For people that have never experienced mental health issues, depression and anxiety can be difficult to understand, and mental illness can happen to anyone - the mom next door experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of her baby, the successful businessman experiencing panic attacks for the first time out of nowhere, the CEO with anxiety due to overwhelm, the wife suffering grief from the loss of her husband...the list goes on and on, because anxiety and depression can happen to anyone, and can often feel as if they come out of nowhere (even when we identify a root cause).
People who experience mood disorders know how crippling these feelings can be. Panic attacks and suicidal thoughts are the most dangerous symptoms of these disorders, and while medicines are available to help combat these symptoms and can be life-saving, they often can have side-effects, and studies show that therapy and tactics to combat anxiety and depression often have better long-term effects than SSRIs, SNRIs, or benzos (which can be used for both short-term and long-term under the supervision of a psychiatrist). Treating any type of mental illness often requires a multifaceted approach, like any combination of the following -- meds, therapy through a psychologist, psychiatrist care, and/or lifestyle adjustments or changes. YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS JOURNEY.
Practicing these seven daily mental health exercises can help ease anxiety and depression symptoms and help you establish a routine. That being said, always seek the advice of a professional and board-certified therapist, psychiatrist, and/or physician for supervised treatment options.
