14/07/2024
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
As July is Mental Illness Awareness Month, this is a good time to talk openly about this subject.
Let us start by looking at the differences between anxiety and depression, two of the most common mental health conditions that many people struggle with. Please note that what follows hereafter is not meant to be read as a medical textbook but to make these two conditions understandable for the lay-person.
Anxiety often manifests as worry, fear, unease, and restlessness.
Its physical symptoms include
# A“racing” heart,
# sweating,
# difficulty concentrating, and
# abdominal pain.
Anxiety can make daily tasks feel overwhelming and lead to avoidance behaviours. Anxiety often occurs as a reaction to stress, but it can also occur without any stress triggers.
The World Health Organization sets out the various different types of anxiety disorders and these range from generalised anxiety disorders (which is defined as a persistent and excessive worry about daily activities or events), to panic disorders (which involve sudden onset panic attacks) and social anxiety disorders (which includes the fear of being watched or judged by others). The above list of anxiety disorders is not exhaustive.
Depression on the other hand is characterized by
# persistent feelings of sadness,
# hopelessness,
# helplessness,
# low energy levels and
# loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.
Both anxiety and depression can affect one's sleep and appetite, cause restlessness, and impact on one’s energy levels, making it hard to find joy in life.
Practically speaking I sometimes explain anxiety as feeling like one is in a long dark tunnel, but still being able to see a faint glimmer of light in the distance. Depression on the other hand is like being in a dark, cold tunnel where one cannot see anything but what is immediately in front of one. Anxiety might become depression when that faint glimmer of light disappears, and it feels as if things will never change.
It can be said that both conditions, which although different, have some common features and are part of a continuum that can move from thriving, to surviving, to struggling, to going into crisis and needing urgent intervention.
What I have found is that most people are quite willing to admit that they are anxious (which they might also communicate as being “stressed”). Most people do not however like to say that they are depressed, nor do they like to be diagnosed as being depressed.
The stigma associated with depression is as sad as it is concerning, primarily because it stops people from seeking the necessary help.
The are a number of different options available for the treatment of anxiety and depression (depending on the severity of the anxiety and depression) - two main treatment options are psychotherapy and medication. In addition to this, getting adequate sleep, good nutrition, regular exercise (daily is best); avoiding alcohol, limiting caffeine intake, joining an anxiety or depression support group also assist with the treatment of anxiety and/or depression. Critically though, the aforesaid are of an add-on nature, and are not the main treatment options for cases of severe depression and/or anxiety.
From my experience, the optimal medical treatment for anxiety, is actually an anti-depressant. The reason for this is because many of the medications that work mainly on treating anxiety, are OFTEN addictive and as a result will over time lose their efficacy. (Like the Benzodiazepine group). MOST anti-depressants on the other hand are NOT addictive and do not lose their efficacy over time.
𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥 if you are uncertain about your current medication regime; or if you are not feeling well on your current medication.
𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗢 𝗡𝗢𝗧 go off any medication that your healthcare provider may have prescribed for you, without FIRST discussing this with your healthcare provider - a sudden stop from taking medication could have disastrous effects on your physical and mental well-being.
In a nutshell, if you have any of the symptoms of anxiety or depression and are finding it increasingly difficult to get up in the morning, or you wake up with a high level of fear and trepidation, it is definitely best for you to see your health care provider and to discuss with him or her, your best treatments options going forward.
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.
