The Causes Of Anxiety And Depression

Everyone goes through stages of anxiety and depression in their lifetime. It's normal to occasionally feel this way when we've got a lot going on. Losing a loved one or finding yourself unemployed can lead to emotions of sadness, pain, worry and hopelessness.

Anxiety and depression are sometimes considered taboo subjects and people are not readily open to admit that they have a condition. States of anxiety often bring about feelings of fear, worry, nervousness and apprehension. These emotions are triggered by the body's natural stress response to let us know that something is wrong.

Of course these normal reactions to stressors can be as trivial as being stuck in a traffic jam or receiving a monthly phone bill. It's when we experience anxiety and depression everyday that we should take note.

Sufferers of depression experience a constant lull of energy combined with feelings of sadness and hopelessness. They feel like a cloud of grey is always upon them and they can't seem to shake thoughts of gloom. In addition, there have been links to heart disease, stroke and diabetes. People with depression are also more likely to commit suicide.

There are people who suffer from both anxiety and depression. Surprisingly, 1 in 5 adults suffer from clinical depression or an anxiety disorder. It is estimated that 7% of the population are in a position where support is needed.

Available are various therapies and treatments. You may be surprised to hear that many sufferers do not seek help. This can be down to a number of reasons; some sufferers may feel too embarrassed of their condition to approach a doctor; there are those that feel that there's nothing to be done about their condition; and some have simply have given up on finding help.

Many people who develop depression also develop an anxiety disorder. In fact half of people with clinical depression suffer from an anxiety disorder. More commonly Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which alone affects 5% of the population. Other anxiety disorders include Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and phobias.

Both anxiety and depression normally develop in adulthood. Experiencing emotional trauma and long term stress are possible causes. People who have low confidence and self esteem are more likely to develop mental illnesses.

People who focus on the negatives in life all the time only attract more of the same. Just as fat people get fatter and rich people get richer, people fall into habits. Learned habits can be both positive and negative.

What is important to note is that anxiety and depression are states of emotion. By changing the way we behave and react we can essentially change our states of mind. Anyone is capable of influencing their subconscious mind so that they can create new positive ways of thinking.