Are you depressed...or just stressed?

A recent survey reported that two thirds of us believe we suffer from depression and that the number of antidepressants prescribed has almost trebled in the last ten years. NACHP Deputy Chairman and clinical psychotherapist Terri Bodell asks whether many people are being mis-diagnosed.'What is being labelled as depression, in many cases, may instead be stress-related conditions,' says Terri.'Depression is a serious condition and it needs comprehensive treatment. Stress can also be a serious risk to health. But it is important to know which you are suffering from so that you can get the right treatment.'

The symptoms of both depression and stress can be similar, so how can you tell whether you are depressed or stressed? Take this quick test to find out.

Top 10 signs of stress

Top 10 signs of depression

Feeling overwhelmed Irritability or Impatience or frustration Mood swings Lack of sense of humour Excessive caffeine/alcohol intake, smoking or eating Disturbed sleep patterns Feeling constantly tired Headaches, aching muscles Skin problems (acne or eczema) Feeling worthless or a failure

Decreased interest or enjoyment in activities Feeling that life overwhelms you, the simplest tasks become impossible Decreased or increased appetite Abnormal sleep patterns (requiring more sleep or unable to sleep) Feeling persistent fatigue Feeling worthless or a failure Inability to concentrate on tasks, reading etc Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt Persistent feelings of sadness or irritability Thoughts of self harm A diagnosis of depression is usually determined by the duration, frequency and intensity of the symptoms. If you have experienced 3 or more of these symptoms for a period of at least 3 weeks it may not necessarily mean that you are suffering from depression, but seek further advice from your GP.

As you can see the symptoms of both are quite similar and so depression can be quite difficult to diagnose. Another problem is that the over-worked GP has approximately 13 minutes to investigate symptoms and problems, diagnose the condition and treat a patient. And let’s face it, we want answers and solutions from our GPs within our allotted time, not a “well I don’t know yet” answer.

So why do GPs prescribe them so frequently?  At present the waiting time for an appointment with an NHS counsellor can take up to 2 years and services are being cut or reduced. Prescribing anti-depressants is a quick fix, sometimes the only fix that the GP has available, even if it isn’t the right fix.

But in most cases, this quick fix is not more than a plaster over a cut. The life problems are still there, stresses still occur in life – basically life happens. And the anti-depressants do not provide you with the life skills needed to cope with your problems.

Depression is usually distinguished by lingering and prolonged feelings of being unable to cope with ordinary social and work life and day to day living. Interrupted sleep patterns, disturbed eating (lack of appetite or eating too much), tearfulness and anger outbursts can all be signs of depression, but they can also be signs of stress and anxiety.

So if it is stress, what can you do?

Three tips for dealing with stress and tension:

1. Watch your diet. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fats and tobacco all put a strain on your body’s ability to cope with stress. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods and foods high in protein but low in fat.
   
   
2. Walk. People with busy, stressful lives often don’t have time to go to the gym or exercise. But exercise is good for using up the stress hormones that have been building up in the body. One of the best ways to exercise is to incorporate some walking into your daily programme. Just 10 minutes can help to clear your head, improve your mood and reduce the stress hormones. It can be done almost anywhere; use the stairs instead of the lift, part the car a little further away from the office and walk to work or simply walk around the block a couple of times during your lunch break. Find little opportunities to add in a 10 minute walk and you will notice the difference.
   
   
3. Talk. Talking to others helps to put situations into perspective, get things off your chest and generally helps you to clear your head. Talk with friends, professional counsellors, support groups or relatives about what is bothering you. Don’t bottle it up.
   
   
   

Terri Bodell is Deputy Chairman and a Fellow of the NACHP and a qualified clinical psychotherapist, based in Hertfordshire. She is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a graduate of the National Centre for Eating Disorders. Terri is also a qualified trainer and specialises in life skills training. For more information, visit Terri's website at www.terribodell.com