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Depression, Anxiety, and Mixed Depression/Anxiety
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of interest in activities. Symptoms include low energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Episodes last most of the day for at least two weeks and can significantly impair daily functioning. Depression results from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors, such a, but not limited to, trauma or chronic stress.
- Effects on Quality of Life: Depression can undermine relationships, reduce productivity at work or school, and increase the risk of physical health problems like cardiovascular disease.
- Normal vs. Abnormal Symptoms: Normal sadness may occur in response to life events but is temporary and proportional to circumstances. Abnormal depression persists often irrespective of positive external changes resulting in a deepening sense of hopelessness and an incremental, yet persistent, disruption of daily life.
Anxiety
Anxiety involves excessive worry or fear that interferes with daily functioning – sometimes these symptoms are generalised across a person’s life (Generalised Anxiety) and sometimes the anxiety is specific (e.g., Social Anxiety or Phobias). Symptoms include restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances, as well as feeling on high alert most of the time. Physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat or gastrointestinal issues may also occur.
- Effects on Quality of Life: Anxiety can impair decision-making, strain relationships, and reduce enjoyment in life. Chronic anxiety may lead to physical health issues like hypertension.
- Normal vs. Abnormal Symptoms: Feeling anxious before a major event (e.g., exams) is normal. Abnormal anxiety is persistent and disproportionate to the situation, causing significant distress and/or avoidance behaviors.
Mixed Depression/Anxiety
Mixed anxiety-depressive disorder (MADD) occurs when symptoms of anxiety and depression coexist but are not severe enough to warrant separate diagnoses. Symptoms include dysphoric mood lasting at least four weeks with features like irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, and hopelessness.
- Effects on Quality of Life: MADD reduces functioning in daily tasks and diminishes overall well-being due to the combined impact of anxiety and depression.
- Normal vs. Abnormal Symptoms: Occasional worry or sadness is normal during stressful periods. MADD becomes abnormal when symptoms persist for weeks and interfere with functioning.
Getting Help
If symptoms persist for weeks or disrupt daily life, seeking professional help is recommended.
Seeking help from a psychologist will offer the client a range of skills, strategies and insights that will contribute them feeling more in charge of their emotions and fundamentally lead confidence in their capacity to experience emotional variance contributing to an emotionally satisfying life.
It is very important to differentiate between normal and clinical experiences of anxiety and/or depression. This ability to differentiate can be facilitated by a therapeutic alliance within which both the psychologist and the client explore the severity of the client’s experience, the context within which the experience took/takes place and the contributing & maintaining factors, as well as the impact upon daily life.
Such a therapeutic alliance can empower the client who, up until now, experienced all emotions as threatening leading to an increase in hopelessness, helplessness, isolation, detachment, and/or fear.
Contact Us!
For more information, feel free to reach out via our online form or contact us directly on (08) 6256 3930 — we’re here to help.
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