Depression and Anxiety

Anxiety

All people feel anxious, nervous or worried at times. However, some people may experience a feeling that their worry is ‘out of control’ or it may start to interfere with their normal life.

The experience of anxiety will vary from person to person. Symptoms of anxiety may include:

Excessive worrying - thoughts keep running through your head over and over again
Hating uncertainty - wanting to know what is going to happen in the future and finding the experience of not knowing difficult to cope with
Feeling restless - unable to relax, feeling on edge
Physically tense - other physical symptoms may include trembling, sweating, faintness / dizziness, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, upset stomach or nausea
Irritability
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Problems concentrating
Procrastinating - thinking about getting things done but putting them off because it all feels too much or too overwhelming
Avoiding - avoiding situations which worry you or make you feel anxious or nervous

Psychological treatment has been found to be very effective in the treatment for anxiety. Other treatments used to address anxiety include medication and making lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise, reducing caffeine and other dietary changes.

Your General Practitioner or Psychologist will be able to provide you with more information on these treatment options.

Depression

Depression is an illness that causes a person to feel sad and hopeless much of the time. It is different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy.

The symptoms of depression may include:

Persistent sad, anxious or ‘empty’ mood
Feelings of exhaustion a lot of the time, with no energy
Having trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
Experiencing changes in eating and sleeping habits
Losing interest in things that were previously enjoyed
Feelings of guilt and hopelessness, wondering if life is worth living
Experiencing increased physical complaints, such as fatigue or pain
Increased irritability or frustration
Spending less time with friends and family

Psychological treatments used by Psychologists may not only help a person to recover, but can also help to prevent a recurrence of depression. For more information on treatment options you should see your GP or Psychologist.

Exercise and depression

Regular physical activity significantly reduces the risk of developing depression as well as being an effective treatment for those with mild – moderate depression.

How exercise improves depression:

Exercise changes endorphin and monoamine (hormone) levels which improve our moods
Exercise reduces the levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) produced – which leads to improvements in mood
Increases social contact
Provides a diversion from negative thoughts
Assists with positive sleeping patterns
Reduces fatigue levels