Page 10 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria July 2014

i nci dence of depressi on has i ncreased every year i n the past

century, and now, according to the Centers for Disease Control,
1 out of 10 people report experiencing a depressive episode.
Depressi on i s typi cal l y characteri zed by l ow energy and
mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in nor-
mal l y enj oyabl e acti vi ti es. Women are 70 percent more l i kel y
than men to experi ence depressi on i n thei r l i feti me. Men and
women experience depression differently while women tend
to experi ence sadness and gui l t, men often feel restl ess or
angry and are more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs to cope.
Depression causes unnecessary suffering and is a risk factor for
suicide.
Anxiety disorder is characterized by emotional, physical, and
behavioral symptoms that create an unpleasant feeling that is
typi cal l y descri bed as uneasi ness, fear, or worry. The worry
i s frequentl y accompani ed by physi cal symptoms, especi al l y
fati gue, headaches, muscl e tensi on, muscl e aches, di ffi cul ty
swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot
flashes. Emotional symptoms include fear, racing thoughts, and
a feeling of impending doom. People suffering from anxiety often
withdraw and seek to avoid people or certain places.
I
n an era of mul ti -taski ng, hi gh expectati ons, and tryi ng to
have it all (marriage, children, and career), women are expe-
riencing higher levels of anxiety than our mothers faced just a
generation ago. Depression and anxiety are different conditions,
but they commonly occur together and have similar treatments.
They are two of the most common mental health concerns in our
society and are often experienced as a complex set of emotional
and functional challenges. It is not uncommon for people with
depressi on to experi ence anxi ety and peopl e wi th anxi ety to
become depressed. There is also overlap in some of the treat-
ments, so it is beneficial to learn about both conditions.
The sci ence of mi nd-body medi ci ne hel ps us understand
the ongoing connection between the mind and body and how
anxiety and depression may be triggered by a variety of factors.
These can i ncl ude nutri ti onal , psychol ogi cal , physi cal , emo-
ti onal , envi ronmental , soci al , and spi ri tual factors, as wel l as
genetic tendencies or brain disease.
Depressi on i s a common di sorder, affecti ng over 350 mi l -
lion people worldwide. It is a disabling condition that adversely
affects a person's fami l y, work, or school l i fe; sl eepi ng and
eati ng habi ts; and general heal th. In the Uni ted States, the
Depression
and Anxiety
The Silent Struggle
of Women Who
Try to Do It All
By Bonnie Harken, Founder and CEO,
Crossroads Programs for Women
emotional
July 2014 Peoria Healthy Cells Magazine Page 11
When suffering from moderate to severe symptoms of depres-
sion or anxiety, it is critical to have a working relationship with
a provider, or team of providers, who can help you choose your
treatment approach and evaluate its effectiveness. The provid-
ers may i ncl ude a pri mary care physi ci an, nurse practi ti oner,
psychotherapi st, or other professi onal who i s phi l osophi cal l y
aligned with you, as well as integrative therapy providers. If you
are taki ng any oral natural suppl ements i n combi nati on wi th
conventional prescription medications, it is critical for both the
prescri ber and the pharmaci st to be aware of whi ch suppl e-
ments you are taking.
We often respond to stressful events i n ways that are not
particularly helpful. It is important to know that adjusting your
attitude can reduce stress. Try the following tips:
Accept that there are events you cannot control. Don't worry
about what you can't change.
Be asserti ve i nstead of passi ve or aggressi ve. Assert your
feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, com-
bative, or passive.
Divide large tasks into smaller components to make jobs less
overwhelming.
Schedule your time wisely and honestly, always allowing time
for interruptions and unplanned change.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective approach for deal -
ing with distressing thoughts or feelings.
What consumes your mi nd, control s your l i fe. You can
change your thinking and change your life.
Bonnie Harken, founder and CEO of Crossroads Programs for
Women has spent the last 30 years assisting individuals begin their
journey of healing. Look for upcoming programs at Crossroads Pro-
grams for Women in Pekin. At Crossroads, we help you recover from
your past, reclaim your dreams, and renew your spirit. Each program is
a blend of lectures, group discussion, and therapeutic exercises offer-
ing a healing curriculum. We explore the spiritual components of heal-
ing from a non-denominational Christian perspective. Why continue to
struggle? Tomorrow does not have to be like today. We can help you.
Visit www.crossroadsprogramsforwomen.com or call 1-800-348-0937.
Sources available upon request.
Photo credit: Purestock/Thinkstock
Anxiety Disorder
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America esti-
mates that almost one out of five people suffer from an anxi-
ety disorder, making it the most common mental disorder in
the United States. While generalized anxiety disorder is the
most common, there are other anxiety disorders, including
obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias,
and post-traumatic stress disorder.
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