Portfolio Output No. 13: Research On Anxiety Disorder/Depression

Facto, Annikah Trizya A, Stem 11- Rutherford
Module 7
Portfolio Output No. 13: Research on Anxiety Disorder/Depression.
1. What is anxiety disorders/depression?
 Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that involve excessive
amounts of anxiety, fear, nervousness, worry, or dread. Anxiety disorders
involve more than a temporary worry or fear. When a person has anxiety
disorders, their anxiety does not go away and can get worse overtime.
Anxiety interferes with your ability to function. You often overreact when
something triggers your emotions. You can’t control your responses to
situations.
2. Who gets anxiety disorders/depression and how common are they?
 People who have a certain personality types are most likely prone to
anxiety disorders compared to others. People who have other mental
disorder such as depression are also prone to having anxiety disorders.
Another one is having a blood relative with an anxiety disorder can make
yourself prone to having this kind of disorder.
 In America, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults
every year. Anxiety disorders also affect children and teens. About 8% of
teens ages 13-18 have an anxiety disorder, with symptoms starting around
the age of 6. Women are more than twice likely as men to get an anxiety
disorder in their lifetime.
 Teenagers are most likely to have anxiety disorders. These are most
common to women and girls as they have the more chance of being
neglected, abused since they were a child or those who were abused and
neglected as adults.
 According to American Psychiatric Association, anxiety disorders are the
most common mental disorders and it already affects 30% of adults at
some point in their lives.
3. Describe some of the symptoms of anxiety disorders/depression?
 Some symptoms of depression and anxiety overlap, such sleep problems, irritability
and difficulty in concentrating. For depression, symptoms are divided into two
categories, physical symptoms and emotional symptoms. Some of the physical
symptoms are decreased energy, chronic fatigue, and difficulty in concentrating,
recalling and making a decision, pain, aches, cramps or gastrointestinal problems,
changes in appetite and difficulty in sleeping. While emotional symptoms includes
loss of interest in activities or hobbies, persistent feeling of sadness, feeling
hopeless, anger irritability, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death and suicide
and suicide attempts.
 For Anxiety disorder, the symptoms are also divided into two parts which are the
physical symptoms and emotional symptoms. Some of the physical symptoms are
the muscle tension, racing heart, feeling fatigued easily and sleep difficulties. While
emotional symptoms include restlessness, irritability, difficulty in controlling worry
and fear, panic and dread.
4. List and briefly explain some of the main types of anxiety/disorders?

 There are 6 main types of anxiety/disorders. These are the Generalized Anxiety
Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, Separation Anxiety and Social Phobia or the Social Anxiety Disorder.
 Separation anxiety disorder is when someone has persistent and excessive worry
about being separated from or losing a caregiver or attachment figure. Separation
anxiety generates thoughts about what will happen to their caregiver when they are
separated, such as whether the caregiver die or become ill. The individual also
worries about what would happen to them if they are separated from their caregiver,
such as will they get hurt or will something bad happen to them. Separation anxiety
can occur after a stressor or loss. For example, for a young child after the loss of a
pet, or for a young adult when they move out of their parent’s home for the first time.
 Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by
overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social
situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation - such as a fear
of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others -
or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms
almost anytime they are around other people.
 Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and
repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may
include chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath, dizziness, or
abdominal distress.
 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can
develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical
harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD
include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents,
or military combat.
 Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by
chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or
nothing to provoke it.
 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is
characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive
behaviours (compulsions). Repetitive behaviours such as hand washing,
counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of
preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-
called "rituals," however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing
them markedly increases anxiety.
5. What type of treatment is available for people experiencing anxiety
disorders/depression?
 Anxiety disorders are usually treated with the help of psychotherapy,
medication or both. Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help people with
anxiety disorders. One example of this is the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
This psychotherapy teaches people different ways of thinking, behaving and
how they react to anxiety-producing and fearful situations. Cognitive therapy
focuses on identifying, challenging, and then neutralizing distorted thoughts
that underlies anxiety disorder. While exposure therapy focuses more on
confronting fears to help them overcome the activities they have been
avoiding and give them fear. This therapy allows them to relax with the use of
exercise and imagery.
 Another type of treatment for people who are experiencing anxiety
disorders/depression is with the use of medication. Medication doesn’t really
cure anxiety disorders but it can help relieve the symptoms. Medications are
needed to be prescribed by doctors such as psychiatrist to avoid danger. The most
common medication prescribed by the doctors are Anti-Anxiety Medications,
Antidepressants and Beta-Blockers. Anti-anxiety medications can help reduce the
symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, or extreme fear and worry. The most
common anti-anxiety medications are called benzodiazepines. Beta-blockers are
most often used to treat high blood pressure, they can also be used to help relieve
the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat, shaking, trembling,
and blushing. These medications, when taken for a short period of time, can help
people keep physical symptoms under control. Antidepressants are used to treat
depression, but they can also be helpful for treating anxiety disorders. They may
help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or
stress.
6. What other kinds of support can help a person with anxiety disorders/depression?
 The other support that we can give to a person experiencing anxiety
disorders/depression are:
a) Understanding the different ways n how anxiety manifests.
- When everyone understands that anxiety is needed to be treated with
sensitivity, it is easier for us to understand someone who is feeling
scared or stressed and we’ll try to find compassion in them. By paying
attention to how anxiety manifests in a person, we can learn more on
how we should help them.
b) Match your support to their preferences and attachment style.
- It is important for us to give the support and motivation with the way
they like. For example, other people are likely to prefer hearing
motivational words instead of receiving gifts and such. We need to
consider their preferences as this will help them think that there is
someone who could understand them. If we keep doing things that they
do not like, they will be burden with stress and their anxiety may
become worst.
c) Find ways to make us of any insight they have into their anxiety.
- If you have someone who is experiencing anxiety, it would be
best if you help them identify the patterns when they are starting
to have anxiety. Having someone who could also spot the
anxiety-driving patterns will help them avoid the things that
trigger their anxiety. But before doing this, it is important to have
their permission first.
d) Offer support , but do not take over.
- A good general principle to keep in mind is that support means
helping someone to help themselves, not doing things for them,
which includes virtually anything that stops short of actually
doing it yourself. For example, you might offer to attend a first
therapy session with your loved one if they set up the
appointment. Or, if they’re not sure how to choose a therapist,
you might brainstorm ways of doing that, but let them choose.
 Aside from these, exercise can also help someone who is suffering from
depression. Aerobic exercises like walking or jogging can help alleviate
symptoms of depression. Also, some of the simple ways to help someone
experiencing anxiety disorder/depression is to be with them through hard
times and give them inspirational and motivational words.
Activity: Signs of Trouble: Depression
Test Your Mood Yes No
Do you feel sad, depressed or down of the most time? ✔
Are you unable to enjoy the things that once gave you a pleasure? ✔
Do you feel tired and/or lack of energy most of the time? ✔
Do you have trouble sleeping or do you sleep too much? ✔
Do you find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions? ✔
Have you had an increase or decrease in appetite or weight? ✔
Have you had feelings, worthlessness or guilt?? ✔
Have you felt frightened or panicky for no apparent reason at all? ✔
Have you felt restless and found it difficult to sit still? ✔
Have you been feeling anxious or worried? ✔
Have you felt like you just cannot go on or had thoughts of death or ✔
dying?
References:
References:
 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/
 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/supporting-someone/supporting-
someone-with-depression-or-anxiety

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Facto, Annikah Trizya A, Stem 11- Rutherford

4. List and briefly explain some of the main types of anxiety/disorders?

Test Your Mood Yes No

Do you feel sad, depressed or down of the most time? ✔

Do you feel tired and/or lack of energy most of the time? ✔

Do you have trouble sleeping or do you sleep too much? ✔

Do you find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions? ✔

Have you had an increase or decrease in appetite or weight? ✔

Have you had feelings, worthlessness or guilt?? ✔

Have you felt frightened or panicky for no apparent reason at all? ✔

Have you felt restless and found it difficult to sit still? ✔

Have you been feeling anxious or worried? ✔

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