The Difference Between Anxiety And Depression: Signs, Types And Therapy
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It is estimated that 45 per cent of Australians will experience a mental health condition at some point in their life. Anxiety accounts for the highest mental health illness affecting over 2 million Australians yearly, and depression is estimated at 1 million. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia affecting one in three women and one in five men in their lifetime.
Everyone feels stressed, worried and anxious at times. Anxious feeling are a response to pressure and stressful situations, this feeling should pass when the stressor is removed.
When the anxious feelings don’t go away and daily life is to hard to cope with, this may be a sign that a mental health illness such as anxiety or depression is affecting you.
Physical symptoms can be increased heart rate, shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, lightheaded, muscle tension, trouble sleeping, sweating, shaking, hot or cold flushes. (Beyond Blue, 2020).
Depression is affecting over 1 million Australians yearly. One in six women and one in eight men are experiencing depression (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008, p. 27).
We all feel emotions, being sad, moody and low from time to time is normal. For people suffering depression these feelings are intense and the feelings can be for no apparent reason and last for long periods of time even years. Depression is a serious illness which isn’t just feeling down or moody it affects you physically. Depression can make day to day life unmanageable due to how you feel about yourself. Health professionals and services are available to help you (Beyond Blue, 2020).
If for more than two weeks you feel sad, down or miserable most of the time and experiencing at least three signs and three symptoms in your daily life you should speak to your Doctor. Signs of depression can be but are limited to behaviour changes, having no motivation to do normal activities, not going out anymore, not getting work done, withdrawing from close friends and family, relying on alcohol and sedatives, unable to concentrate. If you feel overwhelmed, lacking in confidence, indecisive, irritable, frustrated, sad, miserable and pessimistic. Negative thoughts such as being a failure, it’s all your fault, nothing good ever happens to me, I’m worthless, life’s not worth living or people would be better off without me in their life. There is different types and levels of depression it’s best to consult a Doctor for diagnosis and treatment if you think depression is effecting you.
You may be depressed if, for more than two weeks, you’ve felt sad, down or miserable most of the time, or have lost interest or pleasure in usual activities, and have also experienced several of the signs and symptoms across at least three of the categories below.
Women are at an increased risk of depression during pregnancy (known as the antenatal or prenatal period) and in the year following childbirth (known as the postnatal period). You may also come across the term ‘perinatal’, which describes the period covered by pregnancy and the first year after the baby’s birth.
It’s important to get support from family friends and health professionals. There are effective treatments which health professionals can prescribe to help with recovery. Physical exercise if very effective for mild anxiety and depression. Psychological treatment may be required for server cases. Counselling is effective to find out triggers, teach coping strategies and start your journey to recovery (Nelson-Jones, R, 2002, p. 358). Essential Counselling and Therapy Skills: Visit your Doctor for a diagnosis, the Doctor can also check for any physical health problem or medication which could be contributing to the anxiety and/or depression, and discuss treatment options. You are not alone, ask for help!
Beyond Blue is an organisation which has reliable information and is a good starting point for anyone thinking they may be suffering from anxiety or depression. Beyond Blue has easy to understand information to reduce the stigma for the individual, community and family members. The Black Dog Institute has been a leader in reducing the stigma around mental health. The Black Dog Institute is widely recognised for focusing on enabling mentally healthier lives through innovations in medicine, education, science and removing the stigma related to depression.
Mood Assessment Systems Australia (MAP) is a computerised assessment and diagnostic tool for depression which offers support services (Mood Assessment Systems Australia 2019). An alternative towards anxiety and depression is metacognitive therapy, which concentrates on the process to maintain cognitions rather than cognitive behavioural therapy, which concentrates only on cognitions (Wells, A, 2010, p. 1). Exercise is often beneficial for people with low to moderate depression and anxiety. Regular exercise improves symptoms due to the release of feel-good endorphins (Mead, G, Morley, W, Campbell, P, Greig, C, McMurdo, M, & Lawlor, D, 2010).
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