3. 11 MYTHS ABOUT DEPRESSION
• Depression and Sadness are one and the same
• Depression is a sign of weakness
• Depression isn’t a real illness
• Depression is all in your head
• Depression is always brought on by traumatic life events
• Depression is contagious
• If your parents have it, you will, too
• Real men don’t get depressed
• An antidepressant is all you need to feel better
• You will need medication for the rest of your life
• Talking about depression only makes it worse
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4. WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
• Depression is a common mental disorder
• Characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure
• Feelings of guilt of low self-worth
• Disturbed sleep or appetite
• Feelings of tiredness and poor concentration
• Impairing a person’s ability to function at work or at school, or
cope of daily life
• In severe cases, depression can lead to suicide
• Depression often starts at a young age
- Definition by WHO
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5. DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEPRESSION
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Dysthymic Disorder
• Postpartum Depression
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Substance/Medication Induced Depressive Disorder
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (New to DSM 5)
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (New to DSM 5)
• Bipolar Disorder (New category on its own in DSM 5)
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6. COMMON SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
PHYSICAL :
• Tiredness or Fatigue
• Disturbed sleep
• Disturbed appetite
• Change in weight
• Muscle pain
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Headache
• Loss of sexual desire
• And more……..
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7. BEHAVIORAL:
• Isolation
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Restlessness
• Psychomotor impairment
• Engage in addictive/dangerous activities, e.g. gambling,
drinking, illegal drugs….
• Suicidal attempts
• And more……
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8. EMOTIONAL:
• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Numbness
• Loneliness
• And more……
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9. COGNITIVE:
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering details
• Difficulty making decisions
• Racing thoughts
• Psychomotor impairment
• Suicidal thoughts
• And more………
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10. CAUSES OF DEPRESSION
SITUATION:
• Major loss in life, e.g. death of loved one, divorce, moving,
immigration, job loss, war
• Isolation
• Relationship conflicts
• Chronic stress, e.g. health problem, unemployment, parenting
issues
• And more…….
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15. TREATMENT AND CARE
MEDICATION:
• What kind of medication works for me?
• How does medication work for me?
• Side effects?
• Dosages?
• How long do I need to take this medication?
• Conflicts with my other medication(s)?
• NEVER STOP taking medication suddenly
• Different medications work for different people
• Certain people benefit from taking medication for a long time
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16. PSYCHOTHERAPY:
• Is an effective treatment on clinical depression
• For severe depression, it needs to work with medication and
self care activities
• Reduces stress in your life
• Gives you a new perspective on problem and your depression
• Makes it easier to stick to your treatment
• Helps to catch early signs that your depression is getting worse
• E.g. CT, CBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, EMDR, MBSR, Satir
Therapy, Art Therapy, Group Therapy
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17. LIFESTYLE CHANGES:
• Sleep
• Diet, e.g. balanced nutrition, reduce caffeine
• Exercise
• Thinking patterns, e.g. be realistic, open-minded, let it go, praising and
acknowledging yourself
• Social Support
• Stress Reduction, e.g. reduce obligations, plan ahead, get support, KEEP
UP SELF-CARE
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18. • Exercise
• Balanced diet
• Beware alcohol and drugs
• Sleep
• Self-compassion
• Connection with community
• Connection with animals
• Humor
• Gratitude / Accepting / Love
• Think “bigger”
• Learning
• Sun
• Nature
• Play
• Prayer
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Music
• Aesthetics, e.g. arts, beauty
• Aroma Therapy
• Volunteering
• Reading / Writing
• Curiosity
• And more……
SELF-HELP TIPS TO IMPROVE DEPRESSION
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20. 9 MYTHS ABOUT ANXIETY DISORDER
• Anxiety isn’t a real illness
• Avoiding anxiety-provoking situations is helpful
• Anxiety will get better over time if I just wait it out
• The only people who get anxiety are just naturally nervous
• If you are having panic attack, just get used to it
• A panic attack can make you loss control or pass out
• Someone with anxiety just need a stiff drink and they will be alright
• People who have anxiety just need to relax
• It can take a lifetime to see the results from treatment for anxiety
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21. WHAT IS ANXIETY DISORDER?
• Anxiety disorder involves more than temporary worry
or fear
• The anxiety does not go away and can get worse
over time
• The anxiety feelings can interfere with daily activities
such as job performance, school work, and
relationships.
- Definition by National Institution of Mental Health
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22. DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDER
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Phobia (Specific)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
(New category on its own in DSM 5)
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
(New category on its own in DSM 5)
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23. RESPONSE TO ANXIETY
THOUGHTS:
• I am in danger
• The worst possible scenario is going to happen
• I won’t be able to cope with it
• And more……
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24. PHYSICAL SENSATIONS – The Adrenaline Response:
• Heart racing
• Breathing gets faster
• Muscles tense
• Sweating
• Pupils dilate
• Digestive system slows down
• More alert
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25. BEHAVIORS:
• Avoid people or places
• Not going out
• Going to certain places at certain time
• Only going with someone else
• Escape, leave early
• Go to the feared situation, but use coping behaviors like self
talk, smoking, avoiding eye contact, medication…etc. to get
through the situation
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26. WHO DOES ANXIETY DISORDER AFFECT?
• Gender
- Women to Men 2:1
• Age
- Most often appear in youth
• Personal factors
- Shy, perfectionists are more prone to anxiety disorder
• Family history
• Social factors
• Occupational risks
- e.g. Emergency personnel, military personnel
• Chronic illnesses
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27. COMMON SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY DISORDER
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PHYSICAL:
• Muscle tension
• Hot or cold flushes
• Sweating
• Tightening of the chest
• Chest pain
• Racing heart
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Disturbed sleep
• Fatigue
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THINKING:
• Trouble concentrating
• Poor memory
• Hard to make decisions
• Racing thoughts
• Obsessive thoughts
• Anticipating the worst
• Feeling like your mind goes blank
• Nightmare
• Suicidal thoughts
• And more……
31. TREATMENT AND CARE
MEDICATION:
• What kind of medication works for me?
• How does medication work for me?
• Side effects?
• Dosages?
• How long do I need to take this medication?
• Conflicts with my other medication(s)?
• NEVER STOP taking medication suddenly
• Different medications work for different people
• Certain people benefit from taking medication for a long time
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32. PSYCHOTHERAPY:
• Is an effective treatment on anxiety disorder
• For severe anxiety disorder, it needs to work with medication and
self care activities
• Reduces stress in your life
• Gives you a new perspective on problem and your anxiety
disorder
• Makes it easier to stick to your treatment
• Helps to catch early signs that your anxiety disorder is getting
worse
• E.g. CBT, Exposure Therapy, EMDR, MBSR, ACT, Satir Therapy,
Art Therapy, Group Therapy
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33. LIFESTYLE CHANGES:
• Sleep
• Diet, e.g. balanced nutrition, reduce caffeine
• Exercise
• Relaxation exercise, e.g. progressive muscle relaxation, meditation
• Thinking patterns, e.g. be realistic, open-minded, let it go, praising and
acknowledging yourself
• Social Support
• Stress Reduction, e.g. reduce obligations, plan ahead, get support, KEEP
UP SELF-CARE
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34. • Exercise
• Balanced diet
• Beware alcohol and drugs
• Sleep
• Self-compassion
• Connection with community
• Connection with animals
• Humor
• Gratitude / Accepting / Love
• Think “bigger”
• Learning
• Sun
• Nature
• Play
• Prayer
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Music
• Aesthetics, e.g. arts, beauty
• Aroma Therapy
• Volunteering
• Reading / Writing
• Curiosity
• And more……
SELF-HELP TIPS TO IMPROVE ANXIETY DISORDER
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