Spotting The Signs Of Anxiety And Depression

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It can be hard to notice the signs of stress, anxiety and depression as they creep into your life. Sometimes there is an obvious trigger, like a life-changing event. Other times, it can because you've taken on too much in life, and have gradually become overwhelmed by it. There may be times when there is no reason at all. Mental health issues can affect us all, and very often an imbalance of chemicals in the brain is all it takes to leave you suffering in many ways. 

People who have suffered from mental issues will tell you that there are good times, and there are bad times. And some people are good at dealing with the bad times as soon as they appear. Learning to spot the signs of depression and anxiety early will allow you to practice self-care, or get the help you need through psychotherapy. 

For others, though this can be more of a challenge. Developing awareness of your feelings can be much harder than you'd expect. Nobody likes to feel as though they are failing, and a struggle with mental health problems can make you feel just that. 

Why We Can't Always Tell That We're Struggling

Our brains have defensive mechanisms pre-programmed into them. If you're dealing with trauma in your life, your body produces adrenaline, and when we overload on this, it causes anxiety. At first, the extra adrenaline might feel like we're doing well, there's lots of energy and a heightened awareness of everything that's going on. But when this fails to diminish, it can leave us constantly feeling on edge. 

At other times, our minds and bodies hide the effects of depression and anxiety from us by denying the opportunity to process uncomfortable thoughts. While in the short term this can be helpful to us, in the long run it can lead to more significant issues. 

How To Spot The Signs

There can be lots of signs that you are depressed or anxious. They can range from not being able to sleep, through to sleeping too much. It can be the same with eating too, as some people find comfort in food when depressed, and others lose their appetites. Avoidance of doing things that you enjoy might be a symptom, as can negative thoughts that you can't control. Feeling tired a lot of the time, and generally despondent to the world around you is common too, as is withdrawing from social situations. 

Making Plans

If you find that you are doing these things, take some time to think about what is going on in your life right now that could be causing you particular distress. Try to identify triggers and work out when you have felt the lowest. 

Think about implementing a self-care routine. Laying or sitting down in a quiet room, try to meditate by calmly breathing in and out, focusing on your breath. There are many guided meditations that might help you. 

Exercise is essential, so try and take a walk or go for a run. This will help to produce endorphins, which will make you feel good.