1. Anxiety and Depression
Module C: Lesson 4

2. A Report on Mental Illness in Canada
Anxiety disorders affect 12% of the population.
Many do not seek treatment because:
Consider the symptoms mild or normal.
Symptoms interfere with help-seeking
NO weakness associated with seeking help if one is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed.
This lesson focuses on two or the more common mental health issues, anxiety and depression, and how an active healthy lifestyle can be a positive influence on them.
It is important to remove the stigma of weakness associated with seeking help if one is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. People who are experiencing anxious behaviour or any other mental health problem that is significantly interfering with daily living should feel that is not only OK, but also wise to seek medical advice, just as they would for physical injuries.

3. What are Anxiety Disorders?
This is a fear or worry causing a person to avoid situations that might precipitate the anxiety or to develop compulsive rituals.
Most of us experience anxiety or feel anxious every day.
Concern for lack of control over circumstances.
May generate a solution but usually results in negative thinking.
May be an illness
Comes out of nowhere, is excessive, persists for many weeks without relief or interferes with everyday life.

4. Signs and Symptoms Shortness of breath Feelings of unreality Shakiness
Irritability
Muscle aches and tension
Insomnia
Tight chest
Restlessness
Racing heart
Sweating and nausea
Choking sensations
Abdominal distress
Numbness or tingling
Feel short-tempered and apprehensive, fearing that bad things are about to happen.
Can cause significant personal and societal costs.
Lost Wages
Decreased productivity
Reduced quality of life
Frequent use of health care services.
People with anxiety disorder may have a number of common physical symptoms, including the following:

5. Types of Anxiety Disorders
GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
Specific Phobia
Post Traumatic Stress
Social Phobia
Obsessive Compulsive
Panic Disorder
GAD  Excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities occurring for more days than not over a period of at least 6 months.
Specific Phobia  Persistent fear of something. (flying, animals ect)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder  Flashbacks, persistent frightening thoughts and memories, anger or irritability in response to a terrifying experience in which physical harm occurred or was threatened.
Social Phobia  Exposure to social or performance situations almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety response that may include palpitations, tremors, sweating, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhoea, muscle tension, blushing or confusion.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder  Obsession – Persistent thoughts, ideas, impulses or images that are intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress. Compulsions – Repetitive behaviour (hand washing, knocking)
Panic Disorder  Presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, followed by at least 1 month of persistent concern about having additional attacks, worry about the implication of the attack or its consequences.

6. How Common are Anxiety Disorders?
Type
Canada (15-64 years)
% of Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
1.1
Specific Phobia
6.2 – 8.0
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
---
Social Phobia
6.7
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
1.8
Panic Disorder
0.7

7. Causes No single explanation for the cause of anxiety disorders
Inherited tendency
Stressful experiences
Shy temperament
Anxious parents
Unpredictable lifestyle

8. Depression Depression is a mental disorder that affects a person’s:
Thoughts, moods, feelings, behaviour and physical health.
Many thought it was just in ones head
Misconceptions of “you can snap out of it”, or “just get over it”, would cure someone.
It is a medical disorder with a biological and chemical basis
Genetics or family interaction styles
Stressful life event
Spontaneously with no specific identifiable cause
May occur only once, sporadically or chronically
Sometimes depression is triggered by a stressful life event. At other times depression seems to occur spontaneously with no specific identifiable cause. Depression is much more than grieving or experiencing a bout of sadness.
Depression may occur only once, be sporadic or chronic. If chronic, it may require ongoing treatment over a lifetime. With proper treatment, most people with serious depression improve within weeks, and can return to normal daily activities.

9. Signs and Symptoms Two main symptoms:
Lack of interest in normal day living
Feeling in the dumps showing feelings of sadness + helplessness.
Different age groups may react differently to depression.
Other signs and symptoms lasting two weeks or more are:
Changes in sleep patterns, concentration, weight or eating patterns, demeanour, self- esteem, and desire to live, gastrointestinal problems, headache and backache
People with depression will also cry often for no apparent reason to others.
Sometimes it is difficult to determine what the actual problem is because the behaviour is a cover-up for the real problem. For example, children may pretend to be sick, worry about being bullied, not do well in school, or act out to cover up their feelings of sadness. Older people may focus more on complaining about the physical symptoms of depression than on what situations or emotions are causing them to feel that way.

10. Types of Depression Major Depression Dysthymia Adjustment disorder
The feeling of sad, blue, unhappy, miserable or down in the dumps.
Dysthymia
Chronic type of depression.
Adjustment disorder
Emotional and behavioural reaction that develops within 3 months of a life stress.
Bipolar Disorder
Condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression.
The mood swings between mania and depression are very quick.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Episodes of depression that occur during certain times of the year.

11. Signs and Symptoms of Mental Issues
Activity #1
Signs and Symptoms of Mental Issues
Disorder:
Looks Like:
Feels Like:
Ask students to think about the signs and symptoms of selected disorders, using the information from this lesson. Have students record on a T-Chart what each disorder “looks like” and “feels like” as it relates to the signs and symptoms.

12. Activity #2
Online you will choose a self assessment test in one of the following categories.
Anxiety Test
Coping Skills Test
Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating Test
Optimism/Pessimism Test
Resilience Test
Self-Esteem Test
Social Anxiety Test
Once you have chosen an assessment test, in your journal, write down the test name and your results. What does it tell you?
You will have minutes to complete this activity. If you are done before the time limit, do another test.

13. Activity #3
This learning activity will enable you to become more acquainted with various mental health issues and some of their signs and symptoms.
Procedure:
On your own read each scenario and predict the disability.
You will have 10 minutes to figure out which mental health issue your scenario describes. You will also respond to three questions.

14. Activity #3 Cont.
From what mental health issue to do think the person described in the scenario is suffering? Provide reasons for your decision (signs, symptoms, and causes)
What advice and assistance would you offer the person in the scenario? Explain
Which health care professionals would best be able to help the person? Give reasons

15. Prevention Strategies
Control your feelings through healthy lifestyle practices can help prevent anxiety.
Deep breathing, relaxation, guided imagery or visualization, yoga, meditation, and calming self talk
Physical exercise
Not a cure but its psychological and physical benefits can improve the symptoms
Exercise raises the levels of certain mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain. Exercise may also boost feel-good endorphins, release muscle tension, help you sleep better, and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. It also increases body temperature, which may have calming effects.
Exercise is not a cure for depression or anxiety, but its psychological and physical benefits can improve the symptoms.

16. Activity #4 Exercises as the Best Preventative Medicine
Research the benefits of exercise and physical activity for mental-emotional health and present findings in different ways.
E.g.  B – Take deep breaths
E – Exercise
A – Attitude
C – Confidence
T – Time
I – Inactive
V – Vigorous
E - Endorphin