Anxiety and Depression

1. Anxiety and Depression Module C: Lesson 3 Grade 11 Active, Healthy Lifestyles

2. A Report on Mental Illnesses in Canada • Anxiety disorders affect 12% of the population • Many may not seek treatment for their anxiety • Consider the symptoms mild or normal • Symptoms interfere with help-seeking • NO weakness associated with seeking help if one is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed

3. Anxiety Disorders • Most of us experience anxiety or feel anxious every day • Concern over lack of control over circumstances • May generate a solution but usually results in negative thinking • May be an illness • Comes out of nowhere, is excessive, persists for many weeks without relief or interferes with everyday life

4. Signs and Symptoms • Shortness of breath • Feelings of unreality • Shakiness • Irritability • Muscle aches and tension • Insomnia • Tight chest • Restlessness • Racing heart • Sweating and nausea • Choking sensations • Abdominal distress • Numbness or tingling • Feel short-tempered and apprehensive, fearing that bad things are about to happen • Can cause significant personal and societal costs • Lost wages • Decreased productivity • Reduced quality of life • Frequent use of health care services

5. Types • Generalized anxiety disorder • Panic disorder • Specific phobias • Social anxiety disorder • Obsessive compulsive disorder • Post-traumatic stress disorder

6. Causes • No single explanation for the cause of anxiety disorders • Inherited tendency • Stressful experiences • Shy temperament • Anxious parents • Unpredictable lifestyle

7. Depression • Affects a person’s thoughts, moods, feelings, behaviour and physical health • Not a weakness and cannot treat on own • Medical disorder with a biological and chemical basis • Genetics or family interaction styles • Stressful life event. • Spontaneously with no specific identifiable cause • May occur only once, sporadically or chronically

8. Signs and Symptoms • Lack of interest in normal daily living • Feeling miserable or “down in the dumps” • Feelings of sadness and helplessness or may cry often • Other signs and symptoms lasting at least two weeks • Changes in sleep patterns, concentration, weight or eating patterns, demeanour, self-esteem, and desire to live, gastrointestinal problems, headache and backache • Different age groups may react differently

9. Types • Major depression • Dysthymia • Adjustment disorders • Bipolar disorder • Seasonal affective disorder

10. Signs and Symptoms of Mental Health Issues

11. Self-Assessment of Mental Health • Choose a self-test you would like to try • Discuss results if desired • Anxiety Test • Coping Skills Test • Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating Test • Optimism/Pessimism Test • Resilience Test • Self-Esteem Test • Social Anxiety Test

12. Signs and Symptoms of Mental Health Issues • Review the Mental Health Scenarios to become more acquainted with various mental health issues and some of their signs and symptoms

13. Prevention Strategies • Control your feelings through healthy lifestyle practices • Deep breathing, relaxation, guided imagery or visualization, yoga, meditation and calming self-talk • Physical exercise • Not a cure but its psychological and physical benefits can improve the symptoms

14. Exercise as the Best Preventive Medicine • Research the benefits of exercise and physical activity for mental-emotional health and present findings in different ways

15. Seeking Professional Help • Diagnosis of depression should be left to a health professional

16. Community Supports and Services • Research supports and services for mental-emotional health issues available in the local community or in the province