WHAT IS IT AND WHO IS AFFECTED – #BellLetsTalk
This series is in support of Bell Let’s Talk – an initiative focused on raising awareness and encouraging dialogue about mental health.
Reactions to frightening situations, such as nervousness, inability to sleep and to replay the event over in one’s mind are normal. These reactions usually subside over time, and the affected person(s) resume their normal activities without further disruption. Post-traumatic stress disorder lasts much longer and can leave a person or persons incapacitated.
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PTSD is a mental illness that causes people to re-live the traumatic event, having vivid nightmares, flashbacks, or thoughts of the event that seem to come from nowhere. Often, individuals will go out of their way to avoid things or situations that remind them of the event. For example, survivors of an automobile accident might avoid driving, or travel, all together.
PTSD also affects the nervous system as individuals constantly feel ‘on edge,’ startle easily, have difficulty concentrating, feel irritable, and experience difficulty sleeping. They often experience a sense of foreboding, even when they are safe. Some people feel very numb and detach themselves from reality, disconnecting from their physical and mental self and have difficulty feeling emotions.
Without support and treatment, some people may turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with PTSD
Certain occupations create a greater risk to individuals, and these individuals are more likely to find themselves in dangerous situations.
Military personnel, first responders (police, firefighters, and paramedics), doctors, and nurses experience higher rates of PTSD than other professions.
click to view previous post regarding PTSD – ‘United by Trauma.’
Depression
Not just a case of “the blues,” depression is a common mental disorder causing depressed mood, lack of interest or feelings of pleasure, guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. Everyone experiences unhappiness at one time or another, usually resulting from a particular cause.
Those experiencing depression are fighting feelings of severe desperation and hopelessness over an extended period. They experience intense emotions of anxiety, negativity, and helplessness. The illness affects almost every aspect of their life. Including their physical health, relationships and work.
For people with depression, there is no “light at the end of the tunnel” — there is just a long, dark tunnel
Depression can happen to anyone. It affects people of all ages and all walks of life. Many celebrities and successful people who seem to have everything going for them battle with this problem. Some individuals who experience depression will go through it only once. For others, it is recurring.
Living with depression is difficult for those who suffer from it and for their family, friends, and colleagues.
Depression can occur suddenly following a physical illness. It can come about as a result of experiences dating back to childhood, finding yourself unemployed or other life-changing events such as bereavement and family problems.
Identifying what affects you emotionally and the things that are likely to trigger depression is an important first step.
- lack of energy and feeling tired (all the time)
- feeling sad (all the time)
- loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
- strong feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- difficulty concentrating and functioning at work/school
- not experiencing pleasure in situations that used to entertain you
- feeling anxious (all the time)
- avoiding people – even family and close friends
- feeling helpless and hopeless
- difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep, or waking earlier than usual
- loss of appetite
- loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems
- physical aches and pains
- suicidal thoughts and acts of self-harm
The following are only a few of several types of depression:
Mild depression has a limited negative effect on someone’s daily life. They may have difficulty motivating themselves to do even the things normally enjoyed and concentrating on work.
Major depression drastically interferes with an individual’s day-to-day living: eating, sleeping, and other daily activities. Some people may experience only one episode, but it is more common to experience several episodes in a lifetime and can lead to hospital admission if the person is thought to be at risk of harming themselves.
Bi-polar disorder is extreme mood swings – from highs, where the individual feels on top of the world and indestructible, to lows, where they experience complete despair, lethargy, and thoughts of suicide.
It is not uncommon for people with severe symptoms to have difficulty making sense of their world. They may perform acts that seem odd or illogical
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or ‘winter blues’ is associated with the start of winter and can last until spring when longer days bring more daylight. SAD can make you feel anxious, stressed and depressed. As well as affecting your mood, it can also interfere with sleeping and eating patterns.
If you are concerned that you may be affected or know someone who is suffering, please speak with a professional; they can help.
Bell Let’s Talk Day is on January 25, 2017. For every text message, tweet/retweet, IG and Facebook post using #BellLetsTalk, Bell will donate 5¢ to mental health initiatives.
Thank you, Lisa, for showing me the light at the end of the tunnel!
Your blog has become one of my favorite ones to read. These posts, highlighting these important topics, bring tears to my eyes and a relief to my heart. Finally someone is writing about it, finally someone sees us! You really explained both conditions with such great care, thank you. And just to add, my dogs are my #1 support system when dealing with these pressing issues and I am so very thankful for them!
Your comment made my entire week – thank you! Yes, our animal companions are the best therapy.
Mental illness is so difficult to treat and cope with and affects everyone. It is great to bring awareness and reduce stigma. My younger daughter has just launched a site CopingContd with friends as she suffers from Obsessions and Depression.
It is also great to let people know how pet therapy and service dogs can help those suffering. NSD in Ontario has an amazing program training dogs for people with PTSD and we have also interviewed various US groups like K9s for Warriors helping Veterans and Rescue Dogs.
I tweeted your post and will be tweeting lots more today with the Bell Hashtag ##BellLetsTalk – thanks for sharing.
Talent Hounds recently posted…20 Dog Photos To Put You In The Christmas Spirit-Instagram Spotlight
This is such a sore subject for so many so when I read about it, and see people speaking out it makes me smile as being a Domestic Violence Survivor I have my problems, do not share as I deal with them the best way I can so thanks for a great article and yes I will tweet it also.
Be safe all and remember you are not alone
People have no idea – or they don’t want to know if it doesn’t affect them. Mental illness, depression, are things we should know about and be equipped to deal with but we are not. We should stop hiding from mentall illness, it sits beside us, it is around us every day.
A friend in the UK is helping a lady who is mentally ill. So many people do not want to help and there is no money. The UK has a euphemism called ‘Care in the Community’ but the kicker in the community doesn’t care. So we have a generation of peple who are mentally ill, who cannot cope with that illness, and who the whole country doesn’t want to know about.
This is wrong, and evil. I hope Karma gets the people with the money and delivers justice – big time.
Dash Kitten Crew recently posted…Change a Pet’s Life Day
Mental health, depression, PTSD, effect and touch all our lives, whether it be family member, a friend or a co-worker. The time is long overdue for people to feel they have to hide it or be ashamed of it. We must talk about it and support those around us that need the help.
Thank you for bringing awareness to this topic. So many people feel that they are alone or that something is wrong with them. It’s so nice that there is help out there.
Tonya Wilhelm recently posted…Dog Training Games: Clicker Training Games | 101 Things to Do With a Box
Such an important subject. Mental health needs to be discussed more often and openly. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Sadie – such a powerful piece and we cannot share enough about mental health. We are all so very fragile and feel invincible until we are not, and sometimes even the innocuous of things can cause a bit of a spiral. I’ll share your important piece with our readers!
Rebecca at MattieDog recently posted…Valentine’s Day Has Gone to the Shih Tzus!
My father is a combat veteran and has suffered from severe PTSD my whole life. He now has a cat who is like his therapy cat!
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Good post about a very misunderstood subject. Dogs and cats are playing a bigger part in coping with depression, just one of the many great ways they help us! I’m reading a book right now that features a main character suffering from PTSD. The book does a good job describing the effects, provides good insight.
I tweeted this post using the hashtag, too. Thanks for educating people on this subject!
Karen recently posted…White House Cats: Presidential Life From Feline Purrspective
Apparently animals can get SAD too. Someone here invented a light therapy lamp for pets!
Tenacious Little Terrier recently posted…The Abominable Snowman Dog
I am so glad to see you write about this. There is such a false stigma in a lot of society about depression and PTSD. Often folks are so afraid to even talk about it. You busted through here and shared the reality. Way to go!
I didn’t realize you were Canadian COOL … (or I forgot – it happens) I keep trying to NOT write about Monte being an ESA – how Canada does not recognize that and the impact – and all that because I fear FEAR the push back and also exposing my PTSD and anxiety disorder. Maybe … maybe next year for belltalks I will.
I love this video, I’ll be sharing it with someone who I know suffers from depression and anxiety. Thank you for sharing this important information!
Beth recently posted…Happy Tails: Buster the Boston Terrier
Thank you for sharing this information. I have diagnosed depression as a result of obsessive compulsive perfectionism. I’ve participated in therapy for over 30 years and have medication for when I can’t handle the situation. Luckily, I’ve learned a lot of coping skills. I wish mental illness was more understood.
Hi Sadie,
Thank you for this post! It’s rare that people speak openly of mental illness although it’s such an important topic and affects so many people around us.
I have a very good friend who lives with Bi-Polar Disorder type 1. For her this means any elevated stress levels beyond what she can cope with or sudden changes in her life can cause breaks with reality, hallucinations erratic manic episodes and deep dark lows. It can be difficult to manage, even when medicated.
She can’t live independently, but she has loving parents who are very supportive. And her employer is understanding too – which is unusual. And she’s one of the lucky few that have a strong support system. She finds a lot of solace with her dogs too. Although they are not trained service dogs, they adore her and support her all the same.
I’m not a doctor but It’s strange to think there’s a stigma attached to mental illness when a lot of it has to do with permanent or temporary chemical imbalances of the brain. I mean no one stigmatizes diabetics who essentially have an imbalance of insulin.
This is a great article!
Rosemary
Rosemary recently posted…What is the Best Shampoo for Dogs with Skin Problems
Thank you Rosemary for sharing your experience. It is a good friend that takes the time to research and understand.
Hi Sadie,
Thanks! It’s what friends do. And I’d hope people close to me would do the same for me. I guess my belief in the goodness of humanity will never dwindle.
And I thinks it’s fantastic that people like you are speaking about mental illness openly. And also the amazing responses here in the comments, show that people are open to learning.
🙂
Rosemary recently posted…The Best Safety Harness for Dogs in Cars
Some people have personal battles that needs help. A psychiatrist can help.
PTSD makes life difficult for so many people. Dogs are great therapy!
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They really are!