Depression and Anxiety

National Helpline: 988

The North American Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI Helpline: 800-950-6264 ( or chat online HERE) or text HelpLine" to 62640

NAMI Oklahoma- find local support groups here

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

mentalhealth.gov

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Symptoms

Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed. Some types of mood disorders along with depression include Bipolar disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and Self-harm.

Symptoms of depression include:

Feeling sad or anxious often or all the time
Not wanting to do activities that used to be fun
Feeling irritable‚ easily frustrated‚ or restless
Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
Waking up too early or sleeping too much
Eating more or less than usual or having no appetite
Experiencing aches, pains, headaches, or stomach problems that do not improve with treatment
Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
Feeling tired‚ even after sleeping well
Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself

Anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with depression. People who have anxiety disorders struggle with intense and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and/or panic. These feelings can interfere with daily activities. Types of anxiety disorders include panic disorders, phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

Feeling nervous, restless or tense
Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
Having an increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Having trouble sleeping
Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
Having difficulty controlling worry
Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

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Treatment

Therapy: many people benefit from therapy or counseling. Click on our "counseling" tab to learn more!
Medication: many people with depression or anxiety find that taking prescribed medications can help improve their mood and coping skills. We encourage you to your doctor or a psychiatrist about whether they are right for you.

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Statistics

In 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 19.86% of adults experienced a mental illness, equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans (every 1 out of 5).
Studies estimate that 22% of Oklahomans suffer some form of mental illness, which is the third-highest rate in the U.S.
15% of youth experienced a major depressive episode in the past year
Over half of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 27 million adults in the U.S. who are going untreated.
Over 60% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. In Texas, the bottom-ranked state for this indicator, nearly three-quarters of youth with depression did not receive mental health treatment.
Clinical depression is the number 1 predictor of suicide.

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Help a Friend

Because millions of people in the U.S. live with a mental health condition, you likely encounter people with a mental illness in your family or in your daily life. If you want to talk to someone about what they are going through, these tips may help.

Suggestions on how you may approach someone living with a mental health condition:

Ease into the conversation gradually. It may be that the person is not in a place to talk, and that is OK.
Be respectful, compassionate and empathetic to their feelings by engaging in reflective listening. Avoid invalidating how they are feeling in that moment.
Instead of directing the conversation at them with ‘you’ statements, use ‘I’ statements instead. For example, "I have noticed... do you agree?"
Give them the opportunity to talk and open up, but don’t press.
Reduce defensiveness by sharing your experience and being vulnerable about your feelings and the ways you have struggled.
Speak normally. Mental illness has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence
Show respect for how they describe and interpret their symptoms.
Offer your support and connect them to help if you feel that they need it. Ask, “How can I help?” if appropriate.
They might not be in a place to figure out how you can help, so you can offer specific ways of helping, such as:
- making medical phone calls (insurance, pharmacies, counseling appointments, etc.) when they don't have energy to (you will need written permission to speak with their healthcare providers).
- picking up prescriptions or grocery orders for them
- dropping off or ordering food for them (offer to drop it off on their doorstep if they aren't feeling up for talking)
- sitting with them without talking or watching a movie together
- helping them with chores, which can be overwhelming
Give the person hope for recovery, offer encouragement and prayers.
Assure them that you are there with them and love them, no matter how they show up or what they are going through.

Things to Avoid Saying:

“Just pray about it.”
“You just need to change your attitude.”
“Stop focusing on the negative."
"You just need to try harder."
"Have you tried exercising?"
“Everyone feels that way sometimes.”
“You have the same illness as my (whoever).”
“Yeah, we all feel a little crazy now and then.”

Things to Avoid Doing:

Criticizing, blaming, or raising your voice.
Talking too much, too rapidly, too loudly. Silence and pauses are ok.
Assuming things about them or their situation.
Being sarcastic or making jokes about their condition.
Patronizing them or saying anything condescending.
Making their struggles about you.

Depression and Anxiety

Symptoms

Treatment

Statistics

Help a Friend

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John 1:5