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Anxiety and Depression. Module C: Lesson 4. A Report on Mental Illness in Canada. Anxiety disorders affect 12% of the population. Many do not seek treatment because: Consider the symptoms mild or normal. Symptoms interfere with help-seeking
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Anxiety and Depression Module C: Lesson 4
A Report on Mental Illness in Canada • Anxiety disorders affect 12% of the population. • Many do not seek treatment because: • 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.
What are Anxiety Disorders? • This is a fear or worry causing a person to avoid situations that might precipitate the anxiety or to develop compulsive rituals. • Most of us experience anxiety or feel anxious every day. • Concern for 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.
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.
Types of Anxiety Disorders • GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) • Specific Phobia • Post Traumatic Stress • Social Phobia • Obsessive Compulsive • Panic Disorder
Causes • No single explanation for the cause of anxiety disorders • Inherited tendency • Stressful experiences • Shy temperament • Anxious parents • Unpredictable lifestyle
Depression • Depression is a mental disorder that affects a person’s: • Thoughts, moods, feelings, behaviour and physical health. • Many thought it was just in ones head • Misconceptions of “you can snap out of it”, or “just get over it”, would cure someone. • It is a 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
Signs and Symptoms • Two main symptoms: • Lack of interest in normal day living • Feeling in the dumps showing feelings of sadness + helplessness. • Different age groups may react differently to depression. • Other signs and symptoms lasting two weeks or more are: • Changes in sleep patterns, concentration, weight or eating patterns, demeanour, self-esteem, and desire to live, gastrointestinal problems, headache and backache
Types of Depression • Major Depression • The feeling of sad, blue, unhappy, miserable or down in the dumps. • Dysthymia • Chronic type of depression. • Adjustment disorder • Emotional and behavioural reaction that develops within 3 months of a life stress. • Bipolar Disorder • Condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression. • The mood swings between mania and depression are very quick. • Seasonal Affective Disorder • Episodes of depression that occur during certain times of the year.
Activity #2 • Online you will choose a self assessment test in one of the following categories. • Anxiety Test • Coping Skills Test • Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating Test • Optimism/Pessimism Test • Resilience Test • Self-Esteem Test • Social Anxiety Test • Once you have chosen an assessment test, in your journal, write down the test name and your results. What does it tell you?
Activity #3 • This learning activity will enable you to become more acquainted with various mental health issues and some of their signs and symptoms. • Procedure: • On your own read each scenario and predict the disability. • You will have 10 minutes to figure out which mental health issue your scenario describes. You will also respond to three questions.
Activity #3 Cont. • From what mental health issue to do think the person described in the scenario is suffering? Provide reasons for your decision (signs, symptoms, and causes) • What advice and assistance would you offer the person in the scenario? Explain • Which health care professionals would best be able to help the person? Give reasons
Prevention Strategies • Control your feelings through healthy lifestyle practices can help prevent anxiety. • 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
Activity #4 • Exercises as the Best Preventative Medicine • Research the benefits of exercise and physical activity for mental-emotional health and present findings in different ways. • E.g. B – Take deep breaths • E – Exercise • A – Attitude • C – Confidence • T – Time • I – Inactive • V – Vigorous • E - Endorphin