As I'm wading in waters not just of complexity but of confusion, two articles will be necessary, I think, to sift through all the facts, misunderstandings, and finally treatments of Depression and Anxiety.
Even Bipolar disorder may be misread and wrongly medicated.
It's absolutely vital that the patient describes his or her exact symptoms to the doctor.
Don't be surprised, indeed be relieved, if the doctor sends you away for a week in order for him to dig more deeply into your condition.
This is particularly important regarding Bipolar disorder.
If antidepressant medication is given to a Bipolar patient, the drug will probably produce severe manic episodes which will result in reckless behaviour, poor judgment, excessive euphoria and impulsive decisions.
A mood stabilizer, like Lithium as well as anti convulsive drugs such as Depakote or Lamictal are called for if you suffer this condition.
The trouble is that no-one can deny the fact that a feeling of euphoria is a pleasant one.
The patient, therefore, may be tempted to ignore the manic phase of the illness, only to concentrate on its depressive nature.
They may feel that once they can rid themselves of this, then life will be a bed of roses.
Roses maybe, but with very nasty thorns! A busy doctor will listen to what you tell him and probably medicate accordingly.
At least with those suffering from Bipolar disease, once the doctor has all the facts, then the illness isn't difficult to diagnose.
Not so with Depression and Anxiety.
Before going any further, some quite startling statistics are available.
In any six month period, 9.
4 million Americans suffer from depression, and worldwide this figure balloons to an alarming 340 million.
Because of mental illnesses, out of 100,000 people, 6.
3 African Americans are likely to commit suicide, Hispanics about the same, while the figure for Caucasians shoots up to 12.
3.
It's so easy to see, then, how important treatment is for adverse conditions of the mind.
The thin grey line comes into its own when we consider the vexing similarities of both Depression and Anxiety, and yet they're very different animals.
Here's a shortened list of symptoms for both illnesses so that not only may you make an assessment of the condition from which you may be suffering.
It will also allow you to tell the doctor in much more positive terms.
It can be very difficult to sit down in front of your physician and reel off a list of complaints, such as; "I feel depressed and my appetite isn't as it should be.
" I can remember feeling decidedly foolish at times.
Let's face it, we all feel 'down' on occasion and our appetites can vary, especially if we're going through a difficult period at home or at work.
So here are the symptoms of Anxiety.
Continuous feeling of apprehension and fear, excessive anxiety, physical feelings of muscle tension, agitation, nausea, dissociation, breathing difficulties - shortness of breath, diarrhoea, continual sense of tenseness as though you're waiting for something to happen.
If you're a perfectionist, you're always worrying about whether you've completed a task satisfactorily.
You may fear death, but you don't dwell on suicide.
Depression.
Feelings of hopelessness, misery and sadness.
You move more slowly and seem not to have any energy.
Loss of interest and ambition, suicidal thoughts.
I hope that by laying the symptoms out like this, it may assist you, partly to compare your own feelings, and partly to help you when you go to the doctor