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How To Deal With Anxiety And Depression

Overcoming Teen Depression Tip : Talk To An Adult You Trust

HOW TO : COPE WITH DEPRESSION & ANXIETY

Depression is not your fault, and you didnt do anything to cause it. However, you do have some control over feeling better. The first step is to ask for help.

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Signs Of An Anxiety Attack

These are some of the more common mental and physical symptoms of anxiety:

  • feelings of danger, panic, or dread
  • nervousness or restlessness
  • hyperventilation

Its also possible to experience an anxiety and panic attack simultaneously. The quick coping strategies mentioned above may also help with a panic attack.

Other mindful strategies to cope with panic attacks include focusing on an object, repeating a mantra, closing your eyes, and going to your happy place.

Take A Moment To Slow Down

Take moments throughout the day to relax and center yourself. Deep breathing or taking part in an activity you enjoy can help break the anxiety cycle.

What would be great is if we practice the deep breathing, the relaxation technique throughout the day, said OMara. Set an alarm for morning, noon and night for five minutes.

Take a walk, listen to music, get a massage or practice yoga on your lunch break. Taking mini breaks will help take your mind out of stressful moments and make you more productive, too.

Michelle Llamas has been writing articles and producing podcasts about drugs, medical devices and the FDA for nearly a decade. She focuses on various medical conditions, health policy, COVID-19, LGBTQ health, mental health and womens health issues. Michelle collaborates with experts, including board-certified doctors, patients and advocates, to provide trusted health information to the public. Some of her qualifications include:

  • Member of American Medical Writers Association and former Engage Committee and Membership Committee member
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health Literacy certificates
  • Original works published or cited in The Lancet, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and the Journal for Palliative Medicine
  • Patient Advocacy Certificate from University of Miami

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When Youre Depressed You Cant Just Will Yourself To Snap Out Of It But This Guide To Depression Help Can Put You On The Road To Recovery

Coronavirus update

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many of us are dealing with social distancing, isolation, and lockdowns that make it even harder to cope with symptoms of depression. Whatever your circumstances, though, there are ways to overcome feelings of sadness and despair, improve your mood, and regain a sense of hope. In addition to the tips in this article, you can also find help for depression in our Coronavirus Mental Health Toolkit.

What To Do When Depression And Anxiety Mix

Tips To Deal With Depression

Kara Mayer Robinson Jabeen Begum

You’ve noticed some changes lately. Maybe you feel sad, hopeless, or donât get any joy out of activities that used to be fun. Sounds like depression, right?

Maybe that’s not all. Sometimes you’re worried, afraid, and just plain uneasy. Isn’t that a sign of anxiety?

Not so fast. Itâs normal to have ups and downs or to have things youâre concerned about. You might be going through a difficult time. Your doctor can help you figure out if itâs actually a condition and what would help.

Depression and anxiety are like flip sides of the same coin, says therapist Nancy B. Irwin, PsyD. “Being depressed often makes us anxious, and anxiety often makes us depressed.”

If you have both conditions, there are lots of ways to get help.

Recommended Reading: What Does An Anxiety Attack Feel Like Physically

Ways Of Coping That Dont Work In The Long Term

Some of our attempts to cope with trauma, changes and stresses help us in the short them but can make things worse in the long term. Most of us know for ourselves what these things are. They include:

  • Self-medicating with alcohol and drugs.
  • Working all hours.
  • Avoiding whnau, friends and stressful situations.
  • Stopping physical exercise.

“At first, alcohol eased my anxiety in social situations but as time went on this changed. Alcohol was a slow corrosive, gradually stripping me of my ability to cope with life. Id spend days in bed, feeling depressed and wanting to die.Paul

How Do I Get Help

Talking therapies

Talking therapies, like counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, are very effective for people with anxiety problems, including Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which takes you through a series of self-help exercises on screen. Visit your GP to find out more.

Medication

Drug treatments are used to provide short-term help, rather than looking at the root of the anxiety problems. Drugs may be most useful when they are combined with other treatments or support.

Support groups

You can learn a lot about managing anxiety from asking other people who have experienced it. Local support groups or self-help groups bring together people with similar experiences so that they can hear each others stories, share tips and encourage each other to try out new ways to manage themselves. Your doctor, library or local Citizens Advice bureau will have details of support groups near you.

Recommended Reading: Will Wellbutrin Help With Anxiety

Practice These Coping Skills Every Day

I recommend doing many if not all of the following coping skills and techniques once a day when experiencing depression. Its important to know you probably wont be motivated to do any of them at first because depression frequently saps motivation. In other words, know that its normal to feel unmotivated until youre halfway done.

The patients I work with who frequently practice these coping skills get better.The seven techniques can be memorized with the acronym MY PEERS.

1. Meaning: Find small ways to be of service to others.

Find personal meaning by serving something larger than yourself. Remember service doesnt have to be big to count. Consider this, Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued it must ensue as the unintended side effect of ones personal dedication to a course greater than oneself. Viktor E. Frankl, Mans Search for Meaning

2. Your goals: Find workable goals that give you a sense of accomplishment.

Most people feel guilty when talking about goals because they set unreasonable or unworkable goals. A goal is workable if its:

  • Something you can control
  • Manageable
  • Realistic for you
  • Measurable
  • If something goes wrong with your goal, adopt a what can I learn from this? attitude . Also, be careful when comparing your progress with others. We usually compare our biggest weakness with another persons biggest strength. This is unfair .

    3. Pleasant Events: Schedule pleasant activities or events.

    4. Engagement: Stay in the present.

    The Illnesses Make It Hard To Feel Good In The Moment

    HOW TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

    I have to try harder not to care about stuff too much and go with the flow. harder for me to just be in the moment. That makes me have anxiety. I know Im having a bout of depression because I wake up in the morning and I just dont feel good about things. Emily Johnson, 35, a sales associate in Orange County, California

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    Try These Five Tips For Decreasing Depression

    There isnt a quick fix as in Boom, youre cured and will never again be beset by the blues. But, there are techniques that can help lift the emotional paralysis and ruminating that often accompany depression. Both of which make it much more difficult to focus on the behavioral changes that are necessary to prevent a relapse. Luckily, there are ways to punch holes in the curtain of unrelenting darkness.

    Visualize A Happy Memory

    When a patient continually revisits a painful memory , it can tip him or her into near emotional catatonia. I say, Wait, before you go down the rabbit hole and all the dark feelings overwhelm you, close your eyes and go to a happy memory. *Paul remembered, When I graduated from college, looked out at the audience and saw my family looking so proud, I felt amazing and powerful. I said, Great, go there. Lets relive that wonderful experience. As he described details from that lovely day his posture went from slumped over to peacock proud. He actually smiled. I suggested, The moment you feel yourself sliding back to an awful memory that takes you under, take a breath and instantly conjure up graduation day. Counter the gloom with an immediate dose of positivity!

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    What You Eat And Drink Can Also Affect How You Feel

    Theres no magic diet that will treat depression. But what you put into your body can have a real and significant impact on the way you feel.

    Eating a diet rich in lean meats, vegetables, and grains may be a great place to start. Try to limit stimulants like caffeine, coffee, and soda, and depressants like alcohol.

    Some people also and have more energy when they avoid sugar, preservatives, and processed foods.

    If you have the means, consider meeting with a doctor or registered dietitian for guidance.

    Quick Ways To Cope With Anxiety

    How to deal with stress guide. Depression reduce â Stock ...

    If your anxiety is sporadic and getting in the way of your focus or tasks, there are some quick natural remedies that could help you take control of the situation.

    If your anxiety is focused around a situation, such as being worried about an upcoming event, you may notice the symptoms are short-lived and usually subside after the anticipated event takes place.

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    What Makes You Anxious

    Because anxiety is a type of fear, the things weve described about fear above are also true for anxiety.

    The word anxiety tends to be used to describe worry, or when fear is nagging and persists over time. It is used when the fear is about something in the future rather than what is happening right now.

    Anxiety is a word often used by health professionals when theyre describing persistent fear. The ways that you feel when youre frightened and anxious are very similar, as the basic emotion is the same.

    Helping Whnau And Friends

    Mauria ko ku painga. Waiho ko ku wheru.Highlight my strengths. Ignore my weaknesses.

    Sometimes its easy to tell when someone isnt their usual self, but its a lot harder to know how to help, or even how to raise the issue with them. Dont be afraid to start the conversation. Say you have noticed some changes lately and to ask them if theyre OK.

    There are many ways you can make a difference. The most important thing is to ask what they need and dont make assumptions. Listen with open ears. Be patient and hold hope for them:

    • Learn about depression and anxiety especially if you havent experienced it yourself.
    • Do things together and keep the person involved.
    • Give practical support, like cooking a meal or looking after the children.
    • Go through the self-help options in this booklet with them.
    • Offer to go with them to see their health professional.

    Also Check: What Does It Feel Like To Have Anxiety Attack

    Other Sites That Can Help

    www.atareira.org.nz – Support, education and information for family and whnau.Carers New Zealand – Information and support for people in caregiver roles.Mental Health Foundation – Information about mental health covering a range of topics.Small Steps – A range of simple tools you can use to manage your stress, anxiety and low mood.

    Try Supplements Or Change Your Diet

    How to Deal with Anxiety attacks & Depression

    Changing your diet or taking supplements is definitely a long-term strategy. Research shows certain supplements or nutrients can help anxiety reduction.

    These include:

    • kava kava
    • dark chocolate

    However, it can take up to three months before your body is actually running on the nutrition these herbs and foods provide. If youre taking other medications, make sure to discuss herbal remedies with your doctor.

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    Anxiety And Depression: What Are The Possible Links

    Although clearly not identical emotional states, mental health research suggests that depression and anxiety often coexist because they can be caused by the same or similar factors. According to an article published May 2020 in the American Journal of Psychiatry, those overlapping causes can include:

    • Genetic Factors Genetic factors contribute to 40 percent of the predisposition to depressive and anxious symptoms, with 60 percent being attributed to environmental, noninherited factors. “Especially with anxiety, more so than depression, there often is some family history, and so therefore we think that there may be some genetic predisposition to this,” Connolly explains.
    • Environmental Factors Also referred to as social factors, these include experiences like trauma or neglect in early childhood, and current stressors such as relationship difficulties, unemployment, social isolation, and physical illness. People who have post-traumatic stress disorder , an anxiety disorder, are particularly likely to also develop depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
    • Pain Chronic pain, and particularly disabling pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome , low back pain, headaches, and nerve pain, are closely linked to psychological distress, including both anxiety and depression, notes Harvard Health. In fact, they say, research suggests that pain shares some biological mechanisms with anxiety and depression.

    Natural Remedies For Anxiety And Stress

    Natural remedies are generally safe to use alongside more conventional medical therapies.

    However, alterations to the diet and some natural supplements can change the way antianxiety medications work, so it is essential to consult a doctor before trying these solutions. The doctor may also be able to recommend other natural remedies.

    Also Check: How Can I Get My Anxiety Under Control

    Recognizing The Signs High

    The signs of high-functioning anxiety and depression can get hidden within seemingly reasonable justifications. Even though one might be holding down a job, going to school, or in a healthy relationship, he or she experiences disruptions in life activities that may not be necessarily obvious. Some of these hidden disruptions can be seen in behaviors such as declining social invitations with the excuse that work has been busy or stressful, sleeping more or sleeping less, and an overreliance on coping mechanisms like excessive exercise, overeating, or overindulging in alcohol or illicit substances.

    Other signs of high-functioning anxiety or depression are:

    • Pervasive self-criticism
    • Excessive worry or guilt over past or future decisions
    • An Inability slow down or to feel real joy

    The symptoms of high-functioning anxiety and depression, like other forms of anxiety and depression, only get worse over time when not treated.

    Getting Diagnosed: What To Expect

    Coping With Depression And Anxiety At Work

    Getting a diagnosis isnt one size fits all, but your primary care doc will probably want to talk about your symptoms, do an exam, and ask questions to get a clearer picture.

    Sometimes theres a physical cause of the problem. For instance, if youre low in B vitamins, vitamin D, or iron or you have an underactive thyroid, you could have symptoms that look a lot like depression.

    Your doctor might order blood or urine tests to check these numbers first. If the tests dont suggest any other causes, they may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional who can offer a specific diagnosis with the help of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 .

    Luckily, treatments for anxiety and depression run pretty similar courses, and addressing one condition often improves the other too. Your healthcare provider may recommend one or a combination of these strategies:

    Read Also: Can Melatonin Help With Anxiety

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