Nairobi, Aug. 26 -- Q "I have been on treatment for suspected depression for about four months now and my friends claim I have become hyper in my actions. Is this normal during such treatment?"
***
These are indeed strange times. The English language has changed in the last few years to the extent that some words have developed a new meaning.
I refer in this regard to your use of the word 'hyper', in your question. In the traditional sense, the word was used to describe things that were above normal.
A person with above-normal blood pressure was said to have hypertension.
Similarly, a person whose thyroid gland was performing above the norm was said to suffer from hyperthyroidism. Concerning behaviour, a similar concept is to be found ...