Introduction
Anxiety and depression remain one of the leading common mental illnesses globally. I have chosen to critically analyze anxiety and depression because they are the most common and severe mental health conditions that affect people’s thinking, feeling, and actions. Some people view anxiety and depression as a fluctuation from normal emotional responses and moods exhibited by an individual in everyday life.
Anxiety and depression is a global health issue that affects the ability of a person to experience desired pleasure, thus, interfering with normal daily functioning. Although scientists have not determined the exact cause of depression, this mental condition can be associated with environmental, biological, genetic, and psychological factors. These factors cause severe symptoms and influence how a person is capable of handling daily duties. Therefore, this portfolio will critically analyze effective ways to address anxiety and depression and how to use them to better my health.
Scholarly Sources and Intellectual Standards
Although depression and anxiety are different, they always occur together and have similar symptoms and treatments. Feeling emotionally down is common for most people, but severe and continuous conditions result in depression and anxiety, thus, resulting in underlying mental health disorders (Knowles & Olatunji, 2020). I have developed an interest in this topic because most people are experiencing these mental health complications and do not understand how to overcome the conditions. For a successful diagnosis of anxiety and depression, people must understand the signs and symptoms of these conditions and their changes and find a better way to manage and deal with the state of anxiety and depression (Ghandour et al., 2019). Therefore, there is a need to have better mechanisms for addressing anxiety and depression and ultimately use the mechanisms to better my health conditions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the leading and most effective way of dealing with anxiety and depression. Most depressed people benefit from counseling services on anxiety and depression offered by therapists depending on the symptoms portrayed by a patient. Short-term counseling therapy focuses on the feelings, thoughts, and issues currently being experienced by someone (Calderon et al., 2020).
Any depressed person must always be ready to work with a cognitive behavioral therapist to help provide skills and knowledge for coping with the condition and addressing future challenges. The latter will help in becoming healthier and overcoming fears and life insecurities resulting from anxiety and depression as a mental disorder. Therefore, having better cognitive behavioral therapy is a better is one of the better ways of anxiety and depression.
Similarly, medication is another way of addressing anxiety and depression. Most people suffering from anxiety and depression are encouraged to take prescriptions for antidepressants to help improve their moods and emotions. Ruckenstein (2019) has noted that anxious and depressed people should talk to their doctors to write prescriptions for various antidepressants for healthy living. Several depressants are already available that enable medical personnel to have options for medication to help address these mental conditions.
Healthcare persons may include supplements and diet changes as a long-term strategy for addressing such conditions. Ruckenstein (2019) adds that some supplements that can be effectively used include lemon balm, omega-3, and fatty acids. Although the diet change may take a few months before the body fully responds to the changes, using other medications will ensure adequate room for change and coping with anxiety and depression.
I will use this information to help improve my mental health condition and remain relevant to the changing needs of anxiety and depression. Personal belief is an essential aspect of self-actualization (Giles, 2019). The knowledge of anxiety and self-actualization will enable me to develop the feeling of acceptance and give me a sense of self-worth, knowing that there will be a section of individuals who will provide adequate support and be there for me when struggling with this mental condition. A sense of acceptance is one of the ways of coping and treating anxiety and depression used by most health practitioners (Kinsella et al., 2020). Therefore, the support will be instrumental in ensuring my mental health condition is stable and I can interact freely with others.
Additionally, the community plays an essential role in mental health issues. Most mental health conditions like anxiety and depression have a direct or indirect association with the community; thus, the community is an essential stakeholder in addressing the issue. We are social beings, and no person is meant to live in isolation but to have an accommodative society (Elder & Paul, 2012). As a result, anxiety, and depression remain relevant and essential in our community. The community helps break the idea of loneliness and isolation brought about by anxiety and depression. Loneliness and isolation are the most common symptoms of anxiety and depression (Kinsella et al., 2020).
However, a well-informed community having complete and precise knowledge of anxiety and depression will provide critical health elements like belonging. When a community understands anxiety and depression in a broader capacity, they will accommodate individuals suffering from this mental health condition and make them feel part of the community. The latter will make the anxious and depressed individuals know that there is nothing they have to change to be part of the community because the community will fully embrace them.
Engagement with Own Assumption
Understanding anxiety and depression are also essential in our community for support services. One of the most common questions that mental health doctors and psychologists always ask is, “who do you turn to when feeling down?” (Elder & Paul, 2012). The question implies that having a person or a group of people to count on when facing a challenge is essential to overcome anxiety and mental depression. Society provides support and people you can talk to and provide help when something becomes challenging because anxious and depressed people may feel insurmountable when they are alone. Therefore, when a society has full knowledge of this mental condition, it will provide the support that can help people feel safe and benefit their outlook, thus, having a purpose in life.
Engagement with scholarly sources
I have learned that several strategies can help deal with and manage anxiety and depression. Any person who is depressed and anxious portrays symptoms that should be directed and addressed immediately to prevent harmful things that can cause harm. As a result, individuals must be ready to do something that will make them feel comfortable and ready to overcome these conditions. Doing something that makes you feel comfortable and in control helps manage anxiety and depression conditions (Martínez-Monteagudo et al., 2019).
The latter makes an individual have a routine of handling issues to ensure a complete structure, helping to address anxiety and depression. I have also noted that doing things that a person is comfortable with provides the best platform for addressing anxiety and mental conditions. Therefore, people suffering from anxiety and mental condition should be given adequate time, support, and comfort to establish strong relationships with others to better their lives and have a reason to live.
The scholarly articles provided a foundation for understanding the roles of medical practitioners and the community in addressing anxiety and depression. I have learned that dealing with anxiety and depression is a process that requires a combined effort from the medical practitioner, individuals, and society. Cognitive therapy doctors and psychologists provide mental outlines to be followed by anxious and depressed individuals (Knowles & Olatunji, 2020).
The latter is done through medication and offering therapy services that will enable medically disordered individuals to address their condition. I have also noted that the community also plays a crucial role in promoting the healthcare of mentally ill individuals within their locality. The support and acceptance provided by the community help to achieve a sense of belonging and support required to manage and address mental health issues like anxiety and depression. This information has helped me to develop a better understanding of addressing and interacting with people suffering from anxiety and depression.
Conclusion
Therefore, critically thinking about anxiety and depression, I have concluded that anxiety and depression remain significant challenges in modern society. Effective cognitive therapy and medication will help address the challenge because cognitive therapists and psychologists have a better understanding of the condition and will help provide necessary support and prescription for anxiety and depression. The community also provides support and relationship necessary for overcoming the conditions.
References
Calderon, A., Schneider, C., Target, M., Midgley, N. (2019). “Interaction structures” between depressed adolescents and their therapists in short-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24(3), 446–461. Web.
Elder, L., & Paul, R. (2012). Critical thinking: Competency standards essential to the cultivation of intellectual skills, Part 4. Journal of Developmental Education, 35(3), 30-31
Ghandour, R. M., Sherman, L. J., Vladutiu, C. J., Ali, M. M., Lynch, S. E., Bitsko, R. H., & Blumberg, S. J. (2019). Prevalence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in US children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 206, 256-267.e3. Web.
Giles, J. (2019). Relevance of the no-self theory in contemporary mindfulness. Current Opinion in Psychology, 28, 298–301. Web.
Kinsella, E. A., Smith, K., Bhanji, S., Shepley, R., Modor, A., & Bertrim, A. (2020). Mindfulness in allied health and social care professional education: a scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42(2), 283–295. Web.
Knowles, K. A., & Olatunji, B. O. (2020). Specificity of trait anxiety in anxiety and depression: Meta-analysis of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Clinical Psychology Review, 82(101928), 101928. Web.
Martínez-Monteagudo, M. C., Inglés, C. J., Granados, L., Aparisi, D., & García-Fernández, J. M. (2019). Trait emotional intelligence profiles, burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress in secondary education teachers. Personality and Individual Differences, 142, 53–61. Web.
Ruckenstein, M. (2019). Tracing medicinal agencies: Antidepressants and life-effects. Social Science & Medicine, 235, 112-168. Web.