Anxiety
Anxiety is a chronic and exaggerated feeling of worry or tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke it. People who suffer with anxiety often worry constantly about their health, money, family, or career. Sometimes they simply experience feelings of nervousness, restlessness, and stress without knowing what is provoking these feelings. They may feel as if they are “keyed-up” or “on-edge” most of the time. Often they are unable to relax and enjoy pleasurable experiences because of their persistent worry. Even when they realize that they have no real reason to worry or that their level of worry is out of proportion to the situation, they are unable to relieve themselves of their fears.
Here are some of the symptoms associated with anxiety:
* Excessive worry more days than not for an extended period of time about a variety of situations including work, school, or home.
* The sufferer finds it very difficult to control the tension and anxiety.
* The sufferer experiences physical signs of anxiety including restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances like insomnia or unsatisfying sleep.
People with anxiety may anticipate disaster looming around every corner. At its most severe, just the thought of going through the day may provoke intense worry and fear. While their anxiety might not impair their ability to perform their daily tasks, the feelings that they experience can seriously affect their ability to find enjoyment and pleasure in life.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety affects about 4 million Americans. Those who experience anxiety sometimes also struggle with depression or substance abuse. There is help available. Psychotherapy, prescription medication, and natural alternatives for tension relief are some of the options that may help those dealing with anxiety to cope.
Article: What is Anxiety?
Date: Jan 1, 2007
Author: Nan Little
Website: http://www.insightjournal.com/
Recommended Links:
What Causes Anxiety?
Research shows that anxiety can be caused by multiple factors. Learned behavior, personality traits, abuse, trauma and negative experiences, mental and emotional stress, brain chemistry and genetics are factors that are explored here.
How is Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed?
What are the steps to diagnosing an anxiety disorder? Find out what your healthcare professional will need to learn in order to determine whether you're simply experiencing occasional bouts of worry or an anxiety disorder.
Am I at Risk for an Anxiety Disorder?
What type of person develops an anxiety disorder? Learn more about the most recent research findings, including the ‘female connection’, the ‘childhood connection’ and the ‘age connection.’
Types of Anxiety Disorders
"Anxiety disorder" is actually an umbrella term that encompasses several different types of anxiety, each with their own symptoms and treatment options. Find out about Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Panic Disorder, and other common types of anxiety disorders.
Anxiety Treatment Options
Individuals who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder have many treatment options available to them. Psychotherapy (including Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), prescription medications, as well as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) are just some of the treatments for anxiety disorder.
Depression
Depression is a disorder that can seriously affect the body, mood, and thoughts of a person experiencing this sometimes debilitating disease. It can permeate every aspect of life, disturbing a person’s ability to eat, sleep, think, and function. Depression is not the same as being a little sad or blue over a specific event. The feelings associated with Depression are persistent and chronic, and the person suffering with Depression cannot simply pull themselves out of the way that they are feeling.The symptoms associated with Depression include:
* Persistent sad or “empty” mood.
* A feeling of negativity, pessimism or hopelessness.
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness.
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed.
* Feelings of fatigue or being “slowed down.”
* Trouble concentrating, staying focused or making decisions.
* Feelings of restlessness or irritability.
* Loss of appetite and weight or increased appetite and weight gain
* Difficulty managing mood swings
* Avoidance of family members and friends
* Insomnia and/or oversleeping.
* Thoughts of death or suicide.
There are different types of depression. Major (Clinical) Depression is characterized by a combination of the above symptoms that are severe enough to impair the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy life. Some people may experience an episode of Major Depression only once, but many experience several over the course of a lifetime.
Dysthymia is less severe than a Major Depressive episode. This form of Depression involves long-term, chronic manifestations of the above symptoms in way that does not completely disable the sufferer but still keeps them from functioning well or enjoying life.
Bipolar Disorder involves a cycle of mood changes from excessive highs to equally excessive lows. A person with Bipolar Disorder may experience a Manic phase during which they feel “on top of the world,” followed by a Major Depressive episode.
Other common forms of depression include mood disorder, post-partum depression and cyclothemia.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 9.5 percent of the population experiences some form of Depression within any given year. If you, your spouse, your children or a friend have experienced episodes of depression, there is more than a 60% chance that it will recur within the next 3 years. If left untreated, the disorder can become chronic and may increase in severity with each episode. Depression can cause untold loss in productivity and seriously affect the sufferer’s life as well as the lives of those who love them. While there is help available, many never seek it. Psychotherapy, prescription medications, and natural alternatives are some of the options open for those looking for relief from Depression.
Article: What is Depression?
Date: Jan 1, 2007
Author: Nan Little
Website: http://www.insightjournal.com/
Recommended Links:
What Causes Depression?
Research shows that depression can be caused by multiple factors. Learned behavior, stress, other medical illnesses, gender, a chemical imbalance, heredity, and personality traits such as a perfectionistic attitude are all potential factors explored here.
How is Depression Diagnosed?
What are the steps to diagnosing a depressive illness? Find out what your healthcare professional will need to learn in order to determine whether you have occasional bouts of the blues or an actual depressive disorder.
Am I at Risk for Depression?
What type of person develops a depressive disorder? Learn more about what researchers have discovered, including genetics, the ‘psychological connection’, other illnesses and stress.
Types of Depression
The term "depression" is actually an umbrella term that encompasses several different types of depressive illnesses. All of these illnesses share certain characteristics, but they affect each person’s life differently. Find out more about major depression, bipolar depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other types of depression here.
Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
We can all see the way sunlight affects the seasonal activities of plants and animals. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be an effect of this seasonal light variation in humans. Find out more about SAD here.
Depression Treatment Options
Individuals who have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder have many treatment options available to them. Psychotherapy (including Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), prescription medications, as well as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) are just some of the treatments for depression.
