Judy's visual journal entry
My favorite antidote for anxiety was the topic of yesterday’s post. Today I want to briefly address depression since anxiety and depression often go hand in hand.
Acute, situational depression is the brain’s way of helping us not blow our lid or slit our throats. When we’re depressed we don’t have the highs or the lows – everything is “flat”. It’s when the depression lasts longer than the situation warrants and becomes chronic that something needs to be done.
To add insult to injury, clients I see with depression and anxiety experience trouble with sleep: Falling asleep ; Staying asleep; Never getting restorative rest.
This is important!
Research findings suggest that there is a neurochemical link between depression, anxiety, and stress. This has nothing to do with psychology or character or any psychiatric disorder. This is about disturbances in neurochemical functioning in the brain. You’re not crazy, not psychological damaged or fragile. Your neurochemistry is out of wack if you are depressed and/or anxious.
Many of the symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression overlap quite a bit. Depression can lead to anxiety and conversely, anxiety can lead to depression. So we’re talking about a very tight relationship here in terms of diagnosis.
When I was first licensed in 1986 anxiety was treated with different medication than depression. Today many, if not most, people with anxiety are treated and respond very well to anti-depressant medication.
Research has shown that the best ways of breaking the depressive cycle are: 1. EXERCISE, 2. COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, 3. MEDICATION
IN THAT ORDER!
The good news is you can do the first two on your own, no Rx and the only side effects are feeling better.
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- Now sneaking in my Haiku for today: Prompt – “hidden”
Depression visits
Oh, depression can be a headache, thats for certain.. be it invited or uninvited..
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Indeed, there are some guests we don’t want to entertain–depression is one of them!
Hidden things here and here and here
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This is such a sad state but it is true.. depression silently kilss ~
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A great haiku.
The final line says it all.
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An excellent description of the black dog.
My gravatar will take you to my other blog but I’m from imnotaverse.
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Dear My New Best FRiend Tilly,
You must be confused. My Human was describing depression. Some of my best buddies are black dogs and they are all very cool-except for the miniature Pincher who lies next door and tries to bite everyone. I don’t know what his problem is. Maybe he’s depressed.
Lickingly yours, LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Max
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And then why we fall in love with this guest… ? You brought it out beautifully..
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DEAR MY NEW Best Friend Ramesh,
You must be confused like Tilly. My Human wrote about depression. At least you understand that everyone falls in love with cool black dogs.
Lickingly yours,
Max
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Belting stuff! info to the max!
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A truthful posting. Nicely done.
InspiredbyLisa
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Lisa,
Thank you! Glad you found me so I could find you.
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