Understanding Mental Health

Depression

Depression is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed. It goes beyond just feeling “down” for a few days—it can significantly affect daily life, work, relationships, and overall well-being. Common symptoms of depression include fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, difficulty concentrating, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and sometimes thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression can be triggered by various factors like genetics, life stressors, trauma, or chemical imbalances in the brain, but often it’s a combination of these factors. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or background. Treatment typically involves a combination of therapy (like cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT) and, in some cases, medication (like antidepressants). With the right support, people can manage and overcome depression, though it often requires patience and a holistic approach to healing.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, often about situations or events that may or may not happen. It’s a natural response to stress, but when anxiety becomes excessive or persistent, it can interfere with daily life and may be classified as an anxiety disorder. Symptoms can include constant fear, restlessness, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and even physical symptoms like sweating or shaking.

There are different types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, panic disorder, and specific phobias. While some anxiety is normal (like before an important event), chronic or intense anxiety often has no clear trigger and can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming.

Treatment for anxiety typically includes therapy, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns. Medication, like anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants, can also be used to manage symptoms. With the right tools and support, people with anxiety can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Loss

Loss and bereavement refer to the emotional response and mourning period after losing someone or something significant, most commonly through death.

Grief:

Definition: The emotional reaction to loss, including sadness, anger, guilt, and loneliness. It’s personal and varies widely.
Stages: Common stages include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, but not everyone experiences all of them or in this order.

Bereavement:

Specifically the mourning period after a death, involving emotional and physical reactions as a person adjusts to life without the deceased.

Coping with Loss:

Support: Leaning on friends, family, or professional help can assist with the grieving process.
Self-care: Managing physical and emotional well-being is important during grief.
Therapy: Counseling or grief therapy can be helpful for complicated grief or prolonged sadness.

Healing:

Grief doesn’t have a set timeline and doesn’t mean "getting over" the loss but learning to live with it. Healing involves finding new meaning and adjusting to life after loss.

Grief is natural but can be overwhelming—seeking support during this time is key

Physical impacts

Mental health can have a significant impact on physical health, and the connection between the two is often referred to as the mind-body connection. Here’s how:

1. Stress and Anxiety:

Chronic stress and anxiety can increase levels of the hormone cortisol, which can lead to a range of physical issues, like high blood pressure, weakened immune function, digestive problems, and an increased risk of heart disease.
Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue, can also affect overall well-being.

2. Depression:

People with depression may experience sleep disturbances, chronic pain, fatigue, and changes in appetite, all of which can affect physical health.
Depression is also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immune system suppression.

3. Sleep Problems:

Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or stress can lead to insomnia or poor sleep quality, which in turn can cause physical issues like weight gain, increased inflammation, and heart disease.
Poor sleep can also impair cognitive function, making it harder to manage daily activities or cope with stress.

4. Eating Disorders:

Conditions like anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating disorder directly affect nutrition and metabolism, leading to issues like malnutrition, digestive problems, organ damage, and weakened bones.

5. Chronic Pain and Fatigue:

Mental health issues like depression or anxiety can amplify the perception of pain, making conditions like chronic pain, fibromyalgia, or headaches worse.
Fatigue from mental health struggles can leave someone physically drained, impacting their ability to engage in regular activities and maintain overall health.

6. Immune System:

Chronic mental health stress can suppress the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to illness, infections, and slower recovery from sickness.

7. Lifestyle Factors:

Mental health struggles can influence lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, or alcohol use, which directly affect physical health over time.

Frequently asked questions

What is Counselling/Therapy?

Counselling and Therapy are really one in the same term. They both refer to a service which aims to help people overcome their difficulties by exploring them with a Therapist or Counsellor. This also applies to Psychotherapy/Psychotherapist

What happens during our first session?

The first session of Counselling is usually used to get an idea of how well we both work together and if Counselling is right for you. There are so many different types of Counselling and Counsellor that it is important to find something you are both comfortable with and feel will offer you what you need.

How long is a session

My counselling sessions last 45 minutes each and are usually on a weekly basis. As always, this can be discussed and altered to suit your needs but this is the most common frequency.

How many sessions do I need

Each person is different and the amount of sessions depends entirely on you. Usually, people come to counselling until they feel like they may be able to get on without it or some people want to set a certain amount of sessions from the first time we meet.

I am not sure if I want to start

I think that explaining counselling and its ways can be very difficult and sometimes it is just a case of getting a sense of counselling first hand. There are never any pressures to talk about things you don't want to and you are in control of what we do with our time together. In the first session, we can take some time to discuss our work together and have a talk about some of the issues which are troubling you and made you take the first steps towards counselling.

What can I come to counselling for?

Some people worry that their problems are too big or too small to bring to counselling but I believe that if you feel it is an issue, then it is important to spend some time looking at it. I have had experience with a wide variety of issues and always try to offer the best possible support to help you get what you need from our work together.

Contact

mderilium-sw@outlook.com