It doesn’t really matter what age you are, anxiety and depression can strike when you least expect it. It might be that you’ve experienced bouts before in your life and know what you need to do, however hard it is. On the other hand, experiencing the symptoms of anxiety and depression might be a whole new ball game and one that’s hugely unwelcome.
In this blog we look at how you can recognise some of the symptoms and what you can do to help yourself back onto the road to recovery.
Depression
It may be that you have experienced depression before and generally have the symptoms under control. If you are taking medication but feel the symptoms of depression coming then you may need to just check with your doctor that your medication is at the right level. Don’t be scared to go and voice your concerns and get the adjustments you need. The effect may take several days to be noticeable and if you are still struggling then do make a return appointment.
If you haven’t experienced depression before then there are physical and emotional symptoms to look out for.
Physically you might feel heavy and sluggish and that your brain is operating in something of a fog, making it hard to concentrate. You might feel exhausted and yet unable to sleep or find yourself sleeping far more often than you would usually. You might also experience a loss in appetite and have little desire to look after yourself, including eating and washing.
Emotionally, you may find yourself wanting to withdraw from the world and stay inside. You might find that you have no desire to talk to anyone and feel overwhelmingly sad and down. This may be coupled with some other feelings of anxiety or paranoia and a sense that you’re simply not good enough. In extreme cases, these feelings may lead to self-harming or thoughts of suicide.
It’s important to get seen as soon as possible. If you were experiencing any other illness or worried about your health or hearing you’d go and see a doctor or audiologist, learn more here, it’s the same for your mental health too.
Anxiety
Unlike depression, anxiety in its generalised form can spring from nowhere. If you’re under stress from work or worried about a future event, very often anxiety can creep into your life. You’ll notice that you feel a little more vulnerable and paranoid. You might experience shortness of breath of hyperventilating. In extreme cases, this might translate into a panic attack.
Your mental health is something to take seriously. Illness can affect anyone at any time and isn’t a sign of weakness, just a response to a physical condition or to the events going on around you. It’s important to get help as early as you can.
You might not feel like talking to anyone or doing anything but the sooner you’re on the road to recovery, the sooner you will start to feel better.
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