Читать книгу Anxiety and Depression Workbook For Dummies - Laura L. Smith - Страница 7

IN THIS CHAPTER

Figuring out how depression and anxiety affect you

Finding your personal starting point

Knowing when to get more help

For people all over the world, these past years of unrest, divisiveness, and fear and uncertainty related to the devastating pandemic have increased stress significantly. Stress often precedes the emergence of emotional disorders, especially anxiety and depression. In the United States, recent surveys suggest that about 40 percent of the adult population suffer from notable symptoms of anxiety or depression. The rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents have also risen dramatically due to disruptions in their lives during these tumultuous times.

Everyone feels sad or worried from time to time. Such emotions are both natural and unavoidable. People worry about their children, bills, aging parents, jobs, health, and powerful social issues. And most people have shed a tear or two watching a sad movie or a news story about a poignant tragedy. It’s perfectly natural to experience significant sadness when faced with loss, frustration, or pain. That’s normal. Anxiety and depression are part of everyday life.

But when sadness fills most of your days or worries saturate your mind, that’s not so normal. You may be experiencing a real problem with depression or anxiety. Anxiety and depression can affect how you think, behave, feel, and relate to others. The discussion and quizzes in this chapter help you figure out how depression and anxiety affect your life. When you understand what’s going on with your emotions, you can start doing something to manage them more effectively.

This workbook is designed to help with troubling emotions. It isn’t meant to be a comprehensive review of emotional disorders. Many people choose to use this book along with professional counseling or therapy. Some use this book on their own. If you want more information and an in-depth discussion about anxiety or depression, take a look at the latest editions of Anxiety For Dummies or Depression For Dummies.

Don’t freak out if the quizzes in this chapter reveal that you have a few symptoms of anxiety or depression. Almost everyone has struggles; that’s human. However, you should be concerned when these symptoms significantly interfere with your life. See the later section in this chapter, “When and Where to Get More Help,” for more information.

If your symptoms are numerous and severe or your life seems out of control, you should consult your primary care provider or a mental health professional. These quizzes aren’t meant to replace trained mental health professionals — they’re the only people who can really diagnose your problem.