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Butterfly_Faerie · Apr 22, 2004, 12:05 PM

The next bit of posts about GAD and Depression is from a new phamplet that i picked up today.

Reading the signs of DEPRESSION AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

the symptoms of depression and GAD aren't

*feeling tired or having little energy most of the day, every day.
*changes in your sleeping pattern (e.g. having alot of trouble falling/staying asleep)
*having touble concentrating , remember or making decisions
*feeling agitated or irritable nearly every day[/b]

While these symptoms overlap the two, depression and GAD do have some classic symptoms that do differ

In depression these include:

*feeling sad or down most days, every day for weeks or months
*loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, including sex
*appetite/weight change
*significant feelings of hoplessness, worthlessness or guilt
*recurring thoughts of death or suicide

In generalized anxiety disorder, these may include:

*overwhelming worry more days then not for at least 6 months
*feeling restless or "on edge"
*muscle tension

It's important to remember that what makes these symptoms different from ordinary experience is 1) they're lasting; 2)they cause you significant distress; 3)they're interfering with your life and happiness. If you think you may have depression or GAD, it's also important to remember that the eariler you share your feelings with your doctor, the close you get to peace of mind. Reading through the "3 key truths about Depression and GAD" is a great first step.

Key Truth #1:

Depression and GAD are real

Depression and generalized anxiety disorder are medical illnesses- no less real then other illnesses like diabetes or heart disease. So let's begin by putting out some of the myths about them to rest.

What depression and generalized anxiety disorder AREN'T:

*The ordinary "blues" we all feel from time to time that pass relatively quickly
*The fleeting worries and stresses over every day life
*Signs of a personal flaw, weakness or failure
*just something you can snap out of, forget about, or will away all on your own
*rare conditions that affect only one gender, or people from particular walks of life
*Anything to be ashamed of
*Something you have to life with

What depression and generalized anxiety disorder ARE:

*Medical illnesses that have often lasted for many years
*Common- affecting man and women from all walks of life
*Caused by variety of factors
*Treatable conditions

Real Illnesses, various possible causes

Although depression and GAD can sometimes seem like they've come out of the blue, they usually develop through a mix of factors such as: genetics, biology, life events, and personal styles.

Genetics- Depression and GAD tend to run in families. That's why your doctor will want to know about family history.

Biology- Some people with these illnesses are thought to have imbalance in naturally occuring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It's believed that the imbalance leads to many of the emotional and behavioural symptoms.

Life Events- Going through a number of stressful life events, or traumas (such as serious illness, abuse, divorce, or losing a meaningful job) can make some people more vulnerable to depression or GAD

Personality Styles- Traits like being self-critical or having low self-esteem can also put people at greater risk.

Key Truth #2:

Depression and GAD are common

How common? We know that over the course of a lifetime, 17% of people will experience depression, and 5% of people will experience GAD.

That means, the chances are good that many people you know will either go through these illnesses themselves, or know someone who will.

Today, it's also known more women are diagnosed with depression and/or GAD then men- the ratio os about 2:1. However, it's not known whether this is just because women have symptoms that are easier to recongize, or whether women simply seek help more often.

The curious think about depression and GAD is that although that are common, they can make you feel very alone. Really, nothing could be further from the truth. And talking to your doctor about your experience is the first step to feeling better.

Key Truth #3:

Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder are treatable

Talking to your doctor

As stated ealier, everyone deserves to have peace of mind. And today, there are effective treatments for depression and GAD that have helped guide many people towards it. Some of these treatments include talk therapy (psychotherapy) and medications

Since everyone experiences depression and GAD in his/her own way, treatments should be individual too.

But how do you find an appropriate treatmen for you? It all starts by having an open, honest discussion with your doctor. Sharing your feelings can be difficult, but remember- you don't have to live with the symptoms of depression or GAD. After all, your doctor is there to help. He or she has experienced in treating these illnesses, and is ready, willing and able to lead you towards peace of mind.

Here are a few tips to help you approach your doctor:

*Jot down your feelings/symptoms in the few weeks before your appointment, and bring your record with you. Are the symptoms ongoing, or did the come and go? Are they triggered by anything specific? This information will be helpful to your doctor.

*Don't forget to mention your state of mind when you're talking to your doctor about state of your body. e.g. physical problems such as headaches or nausea. Have you been feeling out of sorts? Worrying more then usual? Let your doctor know.

*Bring along a close friend or family member to help you remember anything you have have forgotten, or just for support. They might also be able to help give your doctor a more detailed family history.

*If you can, have a few questions ready about depression or GAD, any available treatments, or what to expect. Having your questions answered can certainly help.

Treatment Options-TALK THERAPY

Today, treament, two common and effective forms of talk therapy, or psycotherapy, are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT). Here's a look at the basics of each:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Many people with depression or GAD have negative, self-defeating ways of thinking that have become automatic, they aren't even aware of them. in CBT, a trained therapist helps recognize and change these harmful patterns that can affect the way you feel about yourself, others, and the world around you. For instance, someone with depression or GAD may have inappropriate guilt feelings about a particular situation and think, "it's all my fault," when they really had nothing to do with it. This can lead to feeling sad and hopeless, and it may be difficult to cope. Through CBT, people learn to break such cycles by replacing negative, unrealistic thoughts with more postive, realistic ones. By giving you a new understanding of how your thoughts affect your emotions, CBT can help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms and keep them from coming back.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

This form of therapy can help people with depression understand how their relationships affect their emotions, and vice versa. Specifically, IPT looks at the ways in which relationship disturbances, such as serious conflicts, may be linked to depression symptoms like excessive guilt or low self-esteem. Examining relationships in this way helps many people gain insight into feelings they may not have been aware of. Through interpersonal therapy, you can learn different, more effective ways of handling difficult relationship issues. This, in turn, can help keep symptoms under control.

Treatment options-MEDICATIONS

As we saw in the "causes" section, it's believed that some people with depression and GAD may have an imbalance in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. So how do anti-depressants or antianxiety medications work? Some medications work on changing the level of these chemicals in the brain, which helps ease the symptoms. Some of these may affect more then one neurotransmitter. Still other types of medications work in different ways/

As always, talking to you doctor early on is the best way to find the treatment that's appropriate for you.

Why a little patients goes a long way

The good news is- the sooner you ask for help, the sooner you start on appropriate therapy, the sooner peace of mind could be yours.

It's now known that the ultimate goal in anti-depressant theray is full remission (ie. To be virtually symptom-free), and to keep your symptoms from coming back. So set standards high.

At the same time, having a little patience is very important. Why? first, all treatments take time to work, sit it may take a few weeks to a month for you to notice a change. Second, while any medications carries a risk of side effects, some of these may tend to pass with time. And finally, having patience can help you make the most of your therapy. By staying with your treatment dfor as long as your doctor reccomends (and not stopping without checking first), you can help prevent symptoms from returning.

In addition to medication and talk therapy, there are many things you can do to care for yourself. And often the little things can make a big difference. Paying attention to your diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and increasing your sources of support can help.

~Sundance~

"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."

Norman Vincent Peale