Healthy Living

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognizing Types of Depression and Anxiety

 

Feeling blue or sad is a common reaction to everyday events in life that are difficult or disappointing. Most people experience feelings of sadness over losses, like the end of a relationship or the death of a friend or loved one. Feeling sad over events like these is normal and getting over such things takes time.

If you find yourself unable to get over your feelings of sadness, you may have some form of depression and need some help to recover.
 
Factors that Increase Your Risk of Developing Depression

  • Being female. Women are twice as likely as men to experience feelings of depression. Hormonal changes may be a part of this, which is probably why women can become depressed before they start their period (premenstrual syndrome, or PMS), during pregnancy, or shortly after giving birth (postpartum depression).
  • Personal or family history of depression. You are more likely to experience feelings of depression if you have a history of depression, anxiety disorder, or other mental illnesses in your family.
  • Having medical problems—such as cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, or Parkinson's.
  • Alcohol or substance abuse or withdrawal from these substances.
  • Experiencing stressful life events.
  • Lacking the support of family and friend.
  • Having less than a high school education.

Signs of depression that may indicate a need for treatment vary from person to person. If you are feeling sad and don’t feel like doing the things you usually find fun, check out the following list for signs of depression. If you are also experiencing 4 or more of the following symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, you may be depressed.

Signs of Depression

  • Changes in appetite or weight.
  • If others tell you that they have noticed that you have become more restless or less energetic.
  • Feeling tired or sleepy all of the time.
  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping more than usual.
  • Inability to concentrate or make decisions.
  • Feelings of hopelessness.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
  • Thinking about death or killing yourself a lot.

Types of Depression and Related Mood Disorders
"Mood swings" are considered normal among women, teens and children. They are related to changes associated with pregnancy, childbirth and are also a normal part of growing. Because mood swings are common, when depression happens it can be overlooked. If depression is left unnoticed and untreated, it can have life threatening results and lead to suicide.

Postpartum Depression
Many women who have new babies have depression that sets in after they’ve had their babies. It is impossible to know whether or not you will experience postpartum depression, but some factors that contribute to it are:

  • Being a young mother.
  • Having an unexpected pregnancy.
  • Not having enough money or feeling isolated from other people.
  • Having an unstable relationship.
  • Experiencing violence or abuse.
  • Having chronic or serious health problems.
  • Having a baby with health problems.
  • Having a baby that you feel is demanding.
  • Feeling that having a baby is not what you thought it would be.

 

Signs of Postpartum Depression

  • Depressed mood.
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in day-to-day activities.
  • Sleeping too much or too little.
  • Being over active or feeling very tired.
  • Feeling hungry all the time or losing your appetite.
  • Crying a lot, and feeling sad, irritable, or guilty most of the time.
  • Feeling worthless.
  • Having a hard time concentrating.
  • Thinking about death or killing yourself a lot.

Anxiety
Anxiety can be described as a feeling of worry or nervousness. Feeling this way can be, and often is, a normal part of everyday life. Everyone feels more or less anxious from time to time. This kind of anxiety can actually motivate you and help you focus your attention and energy on something you want to do.
Anxiety causes symptoms to appear without warning but they usually come and go fairly quickly. If your anxiety is severe, you are likely to feel extremely worried, confused, fearful, and out of control. You may feel unable to talk or think clearly when you’re feeling anxious. Anxiety like this is not normal, especially if it interferes with your daily life. It could also be a symptom of other problems like depression or anxiety disorders.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Trembling, twitching, or shaking.
  • Feeling of fullness in the throat or chest.
  • Breathlessness or rapid heartbeat.
  • Light-headedness or dizziness.
  • Sweating or cold, clammy hands.
  • Feeling jumpy.
  • Muscle tension, aches, or soreness (myalgias).
  • Extreme tiredness.
  • Sleep problems, such as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, early waking, or restlessness (not feeling rested when you wake up).

Emotional Symptoms of Anxiety

  • Restlessness, irritability, or feeling on edge or keyed up.
  • Worrying a lot.
  • Fearing that something bad is going to happen; feeling doomed or like you might die.
  • Inability to concentrate; feeling like your mind goes blank.


For more information on depression and anxiety, contact your doctor and visit the Depression and anxiety - Preventing & Dealing section of this website under Healthy Living, or visit the websites below:

 

BC Health Guide – Feeling Depressed
http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/symptom/dmood/overview.htm

BC Health Guide – Postpartum Depression
http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/major/tn9653/descrip.htm

BC Health Guide – Anxiety
http://www.bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/symptom/anxty/overview.htm

BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/publications/factsheets/depression

Canadian Mental Health Association – Anxiety Disorders
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-94&lang=1

Canadian Mental Health Association – Mood Disorders – Depression
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-86&lang=1

 

 

Sources:

Baby’s Best Chance: Parents’ Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care 6th edition (2005). Province of British Columbia: Ministry of Health.
Edmonton Capital Health: Frequently Asked Questions About Children and Sleep.
http://www.capitalhealth.ca/YourHealth/BrowseByTopic/content.asp?guid=6DFA8BCA-870B-4DB9-8CD8-
36A001CCA915&NavType=Topic&Level_1_ID=71&Level_2_ID=2135&Level_3_ID=&Level_4_ID=
WebMD: Sleep Disorders: How Much Sleep Do You Need?
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-needs