Depression/Anxiety Customer Care Packet

Depression/Anxiety Customer Care Packet

The following resources have been provided to you from the experts at eni Our 30 years of experience and our highly skilled, friendly and knowledgeable staff are here to provide you with exceptional service. Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), BalanceWorks, provides you with 24/7, free and confidential services. You receive immediate access to a Licensed Mental Healthcare Professional. BalanceWorks offers counseling, legal and financial services, child/elder care resources, your own Personal Assistant, and online resources. Feel free to review this material at your leisure and let us know if we can be of further assistance with your needs.

Depression Millions of people in the United States suffer from depression. About twice as many women as men suffer from this medical condition. Major depression is a whole-body illness that affects a person's body, feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Everyone experiences bouts of the blues or periods of sadness now and then. However, if these feelings last more than a couple of weeks or interfere with daily life, a person may be suffering from clinical depression. Depression involves a set of symptoms that can last for months and sometimes years. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with depression cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Causes The causes of depression are not always known. Research shows the tendency to develop depression may be inherited and that an uneven balance of naturally occurring mood-influencing chemicals in the brain can play a role. People who have a poor self-image, who view themselves negatively, or who are easily overwhelmed by life challenges may be more likely than others to experience depression. A serious loss, chronic illness, difficult relationship, or unwelcome change can trigger depression. Symptoms The two major symptoms of depression include a depressed mood and an inability to enjoy life. Depression may also include: Fatigue Sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or difficulty sleeping) Change in appetite (eating too much or too little, sometimes weight gain or weight loss) Poor concentration Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness General irritability Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempt Vague physical aches and pains, such as stomachaches and headaches Excessive crying Treatment Treatment for depression can include counseling, medications, or both. If you take medication, you should begin to feel better within 4 to 6 weeks. Counseling can give you support and strategies for coping and learning new ways to think about situations in your life. With the treatment of depression, recovery is the rule -- not the exception. Share your treatment plan with people close to you. Talk to friends and relatives and explain what you are going through. Take medications exactly they way they are prescribed. You may be tempted to stop taking your medications too soon. However, it is important to keep taking them until your doctor says to stop, even if you begin feeling better. Keep in mind that it may take 2 to 4 weeks to see a noticeable change. Report any unusual medication side effects to your doctor, especially if the side effects interfere with your ability to function. Keep all follow-up appointments you have with your doctor or therapist. Do not miss an appointment, even if you are feeling better that day. Schedule pleasant activities into your day. People tend to feel better when they are doing activities they enjoy. Self-Care Steps for Depression Set realistic goals for yourself, and avoid taking on a great deal of responsibility. Divide your workload. Break large tasks into small ones, set priorities, and don't be hard on yourself if you are unable to get everything finished. Do activities that make you feel better, such as exercising moderately, going to a movie, or attending social events.

Anxiety Anxiety is a state of the mind and body associated with worry, tension, and nervousness. Everyone experiences life stress and anxious moments. In fact, anxiety can help us cope with external dangers by increasing our awareness and getting our body ready to react. When anxiety becomes overwhelming and interferes with daily life, a person may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems in the United States. Up to 25 percent of people in the United States will suffer from anxiety disorders sometime in their lives. Anxiety disorders usually begin in a person's late teens or early 20s. Anxiety disorders may occur with depression. Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social phobia, specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are chronic illnesses that can grow progressively worse if not treated. Effective treatments are available. Causes The causes of anxiety and panic are not fully understood. Life experience may trigger anxiety. Chemical imbalances in the brain can also play a role. These imbalances may run in the family. Symptoms Anxiety can express itself in different ways. It may be ongoing or come in bursts, lasting only a few minutes. Panic attacks are short, intense bursts of anxiety accompanied by a sense of dread and physical reactions such as heart pounding and sweating. Generalized anxiety is an ongoing condition that is not usually a direct result of a well-defined irrational fear (phobia). The two major symptoms of generalized anxiety are uncontrollable anxiety and worry. Other symptoms may include: Muscle tension Fatigue Irritability or edginess Insomnia or sleep disturbance Difficulty concentrating The symptoms of a panic attack may occur suddenly and repeatedly, including: Fear of losing control or "going crazy" Fear of dying or that something terrible is about to happen Fear of embarrassment or humiliation Chest pain or discomfort Rapid heartbeat Shortness of breath, smothering, sweating Chills or hot flashes Trembling or shaking Feeling of choking Nausea or abdominal discomfort Numbness or tingling

Anxiety Treatment Share your treatment plan with people close to you. Talk to friends and relatives and explain what you are going through. If your doctor prescribes medication, take it exactly the way it is prescribed. You may be tempted to stop the medication when you start feeling better. However, do not stop taking your medication until your doctor tells you to. Tell your doctor if you experience side effects from the medication. Keep all follow-up appointments with your doctor. Keep in mind that it may take some time to start feeling better. Talk with your doctor before trying any natural preparations for the treatment of depression, insomnia, anxiety, and stress. Over-the-counter preparations can interact with other medications and cause serious side effects. Self-Care Steps for Anxiety Learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing. Take time away from stress. Exercise regularly. It can improve your health and sense of well-being and increase your ability to handle stress. Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs. Limit your intake of caffeine. It can make the symptoms of anxiety worse. Practice confronting your fears. See your doctor if your symptoms aren't improving Krames Staywell

How to Feel Good When Your Life Isn't Perfect Most people have thoughts and dreams about how their lives ought to be. When things don't work out the way they had pictured, they tend to blame other people or situations. They don't realize that the bad feelings come from their own thinking. "When things are bad, people say to themselves, 'Things aren't the way I like them,' and then say, 'That's terrible, that's awful' -- meaning they think things are so bad that they shouldn't or mustn't be that way," says Albert Ellis, Ph.D., the creator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and author of "Feeling Better, Getting Better, Staying Better." It's normal, however, to have to deal with difficult situations and difficult people as you go through life. Here's how to change your thinking, so you can feel good when your life isn't perfect. Unconditionally accept yourself Most people want to do well in order to feel good about themselves and be loved by the significant people in their lives. But this way of thinking can make you feel crazy. "It's important to accept yourself whether or not you do well and whether people who are important to you love you," says Dr. Ellis. "Don't think, 'I have to do well,' because then, if you don't, you'll worry. Instead, just prefer to do well. Even when people are doing well and being loved by significant people, they worry about tomorrow." Don't over-generalize You can evaluate what you think, feel and do, but don't give yourself a generalized rating. You're like a diamond in the making and have many facets. Some shine brilliantly, and others still need to be polished. "People generalize and say, 'I failed a few times, and I might fail again.' That's true enough, but then they stupidly over-generalize and say, 'I failed a few times, and I'm a failure.' You can't be a failure or a success," says Dr. Ellis. "But you can fail at things and be successful at things." Even evaluating yourself as a good person creates stress, because you'll always have to live up to your image and do good things. The truth is that you do thousands of things -- some good, some bad. Unconditionally accept others You may get angry with relatives, friends, co-workers or other people because of things they've done. You'll feel far less miserable if you feel disappointed, instead. "You can think, 'I don't like their behavior, but they're fallible humans who sometimes do good and sometimes behave badly. I can accept them and not make myself incensed or furious at them.' " says Dr. Ellis. "You can judge their behavior as bad or wicked, but never judge them, as people, as bad, evil or rotten." This doesn't mean you should tolerate bad behavior. You can still try to get them to change how they behave, but you can do it without anger. Unconditionally accept life Many bad things may happen to you in your life, but you don't have to view them as terrible, because you can handle them and even be happy in spite of them. Therefore, it's not the bad things that upset you -- it's your view of them. Feeling bad comes from demanding that something turn out a certain way.

A Checklist for Depression What's the difference between a bad case of the blues and the painful mental disorder known as depression? According to the experts, impaired functioning is usually a clear-cut indication of clinical depression. Here's a quick checklist of depression symptoms. If the list sounds familiar, you may want to see a counselor or a psychiatrist. Depressive Mood: Do you suffer from feelings of gloom, helplessness or pessimism for days at a time? Sleep Disturbance: Do you have trouble falling asleep at night or trouble staying asleep -- waking up in the middle of the night or too early in the morning? Are you sleeping too much? Chronically fatigued: Do you frequently feel tired or lack energy? Isolation: Have you stopped meeting friends for lunch? Are you ever afraid to leave the house? Increasing isolation and diminished interest or pleasure in activities are a major signs of depression. Appetite Disturbance: Are you eating far less than usual -- or far more? Severe and continuing appetite disturbance is often an indication of depression. Inability to Concentrate: If you can't seem to focus on even routine tasks, it's probably time to get some help. Dependence on Mood-Altering Substances: If you depend on alcohol or other drugs to make it through the day, you may be suffering from depression. Often the substance abuse causes symptoms which mimic the appearance of clinical depression, but are in fact due wholly to the drug use. Feeling a sense of inappropriate guilt or worthlessness. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal idealization/attempt. Wellness Library Health Ink and Vitality Communications 2013

Understanding Depression Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on America's health and productivity. It affects more than 21 million American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44. Depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and chronic pain and is associated with poorer health status and prognosis. Identifying the signs of depression is the first step towards learning to cope with depression. Depression can take several forms. Some common forms of depression include: Major Depression (Clinical depression) - People with major depression feel a profound and constant sense of hopelessness and despair. With major depression, you may have symptoms that make it difficult to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy friends and activities. Some people have clinical depression only once in their life. Others may have it several times in a lifetime. Chronic Depression - Chronic depression, or dysthymia, is characterized by a long-term (two years or more) depressed mood. Chronic depression is less severe than major depression and typically does not disable the person. If you have dysthymia, or chronic depression, you may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during your lifetime. Atypical Depression - Symptoms of atypical depression include: overeating, oversleeping, fatigue, and extreme sensitivity to rejection; moods that worsen or improve in direct response to events. Seasonal Depression (SAD) - is a depression that occurs each year at the same time. It usually starts in the fall or winter and ends in spring or early summer. It is more than just "the winter blues" or "cabin fever." A rare form of SAD, known as "summer depression," begins in late spring or early summer and ends in fall. Have you experienced any of these symptoms for an extended period of time not for a day or two, but more like two weeks? If so, you may want to consider seeking professional help. 1. Lack of Energy - Are you more sluggish than normal? 2. Weight Gain or Loss - Have you been eating more or less than you're supposed to? 3. Trouble Sleeping - Do you have trouble falling asleep? Or trouble getting out of bed? 4. Lack of Concentration - Do you have trouble keeping your mind focused? 5. Apathy - Have you lost the love, the zest, for the hobbies you have in your life?