Dont try to deal with depression all on your own

29/06/2009

Few people can have failed to escape the fact that we are in the grip of a recession. With constant talk of business repossessions, it’s easy to place all our focus on the material impact of such tightening economic circumstances.

But what about the emotional and psychological effects when you are faced with a situation, which, is for many, has been unexpected and quite literally spiralled right out of their control?

One in four of us are destined to suffer from some form of a mental illness during our lifetime and, interestingly, one in four of us will also have to deal with debt.

Stressful times make it more important than even to look after our mental as well as physical health and recognise and deal with the early warning signs that could signify problems ahead.

The main thing about many of the problems we may find ourselves facing during times of recession is that they create an unfamiliar level of uncertainty and unpredictability- which in itself generates increased levels of stress and anxiety.

Those people, for example, who have found themselves in the unfortunate position of losing their job, are faced with far more pressures than may initially be recognised.

Of course, the financial element will have a huge impact but add to that, potential feelings of displacement, a drop in self-esteem and confidence with a loss of identity and we start to build a truer picture of the full effect.

One of the best protectors of our mental health is to have good support networks around us and we often don’t realise how much of this we receive from our work colleagues.

Our job plays a big part in defining who we are and creating our identity. When this is taken away it can have all sorts of psychological implications for many people.

In younger people, it can create a sort of what-was-the-point attitude- so, why did I bother studying simply to find myself unemployed a year on?

Among the older generation being made redundant can make people feel utterly demoralised as they question if this is it for them and will there be a way back on to the career ladder at all.

The current economic climate could lead to major, life-changing events, many of which act as a catalyst for others- producing a domino effect.

So, losing your job can lead to money worries, which could in turn lead to stress within a relationship and even in some cases its breakdown.

In the most serious cases, people could find themselves homeless and at an all time low.

Emotions associated with one – or in fact all – of the above examples will include embarrassment, helplessness isolation, sadness, and possibly a sense of shame or guilt, believing it’s something you should or could have prevented.

Equally, the fear of the unknown and worry about job loss, for example – even before it’s happened – can cause great anxiety and affect your performance in work and general functioning.

I think the worse thing somebody facing any of these issues can do is to try and deal with them alone. There’s often the feeling of keeping up appearances whether with friends, family or neighbours – but it is these very people who can offer support and stop an individual becoming isolated and withdrawn.

It’s here that the old adage of a problem shared really comes into its own.

At the end of the day, anxiety is a natural emotion but there are many ways we can help to put ourselves in a better position to deal with it – including maintaining a healthy lifestyle, trying to stay active and focusing on positive experiences and emotions.

Doing things for other people can also help us to feel more positive about our situation. Also face up to problems and don’t hide away. There are support organisations out there ready to help and I think people need to make more use of the services available to them.

And, if people find themselves in a position where they can’t sleep or enjoy life like they used to, feel depressed or hopeless or have lost their appetite and generally feel that they can’t go on, I must urge them to see their GP.

Society is starting to wake up to the reality of mental illness and the difficulties faced by those affected but there is still an element of stigma and this is something has to change.

At the end of the day, economic conditions are not going to dramatically improve in the near future and this, coupled with the general stresses of modern living, is something we need to be mindful of to ensure the necessary support mechanisms are in place to deal with these issues effectively.