Stress, Depression and Anxiety

What is Stress?

Stress is our body’s response to a harmful life event or threatening situation, regardless if the threat is genuine or not. Stress can affect people in a variety of different ways and severities. What may be perceived as a stressful situation by one person, may be of little concern to another, and some individuals are better able to handle stress than others.

Our bodies are able to handle small amounts of stress. But, we are not equipped to handle long-term, chronic stress without ill consequences. It is important to remember that Stress in itself is not classed as an illness and is defined as a symptom that can lead to mental ill health through conditions such as anxiety and depression.

Signs of Stress

Some of the common symptoms of stress to watch out for can be split into four areas: psychological, emotional, physical and behavioural. The symptoms that affect you will often accumulate until you are forced to take notice of them, such as:

• Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody.

• Experiencing chest pain and a rapid heartbeat.

• Being in a constant state of worry.

• An increased reliance on alcohol, smoking, caffeine or drug use.

What is Depression?

Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time and affects your everyday life. There are different types of depression. If you are diagnosed with depression, you may be told by your GP that it is either mild, moderate or severe. This describes the symptoms you are currently experiencing and informs the treatment you will be offered. There are also specific types of depression which are:

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - This is a type of depression that only occurs at a particular time of the year or during a particular season.

• Prenatal Depression - This type of depression occurs during pregnancy.

• Postnatal Depression - This type of depression occurs in the weeks or months after becoming a parent. It is usually diagnosed in women however, it can also affect men.

• Dysthymia - This type of depression is continuous and lasts for 2 years or more.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid. It is a natural human response when we perceive that we are under threat. Most people do feel anxious at times especially when coping with stress events or changes, especially of they if it could have a big impact on your life. This is often called the fight, flight or freeze response. Anxiety becomes a mental health problem when it impacts on your ability to live your life. This could be that feelings are strong or lasts a long time, you avoid situations that may cause you to feel anxious, your feelings are hard to control and you find it hard to go about day-to-day life.

Anxiety can be experienced in different ways. Commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders include:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder - This is where you have regular and uncontrollable worries about different things in your everyday life.

• Social Anxiery Disorder - This is where you have extreme fear triggered by social situations.

• Panic Disorder - This is where you have regular panic attacks without a clear cause or trigger.

• Post Traumatice Stress Disorder - This is where you develop anxiety problems after going through something traumatic.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - This is where anxiety problems involve having repetitive thoughts, behaviours or urges.

• Body Dismorphic Disorder - This means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to your physical appearance.