Depression and Anxiety

What is Depression?

Many individuals experience depression at some point in their life. As a matter of fact, depression affected approximately 163 million people in 2017 (2% of the global population). As of 2017, depression is the third most common worldwide cause of disability among both sexes, following low back pain and headache. Depression is characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood including low self-esteem, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, low energy, and pain without a clear cause.

Symptoms in adults may include: 

•  low mood, which pervades all aspects of life, and an inability to experience pleasure in previously enjoyable activities.
•  preoccupation with—or ruminate over—thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt or regret, helplessness or hopelessness
• In severe cases, depressed people may have symptoms of psychosis. These symptoms include delusions or, less commonly, hallucinations, usually unpleasant.

Symptoms in children may include: 

• sadness
• irritability
• clinginess
• worry
• aches and pains
• refusing to go to school
• being underweight

Symptoms in teens may include: 

• sadness
• irritability
• feeling negative and worthless
• anger
• poor performance or poor attendance at school
• feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive
• using recreational drugs or alcohol
• eating or sleeping too much
• self-harm
• loss of interest in normal activities
• avoidance of social interaction.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.

Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.

It has been said that depression and anxiety are like cousins.  Many times they go hand in hand. 

Whatever form of depression anxiety you have, treatment can help. We provide education about depression and anxiety and the affects on the brain, implement exposure strategies, teach mindfulness and coping skills, and utilize cognitive restructuring interventions or, simply said, changing the way we think.