Anxiety Depression

Though you don't have to be a woman to suffer from anxiety depression syndrome, it certainly does help. There are about twice as many women than man who seek treatment this mental disorder.

While some studies have shown women suffer from this type of mental illness more than men, others claim that it is other factors that show a higher rate in women than in men, such as the fact that women are more likely to seek treatment. However, anxiety depression is a very common mental illness, affecting a very high percentage of the whole population.

But Don't We All Feel That Way?

All of us are anxious and depressed on occasion. When you are planning a wedding or preparing for the most important exam in your life, it is natural to feel restless and not be able to sleep. After someone you loved has passed away, you will probably feel sad and depressed for a few weeks. It's also natural to feel more tired than usual after a busy week when you've been working really hard.

All these probably sound familiar to any of us. They are all normal feelings and responses to certain events in human life. We all feel more tired than usual, anxious or sad for short periods of time, but these feelings generally fade out after a while.

If you've just changed your life, got married or divorced, gave birth to a baby, someone you love fell sick, you've had a fight with a friend or have financial problems, these feelings are normal.

Even positive events in our life can cause such reactions. A large amount of anxiety or fatigue can be caused by a fun and exciting vacation while you've been busy visiting many places or by a move to a great job.

When To Seek Professional Help?

Feelings of sadness, anxiety and fatigue are sometimes reason of concern and exceed normal responses to certain life events, indicating a possible anxiety depression syndrome. If such feelings interfere with your daily activity, affecting your performance, they are a reason of concern.

You should also worry if these feelings are out of proportion to the event they are caused by or if they don't fade out after a few weeks. In such situations, you should definitely seek professional help. Anxiety depression is a mental disorder that can be treated if addressed by a well trained psychotherapist.

What Kind Of Doctor?

The first thing you should do if you have experienced some of these symptoms is consult your primary care physician for a diagnosis. He can check whether you have some other medical conditions or taking some medications that could cause these feelings.

Generally, a doctor will study your medical history, perform urine and blood tests and sometimes take X-rays.
If necessary, you primary care physician will guide you further to a specialist in order to receive treatment for your illness.

Anxiety depression is a real illness and not just a sign of weakness. Therefore, it should be handled by a professional, such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist or a social worker.