Anxiety and Depression can Cause Stressfull Situations
Anxiety and Depression
Feeling anxious is a natural and perfectly normal response
to stressful situations or events like a driving test, job
interview or medical examination. It is part of the body's
fight or flight reflex so helps us to cope with any
perceived threat or danger.
In some people, and nobody really knows exactly why,
attacks of anxiety can become prolonged, happen repeatedly,
and are severe enough to interfere with their ability to
carry out normal routines and activities. If this is the
case then they may be diagnosed as suffering from an
anxiety disorder.
Anxiety Disorders
Along with the physical symptoms of anxiety, the individual
can feel irritable, unable to concentrate or focus, not in
control of their actions and could feel they are losing it
or going completely mad. There are several different types
of anxiety disorders.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder – the person feels anxious,
nervous or keyed up a lot of the time, often about minor
stresses at work or at home or perhaps without even knowing
why they are feeling anxious.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – a variety of symptoms can
follow a severe or life threatening trauma including a lot
of anxiety, recurrent and distressing memories, thoughts,
images, or feelings associated with the trauma that
interferes with normal daily life
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Recurrent thoughts and
urges (obsessions) that result in repetitive thoughts or
actions (compulsions) in order to relieve the anxiety
brought on by the obsessions. For example, obsession about
dirt evokes a compulsion to repeatedly wash hands
Phobia – an extreme fear of something that is not in
proportion to the reality to the extent that even thinking
about it can evoke anxiety and panic, for example, fear of
experiencing an embarrassing or awkward situation from
which there is no escape, or fear of leaving a safe place
(agoraphobia) may prevent someone leaving the house
Panic Disorder – Recurrent panic attacks with a severe
attack of anxiety and fear that happens without warning and
for no apparent reason
According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence
(NICE), 5% of the population in the UK have Generalised
Anxiety Disorder and 1% suffer from Panic Disorder. It is
important to get an accurate diagnosis in order to get the
appropriate treatment as anxiety can also be a symptom of
other conditions including an underlying illness or
substance abuse, and anxiety will often accompany some form
of depression.
Depression
Feeling a bit low or down in the dumps from time to time is
quite normal, but if the symptoms don't go away after a
couple of weeks and are affecting your normal routines,
then it is possible that you are suffering from depression.
Around 10% of the population in the UK suffer from
depression at any one time.
Some symptoms associated with depression include:
• Feeling tired and lethargic for most of the time
• Persistent low moods and sadness, a feeling of despondency
• Sleep disturbances, either inability to sleep or sleeping
too much
• A pessimistic outlook on life
• Feeling anxious and nervous
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Frightening and irrational thoughts
• Loss of pleasure in activities and lack of interest in sex
• Avoidance of social contact and social situations
• Loss of appetite or an increased appetite and associated
weight loss or weight gain
• Emotional outbursts for no apparent reason
• Irritability
Depression can affect anyone at any time but some people
are more at risk than others, for example, the long term
sick and unemployed, the socially isolated, those in
prison, anyone with a previous history of depression
themselves or in their family or anyone battling with drug
or alcohol addiction. Life changing events can sometimes
precipitate an episode of depression, for example,
redundancy, divorce, physical illness and disability or
bereavement.
Sometimes people will seek help from their GP with symptoms
of both anxiety and depression.
Mixed Anxiety and Depression
According to government statistics, in the year 2000 only
2.8% of the population suffered from depression without any
symptoms of anxiety whereas just over 9% of adults in
Britain were suffering from mixed anxiety and depression
and this figure had increased from previous years
suggesting that the numbers are growing. No one knows
exactly what causes either anxiety or depression because
there is no single cause; however, there are certain
factors that appear to contribute to both anxiety and
depressive disorders and these include the possibility of
chemical imbalances in the brain, a genetic tendency,
personality and personal life experiences or a combination
of these factors. Treatment will usually consist of a
mixed approach involving medication and psychotherapy
techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
About the Author:
Depression and anxiety are serious conditions that can
strike anyone at anytime. For more information about
depression and selp help come and visit
http://www.fightingdepression.co.uk
