Townsville, Mt Isa, and Bowen Visiting services to Ingham l Ayr l - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Townsville, Mt Isa, and Bowen Visiting services to Ingham l Ayr l Collinsville l Charters Towers

Who is Centacare?  Centacare North Queensland is a not-for- profit organisation with over 30 years professional service in Queensland  Centacare has offices Australia wide and has state and national bodies that it refers to  Centacare services are based on the principles of Catholic Social teachings which include: justice, equality, respect, professionalism, social mission and community development

Outline  Depression  Anxiety  Stress  Where to go for help

Why?  On average, 1 in 8 men will have depression and 1 in 5 men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives.  While women are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, men are less likely to talk about it. This increases the risk of their depression or anxiety going unrecognised and untreated.  Depression is a high risk factor for suicide and, in Australia, there are approximately 2,200 suicides each year. 80 per cent are by men – with an average of 5 men taking their lives every single day. Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 44, significantly exceeding the national road toll.

What is depression?  While we might feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time (weeks, months or even years) and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just a low mood – it's a serious illness that has an impact on both physical and mental health.

What causes Depression? While the exact cause of depression isn't known, a number of things can be associated with its development. Life events  continuing difficulties – long-term employment/financial issues, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness, prolonged exposure to stress at work – are more likely to cause depression than recent life stresses.  recent events (such as losing a job/relationship) or a combination of events can ‘trigger' depression in people who are already at risk because of past bad experiences or personal factors.

Per erso sonal nal fact ctor ors Family history – Depression can run in families and • some people will be at an increased genetic risk. However, this doesn't mean that a person will automatically experience depression if a parent or close relative has had the illness. Life circumstances and other personal factors are still likely to have an important influence. Personality – Some people may be more at risk of • depression because of their personality, particularly if they have a tendency to worry a lot, have low self- esteem, are perfectionists, are sensitive to personal criticism, or are self-critical and negative.

Per erson onal al fact ctor ors • Serious medical illness – Having a medical illness can trigger depression in two ways. Serious illnesses can bring about depression directly, or can contribute to depression through associated stress and worry, especially if it involves long-term management of the illness and/or chronic pain. • Drug and alcohol use – Drug and alcohol use can both lead to and result from depression. Many people with depression also have drug and alcohol problems. Over 500,000 Australians will experience depression and a substance use disorder at the same time, at some point in their lives.

Physical – Changes to the brain  What happens in the brain to cause depression is not fully understood. Evidence suggests it may be related to changes in the levels or activity of certain chemicals – related to mood and motivation that carry messages within the brain.  Changes to stress hormone levels have also been found in people with depression. Research suggests that behaviour can affect brain chemistry – for example, long-term stress may cause changes in the brain that can lead to depression.  Changes in brain chemistry have been more commonly associated with severe depression rather than mild or moderate depression.

Signs and Symptoms  Behaviour  not going out anymore  not getting things done at work/school/home  withdrawing from close family and friends  relying on alcohol and sedatives  not doing usual enjoyable activities  unable to concentrate

 Feelings overwhelmed  guilty  Irritable/frustrated  lacking in confidence  unhappy  indecisive  disappointed  miserable/sad 

 Thoughts  'I’m a failure.'  'It’s my fault.'  'Nothing good ever happens to me.'  'I’m worthless.'  'Life’s not worth living.'  'People would be better off without me.'

 Physical tired all the time  sick and run down  headaches and muscle pains  churning gut  sleep problems  loss or change of appetite  significant weight loss or gain 

What is anxiety?  Anxiety is more than just feeling stressed or worried. While stress and anxious feelings are a common response to a situation where a person feels under pressure, it usually passes once the stressful situation has passed, or ‘stressor’ is removed .  Anxiety is when these anxious feelings don't subside. Anxiety is when they are ongoing and exist without any particular reason or cause. It’s a serious condition that makes it hard for a person to cope with daily life.

What causes Anxiety?  Family history of mental health problems  Ongoing stressful events • job stress or job change change in living arrangements • • pregnancy and giving birth • family and relationship problems major emotional shock following a stressful • or traumatic event • verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma death or loss of a loved one. •

What causes Anxiety?  Physical Health Problems • hormonal problems (e.g. overactive thyroid) • diabetes • asthma • heart disease  Substance Use  Personality factors

Signs and Symptoms  Some common physical symptoms include: • hot and cold flushes • racing heart • tightening of the chest • snowballing worries • obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviour.

Ge Generalised neralised an anxiet xiety y di disor order der For 6 months or more, on more days than not, have • felt very worried found it hard to stop worrying • • found that anxiety made it difficult to do everyday activities (e.g. work, study, seeing friends and family)? feel restless or on edge • feel easily tired • • had difficulty concentrating felt irritable • • had muscle pain (e.g. sore jaw or back) • had trouble sleeping (e.g. difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless sleep)?

Phobias (specific and social)  Have felt very nervous when faced with a specific object or situation? For example: flying on an aeroplane  going near an animal  receiving an injection  going to a social event?  Have avoided a situation because of a phobia? For example:  changed work patterns  not attended social events  avoided health check-ups  found it hard to go about your daily life (e.g. working, studying or seeing friends and family) because you are trying to avoid such situations?

Stress

What is Stress?  “A condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” Richard Lazarus

 A specific response by the body to a stimulus, such as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism  Anything that stimulates you and increases your alertness  Stress is an unavoidable fact of life  This response is normal and useful in the right time and place.

“Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fragment Response”  During the “Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fragment” response the body shifts its energy resources to do one of these things when there is a perceived threat  This response causes the nervous system to release adrenalin, making the heart beat faster, raise blood pressure, change digestive process, boost glucose levels in the bloodstream, rapid/shortness of breath, increase/decrease in appetite, nausea and effect normal functioning of the reproductive system

 Our quality of performance is related to our level of stress  Too little stress and we’re bored  An increase in stress, within our means, is productive. This is the “optimum performance range.” E.g. Some nerves before sitting an important exam can increase performance  Any stress beyond what we can handle causes our performance to decline

Physical Symptoms Of Stress Headaches Breathing Nervousness difficulties Digestive problems Increased or decreased Heartburn appetite Increased heart pressure Acne/Skin problems Muscle aches and tension Diarrhoea Stomach pain Nausea

Psychological Symptoms of Stress Depression Memory problems Emotional Feeling Hopelessness/Helplessness overwhelmed Feelings of despair Constant worrying Sense of Feeling panicked/ Anxious/Racing loneliness/agitation Experiencing attacks thoughts Pessimism