Q's health news

Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health disorders, and every person will experience one or both at some point in their life. Some people experience depression or anxiety over a short period, while others have a lifelong diagnosis.

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. We all experience anxiety at some point, like before a big test, a job interview, or before making a big decision. However, anxiety disorders involve more than temporary fear. Those with anxiety disorders experience anxiety lifelong, and symptoms can get worse over time. There are different types of anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobia-related disorders.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include feeling restless, worrying, and unable to control feelings of worry, being irritable, easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating – mind going to blank, and sleep problems.

Panic disorder is when people have recurrent unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack comes on suddenly with a feeling of intense fear. People who experience panic attacks, have symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, a sensation of choking or shortness of breath, feeling out of control, and a feeling of impending doom.

Phobia-related disorders cause a fear that is out of proportion to the actual danger. Phobias include specific phobias, like flying, heights, spiders, blood, needles, while social anxiety disorder is a phobia of social or performance situations. People with phobia-related disorders may have an irrational fear or worry excessively about encountering the object. Those with phobias will also experience intense anxiety upon encountering the feared object. They may even intentionally take steps to avoid the item of their phobia, but when they face their phobia will endure it with an intense level of anxiety.

Depression also causes symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. Various symptoms are present in depression, but to be diagnosed with depression, one usually has symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for two weeks. Symptoms of depression include persistent sad mood, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest, decreased energy, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, pain such as headache, cramps, or stomachache that don’t have a clear physical cause, or do not improve with treatment, and thoughts of death or suicide.

Don’t let anyone tell you anxiety and depression are not real. The disorders are most certainly real, and you are NOT “crazy” if you experience any mental health disorder. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health. Mental health disorders have been stigmatized for so long that many people have difficulty accepting or talking about their symptoms. These folks often try to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, which only makes the symptoms worse.

I have struggled with anxiety my entire life – come to find out it is two-fold, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. While I can get in front of a group of people with little anxiety and give a presentation or sing a solo, I dread going to any social function where I know few people and have to interact with them. Just thinking about a social gathering makes my stomach churn, I get nauseated and want to curl up in a ball and not ever leave my house.

Generalized anxiety, on the other hand, is a small but vicious voice in the back of my head always gnawing at me – telling me I’ll never be good enough; that someone is judging me; that a friend must not like me anymore because they looked at me funny; that a loved one who is traveling must have gotten in a car wreck because they haven’t called. The rational part of my brain tells me these thoughts are not real, but my irrational mind – the anxiety – is telling me these types of thoughts daily.

While I have learned ways to cope, like regular exercise, medication and counseling have helped me tremendously. Now, the symptoms of anxiety aren’t keeping me in bed crying with worry or making me have a total meltdown at work. I will always have symptoms of anxiety, but I can live my life as I want.

I do want to stress that anxiety and depression are not disorders of adulthood. Very often, these disorders develop when we are young. I have a teen at home; I know it can be challenging to discern teen behavior from symptoms of depression and anxiety. But, pay attention to your child, if you are concerned that he or she is exhibiting some of these symptoms have your child visit with their primary healthcare provider.

Now is the time to start talking about your mental health, especially with the stressors COVID19 is causing. Find a healthcare provider in your area to start the discussion. Alex, Carla, or Dale at Dahl Memorial Clinic in Ekalaka are all available to talk with you about your symptoms and discuss treatment options, which may include lifestyle changes, counseling, medication, or all of the above.

You can read more about anxiety and depression at nimh.nih.gov/health. If you have questions or comments, you can find me at the Carter County Public Health office in DMHA or email me at [email protected]. Thanks for joining me this month!