May 6 - 12 Is Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week

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May is Mental Health Month. It is celebrated throughout America as to raise mental health awareness. IT is in hopes that people will educate themselves about ways to find help if they think they are suffering from any mental health problems. The week of May 6th through 12th is when mental health groups are recognizing Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week. They are encouraging talk between families and friends concerning anxiety disorder. Talking about anxiety and depression is the first step to getting help. It is often difficult to admit to ourselves let alone our family and friends , for fear that they will judge us and not understand what we are feeling. A good way to prepare to talk to people about depression and anxiety is to start a journal and write our feelings and fears. Sometimes this is a great way to identify those fears ourselves. Don’t expect your family and friends to automatically know what you are feeling or what you need. You must tell them. They cant read your mind. Be specific and help them understand what you are feeling. Remember that anxiety and depression are real. They are serious and they are treatable medical conditions. They are not in your head. Having an anxiety disorder is not a sign of weakness. Remember that recovery requires hard work on the part of the person having the anxiety disorder or depression. Everyone including the person having the problem has to be patient. Results wont happen over night. It may in fact be a slow process, but remember that the rewards are well worth the time it takes to get them. Many experts believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors much like other disorders such as diabetes or heart disease. There are several treatment options available to help with the process. Behavior Therapy The patient learns to cope with difficult situations, often through controlled exposure to them. This kind of therapy gives the individual a sense of having control over their life. Cognitive Therapy The patient examines his feelings and learns to separate realistic from unrealistic thoughts. As with Behavior Therapy, the individual is actively involved in his own recovery and has a sense of control Cognitive - Behavior Therapy Many therapists use a combination of Cognitive and Behavior Therapies, this is often referred to as CBT. One of the benefits of these types therapies is that the patient learns recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime. Relaxation Techniques This can help patients develop the ability to more effectively cope with the stresses that contribute to anxiety, as well as with some of the physical symptoms of anxiety. The techniques taught include breathing retraining and exercise. Medication Medication can be very useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and it is often used along with one or more of the therapies listed above. Sometimes anti-depressants or anti anxiety medications are used to help with severe symptoms so that other forms of therapy can go forward. Medication is effective for many people and can be either a short term or long term treatment option. This will depend on the individual.