Habis diteriakin gitu sempet kabur. Yang boncengan berdua kabur duluan, nah yang boncengan bertiga ini salah satunya jatuh. Soalnya ada tanggul banyak di jalan ini jadi jatuh kali. Ya udah temannya ninggalin berdua," kata salah satu saksi, Manan (62) Jurang Mangu Timur, Kecamatan Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan, saat ditemui merdeka.com di kediamannya, Selasa (24/2).
Menurut Manan, sama warga pemilik warung makanan tersebut dibangunkan guna meminta kunci tokonya karena warga melihat pelaku jatuh di bangunan tersebut. Alhasil setelah dibukakan pintunya, pelaku ditemukan sedang ngumpet di kamar mandi dan langsung digebukin warga.
"Dia (pelaku) sempet lari ke warung terus manjat tembok mau ke genteng rumah tapi pas di atas warteg jatuh nginjek asbes, yaudah sama warga dibuka wartegnya tahu-tahu lagi ngumpet di kamar mandi," kenangnya.
Pelaku yang diketahui masih remaja tersebut sempat diinterogasi warga sebelum dibakar. Namun sayangnya setelah dicek tak ditemukan identitas apapun dari saku celana pelaku.
"Ya masih mudalah, palingan lulusan SMP. Ngakunya sih dari Lampung. Kata dia (pelaku) dari daerahnya sekitar 500 tapi nyebar-nyebar," katanya.
THE ROOTS OF TERRORISM ARE FOUND IN BRUTALITY OF SHATTERED CHILDHOOD
THE route of the terrorist from childhood to a
specific violent act is emerging in rich detail from new research.
Researchers have found the making of a terrorist involves a unique
interplay between the beliefs and dynamic of the terrorist group and the
psychological makeup of its members.
The most important new data come from detailed
interviews with and psychological tests of more than 500 members of
terrorist organizations who are still at large, and with more than 100
who have been imprisoned for terrorist attacks in this country and
abroad. Many of those studied were first interviewed in a study of
children growing up in an atmosphere of violence, as in Northern
Ireland.
Those studied range from terrorist factions of the
Irish Republican Army and the Palestine Liberation Organization, to the
lone survivor of the attack on Lod airport in Israel. Most recently,
researchers have been studying ''Comrades,'' the black youths in South
Africa who attack and kill other blacks they accuse of aiding the
Pretoria Government.
The research was a major a topic at a meeting of the
American Psychological Association in Washington last week. While there
are many factors that give rise to terrorism, psychological
researchers, naturally enough, focus on the emotional factors that lead
one person rather than another to become a terrorist.
Of course, no generalization will fit every
terrorist. What seems the essence of terrorism to one person may seem
embodiment of patriotism to another. But, in general, the experts
consider terrorists to be people who, in the name of what they consider a
lofty moral cause, engage in indiscriminate acts of violence that
victimize or instill terror in innocent people.
It is the cold-bloodedness of terrorists, their
aloofness from the pain they cause their victims, that makes them seem a
breed apart from normal people. But the research shows that most
terrorists are not suffering from any particular psychological disorder.
The experts say terrorists must be understood not just in terms of
their individual psychology, but also in terms of the larger forces
influencing their lives.
''There is a meeting of personal and historical
forces at work'' in breeding the fanaticism that leads to terrorism,
said Robert Jay Lifton, a psychiatrist at the John Jay College of
Criminal Justice, who has studied many kinds of extremists. ''Fanaticism
breeds on social upheavals, such as the loss of traditional ways or
devastating war, that leave people feeling dislocated, as though they
and their world were falling apart.
''The loss of traditions that give meaning to life
leaves people prey to extreme ideologies,'' he said. ''Clinging to some
absolute truth brings a sense of stability and relief.''
''The hallmark of the fanatic's ideology is an
apocalyptic vision that divides the world into good and evil,'' said
Mortimer Ostow, a psychoanalyst on the faculty of the Jewish Theological
Seminary.
This vision of the world, according to Dr. Ostow and
others, is espoused in the doctrines of virtually all terrorist groups,
including those as diverse as the Baader-Meinhof Gang in West Germany,
Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the Ayatollah Khomeini's Party of
God in Iran.
This view of a world split into good and bad joins
with a strong sense of hopelessness felt by those who become terrorists,
research shows. For many children who later join terrorist groups, the
sense of hopelessness turns into burning rage, according to data
collected by Rona Fields, a clinical psychologist in Alexandria, Va.,
who has tested more than 200 children, mainly in Northern Ireland,
Palestinian refugee camps and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Dr. Fields, who has spent 20 years interviewing and
administering psychological tests to terrorists and children around the
world, said she has later met many of the children she tested after they
have joined terrorist groups.
In one test, in which children are shown pictures
and make up stories about them, these children were unable to conjure
hope even in imagination, she said. ''In their fantasy stories, terrible
things happen to children, and there is nobody, including their mother
and father, who can help,'' Dr. Fields said. ''In the stories of most
healthy children, the same sorts of predicaments almost always end with a
happy rescue.''
''These children fixate on an infantile sense of
impotent rage, a rage which stays with them as they grow to adulthood,''
Dr. Fields said. ''Along with that rage they have neither the
expectation nor hope of being anything other than powerless for the rest
of their lives.''
But terrorist groups offer a way of looking at the
world that both explains the present feelings of hopelessness and offers
a way out.
''They describe a current or imminent conflict
between the forces of good and evil, in which, though the forces of evil
will prevail at first, they will ultimately be defeated by the forces
of good,'' Dr. Ostow said. ''That victory will mark the end of the
present era, and the initiation of a new era of peace, harmony and
general exaltation.''
What sets these visions apart from similar religious
beliefs is the idea that terrorists must act to bring this new era
about and that any kind of action is justified. The terrorist's action
will make the crucial difference. This, for example, is the view that
impels Shiites in Lebanon to engage in suicide bombings.
When terrorists are led to brutality in the service
of their cause, they see themselves as acting to save the world, some
experts say. This, plus the rage that fuels their beliefs, leads to a
callous attitude toward their victims, whom they sees as enemies in a
vast drama of good and evil, the experts say.
''The coldly calculating bomb-planter or assassin is
impervious to the restraint of ordinary emotions, like empathy or
compassion,'' said William Dember, a psychologist at the University of
Cincinnati. ''His ideology deadens his emotions.''
For many of the children who later become
terrorists, the only adults who seem able to control their destiny and
who offer positive models are those who belong to the terrorist groups,
Dr. Fields said. In this respect, the new recruit finds solace in
joining the group. The group and its leaders play the psychological role
of a strong, protective parent.
''The fanatic needs a strong identification with a
leader who offers him psychological strength he lacks,'' said Marvin
Zonis, a political scientist and psychoanalyst at the University of
Chicago. ''It provides a sense of wholeness he does not have on his own.
Khomeini played upon his followers' sense of being victimized and
rootless.''
Another finding emerging from the studies is that an
unusually high proportion of those who have actually performed
terrorist acts had, as young children, suffered a severe illness that
brought them to the verge of death.
''Of the convicted terrorists we studied, close to
half had a history of life-threatening illness,'' said Dr. Louis J.
West, a psychiatrist at the University of California at Los Angeles, who
studied terrorists from Europe and the United States. In those areas of
the world, he said, only about 5 percent of most adults had survived
such close brushes with death.
With his colleague, the late Jeanne Knudson, Dr.
West analyzed in-depth interviews and psychological assessments of more
than 100 convicted terrorists.
Psychologists have long observed, Dr. West said,
that ''being so close to death at an early age, and spending so long
immobilized in bed, is terrifying for a child.''
''The effect frequently is for the child to grow to
adulthood with a denial of the risk of death,'' he said. ''Having come
so close to it, he needs to prove to himself that he is not at risk of
dying. Unconsciously, that can lead him to put himself in high-risk
situations, like a hijacking, to prove he'll survive.''
While a bleak and angry outlook is typical of those
who grow up in circumstances of oppression, many more people share such
feelings than ever join the terrorist groups. The difference for those
who do join, Dr. Fields said, is a critical incident that propels a
person to take the next step.
For many of those who Dr. Fields first interviewed
as children and who later joined terrorist groups, the key moment came
when they were arrested in a broad police sweep and were tortured or
brutalized in prison. In other cases, the brutality was directed at
someone close to them.
''For boys, their treatment in prison almost
invariably included threats of emasculation and genital torture,'' Dr.
Fields said. ''The experience is a terrible blow to their identity as
men, one which they redeem by joining these groups.''
For others, the immediate psychological motive to
join seemed to be a combination of guilt and the wish for revenge. Dr.
Fields examined Palestinian children who survived the 1982 massacres by
Christian militiamen at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon, a
month after the event. When she had tested boys there before the
massacre, she found that they resented the military training they were
forced to take from the age of eight, and that they were particularly
antagonistic toward the members of the Palestine Liberation Organization
who gave them the training.
''After the massacre, the boys felt both grief and
intense guilt about their earlier feelings of resentment,'' Dr. Fields
said. ''Psychologically, they somehow felt responsible for what had
happened, and felt the only way they could make amends was by taking the
place of those who had been killed. They were left with a monomaniacal
obsession with revenge.'' Many of these children, she said, have since
become recruits for terrorist units within the Palestinian movement.
Not all those who seek to become terrorists are
accepted for that role, Dr. Fields said. Along with a burning anger, a
terrorist needs to be able to keep his impulses under control until the
right moment.
''The leaders of terrorist groups ''do not want the
hotheads,'' said Dr. West. ''A terrorist needs self-control.''
Those who train terrorists, Dr. West said, seek
recruits who are more emotionally stable than others in the group, and
who are willing to follow rules and able to develop strong bonds with
their comrades. Under the stress of a terrorist act, such as a
hijacking, those bonds within a small unit of terrorists are more
crucial than the initial commitment to the movement's ideals, according
to Dr. West.
That is why terrorist groups tend to form into small
cells of from 8 to 12 members who form ''family-like'' bonds. ''Before
the group goes on a terrorist mission, they see only their own group
members. They are isolated from everyone else, especially their own
families, so they can focus 100 percent on the mission,'' Dr. West said.
Terrorist groups often borrow techniques used in
more conventional military training. ''The training for these missions
is intensely stressful, so that when it comes to desperate
circumstances, even if the terrorists have second thoughts about the
ideology, the bonds with their fellows will carry them through,'' Dr.
West said. ''At that point, they feel they could not face life if they
let down their comrades.''
The organizational style of terrorist groups varies
greatly, from the anarchic to the highly structured, according to Dr.
Fields. The more experienced a group and the more politically
sophisticated its leadership, the more it tends to engage only in
carefully planned and well-targeted missions, such as many of those
carried out by the Vietcong.
The young terrorists in South Africa's black
townships exhibit the most naive level of political understanding,
according to some experts. The terrorists there do not belong to any
central organization, but arise among groups of friends in the
townships, who act simply from their sense of rage, without any clear
political agenda.
''They have an anarchic, childish political view
that sees power and violence as the same,'' said Dr. Fields. ''If they
understood politics better, they would see that they have other options,
like organizing the community, that might be more effective.''
The normal ups and downs of life mean that everyone feels sad or has "the blues" from time to time. But if emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won't go away, you may have depression. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming. But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem.
Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed people don't feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel angry, aggressive, and restless.
Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.
Read Suicide Help or call 1-800-273-TALK in the U.S. or visit IASP or Suicide.org to find a helpline in your country.
Read Suicide Prevention.
Left untreated, teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing—even irreversible tragedy such as homicidal violence or suicide. But with help, teenage depression is highly treatable. Learn more.
To combat SAD, doctors suggest exercise, particularly outdoor activities during daylight hours. Exposing yourself to bright artificial light may also help. Light therapy, also called phototherapy, usually involves sitting close to a special light source that is far more intense than normal indoor light for 30 minutes every morning. The light must enter through your eyes to be effective; skin exposure has not been proven to work. Some people feel better after only one light treatment, but most people require at least a few days of treatment, and some need several weeks. You can buy boxes that emit the proper light intensity (10,000 lux) with a minimal amount of ultraviolet light without a prescription, but it is best to work with a professional who can monitor your response.
There are few side effects to light therapy, but you should be aware of the following potential problems:
Having a strong support system will speed your recovery. Isolation fuels depression, so reach out to others, even if you feel like being alone or don’t want to feel like a burden to others. The truth is that most people will be happy that you chose to confide in them; they’ll be flattered that you trust them enough to open up. So, let your family and friends know what you’re going through and how they can support you.
Effective treatment for depression often
includes some form of therapy. Therapy gives you tools to treat
depression from a variety of angles. Also, what you learn in therapy
gives you skills and insight to prevent depression from coming back.
Some types of therapy teach you practical techniques on how to reframe negative thinking and employ behavioral skills in combating depression. Therapy can also help you work through the root of your depression, helping you understand why you feel a certain way, what your triggers are for depression, and what you can do to stay healthy.
The normal ups and downs of life mean that everyone feels sad or has "the blues" from time to time. But if emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won't go away, you may have depression. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming. But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem.
What is depression?
Sadness or downswings in mood are normal reactions to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness.Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed people don't feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel angry, aggressive, and restless.
Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.
Are you depressed?
If you identify with several of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won’t go away, you may be suffering from clinical depression.- you can’t sleep or you sleep too much
- you can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult
- you feel hopeless and helpless
- you can’t control your negative thoughts, no matter how much you try
- you have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating
- you are much more irritable, short-tempered, or aggressive than usual
- you’re consuming more alcohol than normal or engaging in other reckless behavior
- you have thoughts that life is not worth living (seek help immediately if this is the case)
What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. It’s important to remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s normal lows. But the more symptoms you have, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted—the more likely it is that you’re dealing with depression. When these symptoms are overwhelming and disabling, that's when it's time to seek help.Signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
- Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
- Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
- Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
- Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
- Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
- Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
- Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse, compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
- Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
- Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.
Depression and suicide risk
Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. The deep despair and hopelessness that goes along with depression can make suicide feel like the only way to escape the pain. If you have a loved one with depression, take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously and learn to recognize the warning signs.Warning signs of suicide include:
- Talking about killing or harming one’s self
- Expressing strong feelings of hopelessness or being trapped
- An unusual preoccupation with death or dying
- Acting recklessly, as if they have a death wish (e.g. speeding through red lights)
- Calling or visiting people to say goodbye
- Getting affairs in order (giving away prized possessions, tying up loose ends)
- Saying things like “Everyone would be better off without me” or “I want out”
- A sudden switch from being extremely depressed to acting calm and happy
If You Are Feeling Suicidal...
When you’re feeling extremely depressed or suicidal, your problems don’t seem temporary—they seem overwhelming and permanent. But with time, you will feel better, especially if you reach out for help. If you are feeling suicidal, know that there are many people who want to support you during this difficult time, so please reach out for help!Read Suicide Help or call 1-800-273-TALK in the U.S. or visit IASP or Suicide.org to find a helpline in your country.
If Someone You Love is Suicidal...
If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, express your concern and seek professional help immediately. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life!Read Suicide Prevention.
The different faces of depression
Depression often looks different in men and women, and in young people and older adults. An awareness of these differences helps ensure that the problem is recognized and treated.Depression in men
Depression is a loaded word in our culture. Many associate it, however wrongly, with a sign of weakness and excessive emotion. This is especially true with men. Depressed men are less likely than women to acknowledge feelings of self-loathing and hopelessness. Instead, they tend to complain about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest in work and hobbies. Other signs and symptoms of depression in men include anger, aggression, violence, reckless behavior, and substance abuse. Even though depression rates for women are twice as high as those in men, men are a higher suicide risk, especially older men. Learn more.Depression in women
Rates of depression in women are twice as high as they are in men. This is due in part to hormonal factors, particularly when it comes to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression, and perimenopausal depression. As for signs and symptoms, women are more likely than men to experience pronounced feelings of guilt, sleep excessively, overeat, and gain weight. Women are also more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Learn more.Depression in teens
While some depressed teens appear sad, others do not. In fact, irritability—rather than depression—is frequently the predominant symptom in depressed adolescents and teens. A depressed teenager may be hostile, grumpy, or easily lose his or her temper. Unexplained aches and pains are also common symptoms of depression in young people.Left untreated, teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing—even irreversible tragedy such as homicidal violence or suicide. But with help, teenage depression is highly treatable. Learn more.
Depression in older adults
The difficult changes that many older adults face—such as bereavement, loss of independence, and health problems—can lead to depression, especially in those without a strong support system. However, depression is not a normal part of aging. Older adults tend to complain more about the physical rather than the emotional signs and symptoms of depression, and so the problem often goes unrecognized. Depression in older adults is associated with poor health, a high mortality rate, and an increased risk of suicide, so diagnosis and treatment are extremely important. Learn more.Postpartum depression
Many new mothers suffer from some fleeting form of the “baby blues.” Postpartum depression, in contrast, is a longer lasting and more serious depression triggered, in part, by hormonal changes associated with having a baby. Postpartum depression usually develops soon after delivery, but any depression that occurs within six months of childbirth may be postpartum depression. Learn more.What are the types of depression?
Depression comes in many shapes and forms. The different types of depression have unique symptoms, causes, and effects. Knowing what type of depression you have can help you manage your symptoms and get the most effective treatment.Major depression
Major depression is characterized by the inability to enjoy life and experience pleasure. The symptoms are constant, ranging from moderate to severe. Left untreated, major depression typically lasts for about six months. Some people experience just a single depressive episode in their lifetime, but more commonly, major depression is a recurring disorder. However, there are many things you can do to support your mood and reduce the risk of recurrence.Dysthymia (recurrent, mild depression)
Dysthmia is a type of chronic “low-grade” depression. More days than not, you feel mildly or moderately depressed, although you may have brief periods of normal mood. The symptoms of dysthymia are not as strong as the symptoms of major depression, but they last a long time (at least two years). These chronic symptoms make it very difficult to live life to the fullest or to remember better times. Some people also experience major depressive episodes on top of dysthymia, a condition known as “double depression.” If you suffer from dysthymia, you may feel like you’ve always been depressed. Or you may think that your continuous low mood is “just the way you are.” However, dysthymia can be treated, even if your symptoms have gone unrecognized or untreated for years.Bipolar Disorder: When Depression is Just One Side of the Coin
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is characterized by cycling mood changes. Episodes of depression alternate with manic episodes, which can include impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, rapid speech, and little to no sleep. Typically, the switch from one mood extreme to the other is gradual, with each manic or depressive episode lasting for at least several weeks. When depressed, a person with bipolar disorder exhibits the usual symptoms of major depression. However, the treatments for bipolar depression are very different. In fact, antidepressants can make bipolar depression worse.Seasonal affective disorder: When winter brings the blues
Many people feel sad when summer wanes, but some actually develop depression with the season’s change. Known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this form of depression affects about 1% to 2% of the population, particularly women and young people. SAD seems to be triggered by more limited exposure to daylight; typically it comes on during the fall or winter months and subsides in the spring.To combat SAD, doctors suggest exercise, particularly outdoor activities during daylight hours. Exposing yourself to bright artificial light may also help. Light therapy, also called phototherapy, usually involves sitting close to a special light source that is far more intense than normal indoor light for 30 minutes every morning. The light must enter through your eyes to be effective; skin exposure has not been proven to work. Some people feel better after only one light treatment, but most people require at least a few days of treatment, and some need several weeks. You can buy boxes that emit the proper light intensity (10,000 lux) with a minimal amount of ultraviolet light without a prescription, but it is best to work with a professional who can monitor your response.
There are few side effects to light therapy, but you should be aware of the following potential problems:
- Mild anxiety, jitteriness, headaches, early awakening, or eyestrain can occur.
- There is evidence that light therapy can trigger a manic episode in people who are vulnerable.
- While there is no proof that light therapy can aggravate an eye problem, you should still discuss any eye disease with your doctor before starting light therapy. Likewise, since rashes can result, let your doctor know about any skin conditions.
- Some drugs or herbs (for example, St. John’s wort) can make you sensitive to light.
Adapted with permission from
Understanding Depression, a special health report published by
Harvard Health Publications.
Depression causes and risk factors
Some illnesses have a specific medical cause, making treatment straightforward. If you have diabetes, you take insulin. If you have appendicitis, you have surgery. Depression, however, is more complicated. Depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, and it’s not simply cured with medication. Experts believe that depression is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. In other words, your lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills matter just as much—if not more so—than genetics. However, certain risk factors make you more vulnerable to depression.Causes and risk factors for depression
- Loneliness
- Lack of social support
- Recent stressful life experiences
- Family history of depression
- Marital or relationship problems
- Financial strain
- Early childhood trauma or abuse
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Unemployment or underemployment
- Health problems or chronic pain
The cause of your depression helps determine the treatment
Understanding the underlying cause of your depression may help you overcome the problem. For example, if you are depressed because of a dead end job, the best treatment might be finding a more satisfying career, not taking an antidepressant. If you are new to an area and feeling lonely and sad, finding new friends at work or through a hobby will probably give you more of a mood boost than going to therapy. In such cases, the depression is remedied by changing the situation.The road to depression recovery
Just as the symptoms and causes of depression are different in different people, so are the ways to feel better. What works for one person might not work for another, and no one treatment is appropriate in all cases. If you recognize the signs of depression in yourself or a loved one, take some time to explore the many treatment options. In most cases, the best approach involves a combination of social support, lifestyle changes, emotional skills building, and professional help.Ask for help and support
If even the thought of tackling your depression seems overwhelming, don’t panic. Feeling helpless and hopeless is a symptom of depression—not the reality of your situation. It does not mean that you’re weak or you can’t change! The key to depression recovery is to start small and ask for help. The simple act of talking to someone face to face about how you feel can be an enormous help. The person you talk to doesn’t have to be able to fix you; he or she just needs to be a good listener.Having a strong support system will speed your recovery. Isolation fuels depression, so reach out to others, even if you feel like being alone or don’t want to feel like a burden to others. The truth is that most people will be happy that you chose to confide in them; they’ll be flattered that you trust them enough to open up. So, let your family and friends know what you’re going through and how they can support you.
Make healthy lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes are not always easy to make, but they can have a big impact on depression. Lifestyle changes that can be very effective include:- Cultivating supportive relationships
- Getting regular exercise and sleep
- Eating healthfully to naturally boost mood
- Managing stress
- Practicing relaxation techniques
- Challenging negative thought patterns
Build emotional skills
Many people lack the skills needed to manage stress and balance emotions. Building emotional skills can give you the ability to cope and bounce back from adversity, trauma, and loss. In other words, learning how to recognize and express your emotions can make you more resilient.Seek professional help
If support from family and friends, positive lifestyle changes, and emotional skills building aren’t enough, seek help from a mental health professional. There are many effective treatments for depression, including therapy, medication, and alternative treatments. Learning about your options will help you decide what measures are most likely to work best for your particular situation and needs.Are antidepressants right for you?
Medication can help relieve the symptoms of depression in some people, but they aren’t a cure and they come with drawbacks of their own. Learning the facts about antidepressants and weighing the benefits against the risks can help you make an informed and personal decision about whether medication is right for you.Some types of therapy teach you practical techniques on how to reframe negative thinking and employ behavioral skills in combating depression. Therapy can also help you work through the root of your depression, helping you understand why you feel a certain way, what your triggers are for depression, and what you can do to stay healthy.
