Depression and Anxiety 101 by Sarah

Hello Friends,

I have been wanting to write about this for a long time.

It’s been on my heart for a while.

Why?

Because I struggle with it and have for many years.

Depression is a major depressive disorder.

Not just a symptom.

Not something you just get over.

It’s a mental illness.

It so different than just having “the blues”.

It is battling with feelings of serious hopelessness and unhappiness.

And it happens over a long period of time.

Most, almost all, parts of their life is affected.

One definition I found gives this example…..

“For people with depression, it doesn’t feel like there is ” light at the end of the tunnel” – there is just a long dark tunnel.”

Anxiety is an emotion marked by a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.

An uncomfortable feeling about something that is happening or might happen in the future.

It is something nearly everyone will deal with at some point in their lives.

For some, dealing with anxiety is a constant battle, at levels almost impossible to manage.

That’s when it may become an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illnesses.

And the distress they cause can keep you from carrying on with your life normally.

That’s when you should seek medical help.

Luckily, there are a lot of ways to help with these illnesses.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Antidepressant medications
• Exercise
• Relaxation techniques
• Organizations offering mental health service

I’ve been on anti-depressants for a long time now.

They have helped me tremendously, through all the stuff I have had to go through.

During the years, I’ve been different kinds and different doses.

I’m not ashamed of telling people I am on them.

I need to use them to feel better.

There are still some days where the sun doesn’t shine and I don’t get out of bed.

But that’s just one day and I will try to do better the next.

The above quote tells it like it is.

I have my two boys and even though sometimes they don’t want me to hug and kiss them, I tell them mommy needs them.

And they understand and do it joyfully.

Don’t be ashamed of asking for help.

Don’t be embarrassed by having to see a doctor about it.

Don’t be mortified if you have to take some medication to help you feel better.

No one has to suffer from an anxiety disorder or depression, and certainly not both.

Seek help. Feel better.

And cuddle with family and friends

Love,

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