Anxiety

What is anxiety?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, anxiety disorders are mental health disorders characterized by excessive worry and/or fear which persists for at least 6 months (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

People with these disorders typically find it difficult to control their worry. They also may feel restless, inability to concentrate, irritability, muscle tension, and/or sleep disturbances. These prolonged feelings of distress occur out of proportion to the actual threat or danger and severely interfere with normal daily functioning. One in four Canadians will have an anxiety disorder in their life (The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada, 2006).

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Social Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Selective Mutism

What causes anxiety?

Depression

What is depression?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness that are present for at least two weeks (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

People with MDD frequently report loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. They may also experience significant weight or appetite loss or gain, decreases in thought processing or physical movement, fatigue, and/or suicidal ideations.

In Canada, about 1 in 10 men (9.2%) and 1 in 6 women (15.1%) meet the criteria for a mood disorder at some point during their lifetime (The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada, 2006). Check out the video to learn more about the contributory factors and underlying mechanisms of depression.

Mental Health in times of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has been tough on everyone, especially those people with preexisting mental health difficulties.

Why might this be the case?

The COVID-19 outbreak and its affect on mental health has been compared to that of natural disasters (tsunamis or earthquakes) and international mass conflicts such as the world wars (Fiorillo & Gorwood, 2020). However, a key difference between this pandemic and those comparison events is that the threat (COVID19 virus) is not as easily recognizable in this case, and can be "everywhere and carried from one person to the next" (Kaniasty, 2019).

Furthermore, the quarantine period following the outbreak has led to more instances of loneliness due to decreased social interaction, which are known risk factors for many health health disorders. It has led to growing concern for our health and our loved one's health, as well as unrest due to the uncertainty of the future which exacerbates fear (Fiorillo & Gorwood, 2020). Many mental health professionals and researchers predict increases in suicidal ideations related to the lockdown (Klomek, 2020).

What can you do?

Therapeutic Interventions:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a beneficial therapy for promoting lasting effects of lowering depressive systems. According to a recent systematic meta-analysis concerning the beneficial effects of CBT for preventing relapse in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), CBT therapies had a more beneficial effect than the control therapy (Zhang et al., 2018). CBT uses strategies like cognitive restructuring, contingency management, and behavioural activation to target maladaptive thought patterns and behaviours. It remains one of the most practiced and effective therapies for MDD to this day. This video explains more:

For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), studies are coming out highlighting the benefits of Acceptance-Based Behavioural Therapy / Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This therapy was developed to specifically target reactivity to internal experiences, avoidance and suppression of painful emotions/thoughts/sensations, and limitation of involvement in meaningful activities (Hayes-Skelton, Orsillo, & Roemerc, 2013). This therapy is based on the idea that thought suppression and emotion suppression doesn't work, and tolerating/putting up with pain doesn't equate to well-being. The only alternative is to accept, embrace, and choose not to spend time in an unproductive struggle against unpleasant thoughts and feelings. This can free you up to live the life you want. This video explains further via metaphor:

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