Beyond blue By Casey Hay

What is beyond Blue? Beyond Blue is an Australian organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety disorders and other related mental disorders. Beyond Blue tailors all its programs, information and resources to meet your specific needs, based on what you’re experiencing and your circumstances.

What is Depression? Everyone can feel sad, moody or low from time to time, but some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time (weeks, months or even years) and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just a low mood – it's a serious condition that affects your physical and mental health. Some physical effects of depression: sick and run down, sleep problems and significant weight loss or gain.

What is Anxiety? Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. While stress and anxious feelings are a common response to a situation where we feel under pressure, they usually pass once the stressful situation has passed or the ‘stressor’ has been removed. Physical: panic attacks, hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of the chest, quick breathing, restlessness, or feeling tense, wound up and edgy Psychological: excessive fear, worry, catastrophizing, or obsessive thinking Behavioural: avoidance of situations that make you feel anxious which can impact on study, work or social life

Who does it effect? Depression and anxiety can affect any of us at any time. When we're going through big changes such as becoming an adult, retiring, starting a family, or losing someone we love, Experiencing discrimination because of our sexuality, gender identity, ethnicity or religion can also cause psychological distress and make us much more vulnerable to depression and anxiety.