Managing anxiety in life

AROUND half of those people who experience depression will also experience anxiety.
Taking steps to manage your anxiety can help give you the mental space to begin to deal with your depression.
Talking about what is making you anxious, as well as a healthy diet and exercising, will all help you to control your anxiety.
Some people, especially those with mild depression, find that relaxation techniques such as massage and yoga help them to manage their anxiety.
Getting help
The first step in getting treatment will normally be to visit your medical doctor.
They will ask you a number of questions about how your depression is affecting you mentally and physically.
Do write down what you have been experiencing before you go.
Make a note of any questions or worries you might have.
Being open about your symptoms helps.
Talking therapies
Cognitive behavioural therapy works well for depression.
There are several different kinds of talking therapy.
Your doctor can advise you.
l    Counseling gives people the chance to talk through everyday issues that may be causing depression, rather than trying to address more deep-rooted problems;
l    Cognitive therapy addresses the underlying causes of depression. It teaches you skills to identify patterns of behaviour and thinking that are causing you problems and change them; and
l    Psychotherapy is more intensive than counseling. It often looks at how past experience may be affecting your life now, so it may involve delving more deeply into early experiences and key relationships. Interpersonal therapy focuses on how you relate and behave towards others. It helps you to build a better self-image and communicate more effectively with others.
About medication
Medication will not always be the first choice, especially if your depression is mild.
There are a number of different types of antidepressants available. 
What your doctor prescribes will depend on the type and severity of depression you have.
If one medication does not work you may be prescribed something else.
However it takes a few weeks before your medicine starts to work so you need to allow enough time to see if it is going to be effective.
My dear readers, we have taken a forward step to understand the letter “D” in mental health.
We shall continue our journey in our next column.
Do not to get caught up in a situation that bears little consequence to your life; Keep life simple and do enjoy the simple things of life.

For more information, write to:
Dr Uma Ambi
c/o Beautiful Mind
PO Box 8
Boroko, NCD