I am writing this article inorder to bring awareness about mental illness. With my experience as a clinical physicoglist and counselor I have encounter many clients who has been undergoing mental sickness for years however, they are not aware of what they are going through and end up taking wrong measures. I hope this article will enable minds to differentiate the mental illinesses and adopt strategies to tackle it inorder to live a healthy and happy life.
The two most common mental illness are depression and anxiety:
What does depression feel like?
One of the common misunderstandings about depression is that it’s similar to feeling sad or down. Although many people with depression feel sadness, it feels much more severe than emotions that come and go in response to life events. The symptoms of depression can last for months or years and can make it difficult or impossible to carry on with daily life. Depression may feel like.
There’s no pleasure or joy in life. A person with depression may not enjoy things they once loved and may feel like nothing can make them happy.
Concentration or focus becomes harder. Making any kind of decisions, reading, or watching television can seem taxing with depression because people can’t think clearly or follow what’s happening.
Everything feels hopeless: Depression may make a person feel that there’s no way ever to feel good again.
Self-esteem is often absent: People with depression may feel like they are worthless or a failure at everything. They may dwell on negative events and experiences and be unable to see positive qualities in themselves.
Sleeping may be problematic: Falling asleep at night or staying asleep all night can feel nearly impossible for some people with depression. A person may wake up early and not be able to go back to sleep. Others may sleep excessively, but still wake up feeling tired or unrefreshed, despite the extra hours of sleep.
Energy levels are low to nonexistent: Some people feel like they can’t get out of bed, or feel exhausted all the time even when getting enough sleep. They may feel that they are too tired to do simple daily tasks.
Food may not seem appetizing: Some people with depression feel like they don’t want to eat anything, and have to force themselves to eat. This can result in weight loss.
Food may be used as a comfort or coping too: Although some people with depression don’t want to eat, others can overeat and crave unhealthy or comfort foods. This can lead to weight gain.
Aches and pains may be present: Some people experience aches , head, nausea, body aches, and other pains with depression.
What makes you afraid?
Fear is one of the most powerful emotions. It has a very strong effect on your mind and body. Anxiety is a word we use for some types of fear that are usually to do with the thought of a threat or something going wrong in the future, rather than right now. Fear and anxiety can last for a short time and then pass, but they can also last much longer and you can get stuck with them. In some cases they can take over your life, affecting your ability to eat, sleep, concentrate, travel, enjoy life, or even leave the house or go to work or school. This can hold you back from doing things you want or need to do, and it also affects your health.Lots of things make us feel afraid. Fearing failure can make you try to do well so that you won’t fail, but it can also stop you doing well if the feeling is too strong. What you’re afraid of and how you act when you’re afraid of something can vary per person. Just knowing what makes you afraid and why can be the first step to sorting out problems with fear.
Both anxiety and depression should be treated together. Effective treatment includes:
Through this therapy, it will teach people to manage their fears, anxiety and depressive symptoms and learn how to take control of their emotions.
these drugs are often used in conjunction with CBT.
which include practising meditation and mindfulness.
loved ones of those struggling with anxiety and depression should be on the lookout for these warning signs :
If you feel that you have these symptoms mentioned above then please go and see a therapist and start treatment before depression has a chance to set in.
