Depression and Stress

Everyone feels sad from time to time. It’s a normal life experience. But when these emotions increase in intensity, persist for more than a few weeks, and start to interfere with a person’s life, it may signal depression. No amount of “cheering up” can make the depression go away; no amount of exercise, vitamins or vacation can make it disappear. That’s because depression is an illness, not a weakness.

In Depression we can have problems like below:

• finding it difficult to concentrate on tasks
• turning up to work late
• feeling tired and fatigued
• being unusually tearful or emotional
• getting angry easily or frustrated with tasks or people
• finding it difficult to meet reasonable deadlines
• finding it hard to accept constructive and well-delivered feedback
• having difficulty managing multiple tasks or demands
• being vulnerable to stress and anxiety
• drinking alcohol to cope
• having loss of confidence and negative thought patterns
• appearing restless, tense and on edge
• avoiding certain workplace activities such as staff meetings
• becoming overwhelmed or upset easily
• finding it hard to make decisions
• referring to being constantly worried and appearing apprehensive.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that every year around 2 million people experience a health problem that they believe to have been caused by their current or past work: stress being the largest cause of work-related illnesses. Stress and bullying are the two main causes of mental distress at work.

A new Australian study that found almost one in six cases of depression among working people caused by job stress, that nearly one in five (17 percent) working women suffering from depression attribute their condition to job stress and more than one in eight (13 percent) working men do the same. In the last decade, the number of American workers that say job stress is a major problem in their lives has doubled. In fact, the US Department of Health reported that 70 percent of physical and mental complaints at work are related to stress. 

 Signs and Symptoms

• Memory problems
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor judgment
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious or racing thoughts
• Constant worrying
• Moodiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Agitation, inability to relax
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sense of loneliness and isolation
• Depression or general unhappiness 
• Aches and pains
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds 
• Eating more or less
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

Dealing with Stress and its Symptoms

How to Manage Stress : Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when you can, changing your reaction when you can’t, taking care of yourself, and making time for rest and relaxation.

 

How to Relax : Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in your everyday stress levels and a boost in your feelings of joy and serenity. They also increase your ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.

Quick Stress Relief : Sensory stress-busting techniques give you a powerful tool for staying clear-headed and in control in the middle of stressful situations. They give you the confidence to face challenges, knowing that you have the ability to rapidly bring yourself back into balance.

Health Quotes for You

“Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.” by Bhudda

“The first wealth is health.” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” by Benjamin Franklin

“Physician, heal thyself.” by Jesus

“Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind.”by Mary Baker Eddy

“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.” by Lao Tzu

“A healthy mind in a healthy body.” by Juvenal

“Every patient carries his or her own doctor inside.” by Albert Schweitzer

“It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.” by Alexander Pope