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eNEWSLETTER
April 2004

Our Mission Statement:
"Providing a range of innovative professional services, empowering our clients to positively address issues affecting their lives."

Welcome to Clayfield Counselling Services April eNewsletter!

Stress & Depression

This month our topics are stress and depression and what is causing them. Stress and depression are the most common of all mental health problems accounting for most of the economic, social and personal costs of mental disorders in Australia and they are on the rise. Doctors believe that by 2020, depression will be the second biggest health concern to heart disease. So, what is causing this increasing rate of stress and depression?

What is Stress?

"The stress response of the body is somewhat like an airplane readying for take-off. Virtually all systems (eg, the heart and blood vessels, the immune system, the lungs, the digestive system, the sensory organs, and brain) are modified to meet the perceived danger." - www.stress.org

 Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems. (www.ivf.com)

The stress response is important for survival. It is an adaptive response, involving both emotional and physiological changes and motivates us so we can protect ourselves. (www.4therapy.com)

What is Depression?

It is an extremely disabling illness and can last from a few weeks to years, dependent upon how quickly a person recognises their symptoms and attempts to seek treatment. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found that depression is the biggest source of disability in Australia . ( www.aihw .gov.au)

Everyone experiences variations in mood -- transitory blues, disappointments. The normal grief that accompanies the loss of someone you love, a severe or prolonged depression that interferes with the ability to function, feel pleasure, or maintain interest, is not a mere case of the blues, it is an illness. Researchers have demonstrated that it results from biochemical imbalances in the brain. ( www.depression.org)

Depression is not a sign of personal weakness; people with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. If left untreated, depression causes needless pain and suffering, not only to the person who is depressed, but also to those who care about them and may even lead to suicide. Depression can afflict anyone, regardless of age, race, class, or gender. (www.aihw.gov.au)

What causes stress and depression?

Stress and depression can be caused by a myriad of different things, however our reaction to these will depend on our coping mechanisms and our support systems. Some common causes are illness, stress at home or work, divorce, loss of a loved one, traumatic events. While we generally think of negative events as causing stress and depression, some positive events may also produce similar responses, such as the birth of a child, buying a new house, changing jobs, or going on holidays.

How can we deal with stress and depression?

If you would like to know more about dealing with stress and depression, please refer to some of the websites listed below or, if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of stress and depression, please contact our office and arrange for one of our experienced counsellors to see you.

Some interesting websites

Need a qualified professional counsellor?
Office hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. After hours and Saturday appointments are available on request.

Until next time then...
"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one." - Hans Selye (Austrian-Hungarian endocrinologist, 1907-1982)

The editorial team at Clayfield Counselling Services

 

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