Depression and anxiety

What is depression and anxiety?

Depression (feelings of extreme sadness and low mood) is common. About 15% of people will have a major bout of depression at some point in their lives and it is the fourth most common cause of disability worldwide. Depression can last for a long time, often interfering with your daily life. It can last for days, weeks, months or even years.

Anxiety is a complex combination of the feeling of fear, apprehension and worry. It can also bring about physical sensations such as palpitations, chest pain and/or shortness of breath. A chronically recurring case of anxiety that has a serious effect on your life would be clinically diagnosed as an anxiety disorder.

How can I manage my depression and and/or anxiety?

You might find that you suffer from depression and/or anxiety if you suffer from other medical conditions. It is important that you control your illness with any medication prescribed by your doctor, however you might benefit from:

• Support groups - attending groups focusing on depression and anxiety might help you to share your experiences with others in the same position as you
• Psychological treatments - these can be in the form of counselling or behaviour therapy
• Relaxing - calm yourself by using a relaxation technique. This will help your body to renew its energy and your mind to feel calm and refreshed
• Diet and exercise - a healthy diet gives you all the essential nutrients you need and by exercising regularly you will have more energy to cope with your difficulties
• Talking to your GP, practice nurse or health trainer about how else you can help your self