Depression and Anxiety
Depression can range from low level sadness that persists or always seems to come back around to an overwhelming and debilitating force that makes a person unable to function. Many people don’t recognize how depression affects their everyday life unless it is severe, and even then might lose the perspective to acknowledge how disabled they have become.
Many events can trigger depression such as loss, or difficulty in relationships, a medical issue, etc. In certain people there is a genetic component as well. Depression grows in isolation, without help. Depression starts to feed off itself, because you can’t function, everything in your life becomes out of control which adds to the depression, digging yourself further and further into the hole. If you: feel sad or feel no feelings at all, are isolating yourself, withdrawing from people you usually enjoy, lost interest in daily activities, encountered insomnia or oversleeping, feel exhausted, like you are clawing your way through your day, feel agitated or restless, feel worthless or bad, are your harshest critic, have trouble concentrating, have new physical symptoms including headaches, backaches, diarrhea, constipation or aching joints, acknowledge that these are the signs and symptoms of depression. You don’t have to live like this, get the help that you need to live the life that you could have if you weren’t depressed.
Anxiety and depression go hand in hand. While one may be more prevalent, people most often experience both. Anxiety means having exaggerated worries and fears, whether it is worrying about health and safety, finances, family, work or school. Anxiety can be so extreme that it too, like depression, interferes with daily functioning. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear and dread. Anxiety can show itself in: worry, feeling edgy, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, difficulty concentrating, nausea, tiredness, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, being easily startled. Five Major Types of anxiety disorders, are generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. Just as with depression, there is a spectrum from mild to a full-blown disorder. Wherever you are on the spectrum, stressful situations and underlying dynamics worsen symptoms. Learn how triggers in your life increase your anxiety and depression. See how early messages and relationships in childhood still affect who you are today. Get help teasing out what you have been taught with how you want to live.
