Anxiety and Depression Awareness

Have you ever smiled in public but cried in private?

Ever felt tired not in your body, but in your soul?

That’s not laziness. That’s not a weakness.

That’s what depression and anxiety often look like.

What if the strongest person you know is silently fighting anxiety?

What if the happiest face in the room is battling depression?

Mental health doesn’t have a look and that’s why awareness matters.

Every day, millions wake up fighting thoughts they didn’t choose.

They go to work. They laugh. They survive.

But inside, depression and anxiety are loud but today, we choose to listen.

Not all wounds bleed.

Some hide behind laughter, productivity, and “I’m okay.”

Today, we’re talking about the silent battles called depression and anxiety.

What is Depression?

Depression is the feeling of deep sadness, emptiness or loss of interest for a long time. It is more than feeling sad for a day or two. Depression starts when one starts becoming uninterested in things or activities they did before.

Anxiety 

This is the constant feeling of fear, worry or nervousness, even when there is clearly no danger. A person with anxiety may feel restless, have a fast heart beat and overthink. Stress could be a factor sometimes.

Image source : web

 Understanding Mental health

Mental health is about how we think, feel, and behave every day. It affects how we handle stress, make decisions, relate with others, and cope with life’s challenges. Just like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life.

Mental health problems could affect anyone; it is not a sign of weakness. But with the right support and care people can improve their mental health and be productive.

Mental health is about taking care of the mind the way we also take care of the body,mental health is important to live a fulfilling life

Why Mental health Awareness is important 

Mental health awareness is important because it helps people understand, accept and support mental well- being. When people 

are aware about mental health problems early they tend to seek help before things 

get worse.

Awareness also helps to reduce stigma. Lots of individuals with mental health problems often suffer in silence because they fear being judged or misunderstood. Talking about mental health conditions reminds us that mental health issues are real, common and treatable.

Signs and Symptoms of depression and anxiety 

For Depression 

• Loss of interest in activities 

• Feeling tired or low in energy 

• Withdrawal from friends and family 

• Thought of death and suicide 

       Feeling sad,empty or hopeless most of the time.

Image source : Wikipedia 

For Anxiety 

          1.constant worry and fear

           2. Feeling restless or unable to relax 

           3. Trouble sleeping 

           4. Feeling restless or unable to relax

           5. Sweating, shaking, or dizziness 

Image source : Wikipedia 

Causes and risk factors of depression and anxiety

Causes

1.longterm stress and pressure 

2. Past trauma

3. Major life challenges ( failed relationships, divorce, loss of a loved one etc.

4. Long term substance use

Risk factors 

1.Negative thinking pattern

2. Poverty or financial  difficulties 

3. Poor Sleep habits

4. Unemployment or work pressure 

Effects on daily life

How depression affects daily Activities 

Depression can make daily tasks feel slow, hard and overwhelming. It affects energy, motivation and concentration which can result to an unproductive day

Depression can also affect daily routine, work ,school and our relationship with others too, causing prolonged response to activities which would have been attended to early enough but delayed due to the state of the mind as it is the time.

Depression and anxiety causes a whole lot to our life if not properly managed or measures aren't put in place to curb it.

Coping and Support 

Healthy ways to cope with depression includes 

1 Talk to someone about it

Share your feelings and thoughts with a trusted friend or relative, talking helps reduce the burden. Don't suffer in silence.

2. Seek Professional help 

Open up to a therapist or counselor ,if treatment is prescribed follow it

3. Practice self care

Get enough sleep, take care of personal hygiene ,eat balanced meals and read edifying books to build your mind.

4. Do things that give you joy and makes you happy like listen to music, read or spend time with nature

5. Avoid alcohol or drugs 

   They worsen depression as it doesn't make it better 

Treatment and Help

Depression and anxiety are treatable and many people recover with taking the right steps.

Professional Treatment 

1.Therapy or counselling 

Talking to a trained mental health professional can go a long way to help cure depression and anxiety 

2. Medications

There are medications that can be prescribed by doctors to help balance mood or reduce the symptoms 

They are anti depressant drugs that help balance mood they include SSRIs and SNRIs

SSRIs: 

 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors 

Examples include 

1. Fluoxetine 

2. Settling

3. Citalopram

4. Paroxetine 

SNRIs : 

serotonin and Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors they are also used to cure anxiety 

Examples include 

1.venlafaxine

2. Desvenlafaxine 

NB: these medications must be prescribed by a doctor as the prescription of these medications depend on the person's symptoms and health conditions 

Image source: Wikipedia 

3. Support System

Someone trying to recover from anxiety and depression needs good support around them be it family or trusted friends to help them get through that phase

4. Stay Active 

Keep your mind active by engaging in productive activities like exercise, reading, sleeping and eating well balanced food and surround yourself with people who make you happy.

Hope and Recovery 

Are possible for people living with depression and anxiety with the right support, treatment and eating and living right.

And society needs to stop with the stigma being put on persons battling with depression and anxiety because they are humans ,they need to be shown love and not be mocked or laughed at so that recovery becomes easy for them.

Conclusion

Depression and anxiety are common mental health conditions people go through, it is not a sign of weakness. People with these mental health conditions should be shown love and not criticism.

With awareness and support from loved ones and professionals people can get help and pass through the phase. Even people in society need to be enlightened about depression and anxiety and how it can be managed. There should be sensitization programs for depression and anxiety.