What are the symptoms of anxiety?
There are several types of anxiety: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder, among others.
Anxiety can affect a person’s daily living for several days up to months at a time. Symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Lack of concentration
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Being easily startled
- Tachycardia
- Sleep disturbance
What is depression?
Depression is defined as a person feeling sad, lonely, and scared. When you are diagnosed with depression, it’s because these feelings have been present for a while and could be getting worse.
Different types of depression like major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), adjustment disorder, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can affect people. The most common of these is major depressive disorder.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is diagnosed when one of these factors is found:
- Overwhelming feeling of sadness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most daily activities
- Change in appetite
- Change in sleep patterns
- Significant weight loss
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Feelings of inadequacy with recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Social and/or educational activities can be affected by depression. If these symptoms last more than two weeks, diagnosis and treatment become necessary.
Who is affected by anxiety and depression?
People who have experienced grief, divorce, illness, climate change, and other increased stress can experience anxiety and/or depression as a result.
Studies show that females are twice as likely to suffer mental health disorders as males. In fact, 63% of the world’s population affected by mental health disorders are female.
What treatments are available for depression and anxiety?
Anxiety and depression can be treated together, each usually has its own cause and symptoms. No clear clinical evidence suggests that one disorder causes the other.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a short-term treatment that involves taking steps to manage symptoms by eliminating the negative stressors and replacing them with positive thinking. Medication may also be prescribed. Talk therapy may be provided by psychotherapists, social workers, psychiatrists, and counselors.
For mild cases of depression or anxiety disorders, self-help techniques like physical activity and a better diet can greatly improve your mental health. Psychotherapy and medication management may be necessary on a long-term basis to moderate a person’s mental health symptoms and improve their quality of life.
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