Stressed or Depressed? How to identify and manage your mental state

We are living in uncertain and unprecedented times. You’re probably tired of hearing that phrase, but it’s an unfortunate truth. The ‘new normal’ of 2020 has had a profound impact on us, mentally, socially, and emotionally. With the amount of stress we as a society are facing right now, it’s no wonder that we’ve seen a sharp increase in reports of mental health issues. The most common being anxiety and depression. 

But this isn’t a new phenomenon. Depression can be seen as a common side-effect of the 21^st-century life that requires you to be ‘on’ all the time –– whether it's performing double duty at work or portraying the perfect social media life. You probably feel the same as many of us: trapped. But how can you tell if life is just stressing you out, or if you’re facing something more serious? We’re here to help you understand the difference, and find the right neuropsychiatric disorder treatment to help you live your best life.

What is stress?

Stress is a normal part of everyday life. It can be the result of a big project with a tight deadline or two hours stuck in a traffic jam, or even just the morning rush to get your kids to school on time. At a low level, it can even be good for you, helping you stay alert and focused on a task. However at high levels, stress can cause serious problems, such as:

• Lack of focus or an inability to complete tasks
• Trouble falling asleep or staying awake
• Burn-out
• Memory problems
• Poor or changed dietary habits
• Anger or irritation
• Trouble functioning at work
• Low immunity
• Headaches and body pain

High stress levels, if left unchecked, can lead to a variety of other mental health issues — including depression.

What is depression?

Many people confuse depression with being sad. But it’s more than that. While sadness is an emotion that everyone feels at some point, depression is actually a category of mental health disorders that covers a variety of illnesses including bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) and postpartum depression. What we tend to think of as depression is specifically Major Depressive Disorder. 

Depression is a mental health condition that impacts your ability to carry out day to day functions. According to the DSM-5, to be diagnosed with Major Depression you must be experiencing five or more symptoms over a two week period, and at least one of those symptoms should be either a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure. Other symptoms of depression are:

• Significant change in weight (either increase or decrease) without change in diet
• Sudden increase or decrease in appetite
• Observable slowing-down of thought and reduction of physical movement
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
• Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt nearly every day
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly every day
• Suicidal thoughts

A depressed person may find it difficult to complete daily tasks, withdraw from the people around them, and suffer from episodes of intense sadness and low self-esteem.

How can you deal with these issues?

The good news is,  whether you’re suffering from high stress or depression, there are ways to manage and treat the problems.

Stress

You can combat day to day stress in a variety of ways. These range from something as simple as taking more breaks, to more drastic measures, like cutting back work hours whenever possible. Some lifestyle changes that can help reduce the stress in your life include:

• Picking up a hobby
• Meditating for a few minutes each day
• Turning off your news alerts
• Unplugging from technology
• Making a schedule (and sticking to it)
• Playing a sport
• Ending the day with a hot shower

But just because you can manage stress alone, doesn’t mean you have to. When things get too overwhelming, talk to your friends or even a mental health professional. When you have the chance to get your worries and frustrations off your chest, you can stop stressful moments from snowballing into something more serious.

Depression

If you suffer from depression, it’s easy to feel hopeless or apathetic about your future. But while there’s no real cure, there are ways to manage the condition and get your life back into gear. First, and most importantly, talk to a mental health professional. They can help talk you through the experience and work with you to find the best possible treatment plan for your specific needs. Treatment for depression most commonly includes:

• Medication — One of the possible causes of depression is an imbalance of serotonin, which can lead to depressive episodes. Antidepressants help balance the chemicals in your brain. Medication can cause visible improvement in as little as two weeks, but take two to three months to have any real substantial effects.
• Psychotherapy — In mild cases, you may just need to talk through the experience, but in more severe cases psychotherapy may be paired with medication. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is commonly used to help patients recognize distorted thinking and change their behavior accordingly. Additionally, family and couples therapy may also be suggested to help caregivers and immediate family members understand and come to terms with the disorder.
• Occupational therapy — This helps patients identify goals for recovery and implement strategies to achieve them. Occupational therapists work most often with patients to teach them ways to cope with the symptoms, add structure and stimulation to their lives, and boost their confidence and self-esteem, and provide vocational support when needed.
• Self-care and coping — If your case is mild enough, your therapist may forgo medication altogether and instead suggest some lifestyle changes to help pull you out of a depressive mindset. These include regular exercise, change in diet, keeping a mood journal, and/or avoiding alcohol.

Whether you’re struggling with stress or suffering from depression, remember that you’re not alone. There’s nothing wrong with getting the help you need to live your best life. Look around — there are many professional spaces geared to helping you deal with these issues. Start looking today and find neuropsychiatric disorder treatment that’s right for you.