What is the long-term problems related to depression?
Depression is
a complex illness with a number of different faces and not everyone shows
the same symptoms. Some people, for example, appear to be suffering more
from anxiety than depression.
Living with anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety include hyper-vigilance, severe tension, panic
attack, perceived danger, phobia and phobic avoidance, doubt, insecurity
and performance fears. Depression features physical slowness, sadness,
perceived loss, loss of interest, despair, poor self-esteem, loss of
libido, early morning waking and weight loss. However, anxiety often
accompanies depression. It is important to try to reduce your anxiety
levels.
If anxiety becomes disabling, you are no longer living your life fully
and perceive constraints in every area of it. Relaxation techniques and
cognitive or behavioral therapy are the best treatments.
How to
reduce your anxiety levels
You will not
be able to do all these things, but doing just a few will start to
improve your outlook on life.
-
Take the first
small steps to resolve long-term dilemmas.
-
Make a list of
all the things worrying you, then begin to deal with them. If you can
manage to resolve just one each week, you will start to fell much better.
-
Increase the
amount of exercise you take.
-
Try to ensure
that you eat at least three times a day - and never skip breakfast.
-
Go to bed one
hour earlier than you normally do.
-
Take time out
for activities that you enjoy, such as frying a kite, squash, cinema,
reading, watching a football match.
-
Listen to a
relaxation tape while breathing deeply.
Anxiety or
Depression?
ANXIETY
- doubt
- insecurity
- hyper vigilance
- panic attacks
- perceived danger
- phobia and phobic avoidance
- tension
|
DEPRESSION
- apathy
- despair
- early morning waking
- loss of libido
- low self-esteem
- sadness
- slowness
- perceived loss
- weight loss
|
Obsessive-compulsive ideas
Some people suffering with depression also develop signs of perfectionism
that may border on obsessive-compulsive ideas - excessive checking,
cleaning, washing and list-making and disabling procrastination. This
behavior, which also damages your self-esteem, can be described as a
manifestation of anxiety and can be treated in the same way. If
obsessive-compulsive tendencies start to encroach on your normal life,
you should seek help in the form of medication and therapy through your
family doctor.
Key Facts:
Keep to a routine for eating, washing and sleeping. Do not be afraid to
ask a friend, a member of the family or your doctor for help. Try not to
let things go. If you cannot cope with your finances, for example, ask a
relative or friend to help you with checking your bank statements and
paying your bills. Some kinds of anti-depressants act fast to relieve
anxiety and ease tension. If you show signs of obsessive-compulsive
disorder, as well as depression, you doctor will be able to prescribe the
type of anti-depressant that can help both conditions.
