Mental Health
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 40% of Australians between 16-85 years of age have experienced a mental disorder during their lives. The ABS recognises “Mental health is a key component of overall health and wellbeing… A person does not need to meet the criteria for a mental disorder to be negatively affected by their mental health.” The term “mental health” covers a range of presenting experiences, including affective (depressive), anxiety and substance use disorders.
Depression
It is normal for all of us to feel down or low sometimes in our lives, but for some of us, it can feel outright crippling and debilitating if it has persisted for a while. It’s easy to lose our sense of enjoyment, our strengths, our goals and to isolate ourselves when we feel depressed. There may even be physical symptoms such as significant changes in our sleeping patterns; feeling lethargic or tired or feeling unable to control our emotions. For some, there may be suicidal thoughts due to feeling overwhelmed and trapped. It is true that a little bit of sadness can help us appreciate joy in life, however what happens if we have a whole lot of sadness for a long time?
If you relate to feeling hopeless at times, it is important to remember that there is support available. Although it is unlikely for depression to disappear on its own, finding effective treatment and support for your needs can help you learn how to manage it and minimise it’s impacts in your life.
Anxiety
“Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. Stress and anxious feelings are a common response when we feel under pressure. These feelings usually pass once the stressful situation has passed. Anxiety is when anxious feelings don’t go away and may not have a clear cause.” (Beyond Blue)
The ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing identified Anxiety as the most prevalent form of 12-month or longer mental disorder in Australia, impacting at least 3.3 million people. Since we all experience anxious feelings, and anxiety symptoms often build over time, it can be hard to know when to seek support. Some common signs and symptoms include: constant worry or anxiousness; inability to wind down; inability to stop anxious thoughts; feeling tired easily; challenges concentrating; muscle tension and sleep disturbances.
When managed effectively, anxious feelings can be a life-saving response as part of the human condition – it helps us recognise what we like, dislike, fear, want and do not want, and its primary purpose is to keep us safe. However, when anxiety reaches chronic and debilitating levels, it can feel too much and out of control.
It is beneficial to reach out for support no matter what stage your anxiety may be at. This can be from your support network, or from health professionals such as a GP or a mental health clinician like a counsellor.
Stress
“Stress can be defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain. Stress is your body’s response to anything that required attention or action. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way you respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to your overall well-being” (World Health Organisation).
Given this definition, it makes sense when we consider that stress can be triggered by all sorts of different life experiences: workplace stress; relationship stress; academic stress; financial stress; medical stress; mental stress and the list goes on! How we respond to these stressors plays a big part in how we manage our own stress response. A common example from a lot of clients I’ve spoken to with a young family is if they’re feeling stressed in life, they may be less patient towards their family. In turn, this often is counter-productive due to now adding more family stress and conflict, on top of their existing stress in their lives. What would happen if we could healthily release or process the pent-up negative emotions (from stress) somewhere else, instead of towards the family?
Although managing stress may often be “easier said than done”, learning to cope with stress will empower you to be more resilient towards stress. This can have powerful benefits for you, and important people in your life!
Seeking Support
If you relate to any of the above and feel you would like to receive professional support, we encourage you to reach out to us via our contact form.
If you are hoping for some immediate strategies to try getting a head-start on managing your mental health, I would encourage you to reflect on the following list of practical strategies which I would be happy to explore further with you in-session if you have any questions. Please note that everyone has unique experiences, and may have their own effective strategies – what do you feel might work for you?
Self-Management Strategies for Mental Health
Feeling connected with partners, family, friends, colleagues and like-minded community members are known to lower levels of mental health disturbance. Other effective strategies can include:
- Increased level of exercise / physical activity
- Practising thinking positively
- Increasing enjoyable activities
- Feeling better organised in home/life/other
- Connecting with support network
- Relaxation techniques
- Nutrition changes
- Non-prescription medicines, vitamins, supplements or herbal remedies
- Cut-out alcohol or drugs
If you, or someone you know, is currently experiencing a mental health crisis and is in need of immediate support, you can reach out to the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467); LifeLine (13 11 14) or the police or ambulance (000).
Lee Wong Counselling 