Online Advice

On this page:

1. Depression
2. Symptoms of depression
3. Anxiety
4. When does anxiety become a problem?
5. How do I know if I have a real problem with anxiety?
6. Grief Loss and Bereavement
7. Eating Disorder
8. Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
9. Substance Abuse
10. Reasons for substance abuse

This online information provides insight about some of the common issues and illnesses that people either present with, or have questions about.

PLEASE NOTE: The information supplied on this website is not a substitute for face-to-face counselling. Do not self-diagnose!

One of the dangers of labelling your problem is that you may create a self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, you may find, after reading our online pamphlet, that you have some of the symptoms of depression. While this may be true, this does not necessarily mean that you have the illness (depression) and you may actually become depressed thinking that you have depression! However, if you have doubts, you should make an appointment to see a psychologist.

Depression

Depression is a common and treatable complaint that can be brought on by stressful and traumatic life events or can be genetically inherited or both.

Feeling down or sad is a normal part of life and everyone will have this experience from time to time. When you are feeling down you may be less motivated to perform tasks such as homework, you may want to be left alone, or you may eat more or less than usual.

Usually this behaviour will subside in a day or two. However, if it persists everyday and is reducing your ability to perform daily tasks, you should consider seeing a psychologist.

Symptoms of depression

• loss of interest in activities that are usually pleasurable, including socialising with friends, hobbies, sex, eating etc.
• feeling sad for most of the day
• weight loss or weight gain
• sharp increase or decrease in appetite
• sleep disturbances during the night or during the day
• loss of energy
• loss of motivation or concentration
• periodic crying, for no apparent reason
• thoughts of suicide, or preoccupation with death
• feelings of guilt or worthlessness

Anxiety

Feeling anxious about upcoming events such as exams, job interviews, performances etc. is a normal part of life. However, everyone is different, and what one person feels anxious about, another person may not be affected by. When we are anxious, we usually feel worried and apprehensive. Sometimes, particularly the night before the event, you may not sleep well and may not feel hungry in the morning. This is very common. The question is:

When does anxiety become a problem?

Anxiety usually becomes a problem when it impedes your ability to perform tasks. For example, you may fail an exam, not because you did not know the answers, but because you were anxious to the point where you could not think clearly. If you have had an experience like this, you may want to consider different ways you can manage your anxiety.

Listed below are some simple, common sense approaches to managing anxiety:

• Practise makes perfect! If you know your stuff inside and out, you will feel more confident in your ability to perform the task. Preparation is very important. The less prepared you are, the more anxious you will feel, so practise, practise, practise!
• Relaxation techniques can be a useful tool for reducing anxiety. Going for slow walks or meditating can help to release tension. Not only does this help to relax your body, but also your mind. You don't have to wait till the last minute to do this. Practising relaxation techniques will also be useful during the weeks leading up to the important event. There are many different types of relaxation techniques, such as listening to music, reading, watching television, taking a nap or even moderate exercise. You should take the time to find out which one works best for you.
• It's all mind over matter! Positive thinking is vital for reducing anxiety. If you are well prepared for the event (and you will know within yourself if you are) then you should not feel as anxious. Before the event, remind yourself that you are capable and that, in the scheme of things, it's not a big deal. This is called 'positive self-talk' and you should say to yourself, 'I know I can do this', 'I've done this before, I've done enough preparation', 'Is it really such a big deal if I make a mistake?'
• Block negative thoughts. No matter how confident you may be, sometimes those negative thoughts have a way of sneaking in. Such thoughts include, 'Im not good enough', 'I'm dumb' or 'I just know I'll stuff up'. If you allow these thoughts to take over, you may find yourself predicting catastrophies such as, 'I'm gonna fail and I won't graduate', or 'I'm gonna fall over on stage and break my ankle'. One way to prevent these thoughts from taking control is to visualise a 'stop' sign everytime a negative thought enters your mind. You can do this by closing your eyes, taking deep breaths and thinking positive thoughts.

Keep in mind that while you may never completely eliminate your anxiety, you can turn it into a positive force. Nervous energy can be used as a source of motivation. In many cases, people will not perform as well without it.

How do I know if I have a real problem with anxiety?

The best way to understand what you are experiencing is to talk to a professional, such as a psychologist, about the problem. What a psychologist will do is work with you to find out what is happening to you. Managing your anxiety becomes easier once you have a clearer understanding of it. There are many different types of anxiety that people complain about.

A brief list of the types of anxiety people experience are:

• Panic attacks
• Agoraphobia
• Social Phobia Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Grief Loss and Bereavement

Grief is associated with many different emotions that you may experience when you lose someone or something that is very special to you.

You may feel a sense of loss when:

• A loved one dies or moves away
• A relationship breaks down
• There is a change in status, e.g losing your job or moving from school to university and/or work
• An item such as jewellery, or an important document is thrown away or misplaced
• A pet dies or runs away
• Being diagnosed with a chronic and/or life threatening illness that will change your quality of life

Some of the emotions you may feel when you are grieving include:

• Sadness
• Hurt
• Anger - when a loved one dies, you may feel angry with them for leaving you
• Guilt - you may feel that you could have done something to prevent the loss
• Fear - You may be wondering what life will be like for you in the future
• Longing - you may want to go back to the way things were before
• Denial - especially in the beginning. Denial may prevent you from feeling pain
• loneliness

Other effects:

• Grief can lead to depression or anxiety
• It may also cause you to have difficulties in other relationships, particularly if you are pushing other loved ones away or if you are blaming them for the loss. You may also believe that they are uncaring if they do not appear to be grieving with you

Eating Disorder

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are the most common forms of eating disorders. They occur most often in young women and teenage girls, but can also occur in males.

Some of the symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa are:

• Fear of gaining weight
• Depression
• Denial of food, starvation
• Excessive weight loss
• Dizzy spells and fainting
• Excessive exercising
• Distorted view of one's body image
• Obsessing about food and weight
• Irregular menstrual cycle or absence of periods
• Defensive behaviour at meal times or when asked about one's eating habits
• Low self-esteem

Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa

• Eating in secrecy
• Hiding food
• Obsessing over food and weight gain
• Losing control, in particular eating to the point where the person feels physically ill
• Always running off to the bathroom immediately after meals
• Use of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics
• Eating constantly. Eating large amounts of food without gaining weight

A major difference between Bulimia and Anorexia is that people suffering from Anorexia actually feel that they are in control. This is why they are able to stop themselves from eating. People with Bulmia on the other hand, often lose control. This results in binge eating and purging (excessive eating, then vomiting or taking diet pills). Another difference is that people with Anorexia will lose weight and appear to be sick, unlike people with Bulimia who may not appear to lose weight at all. Finally, despite their sickly appearance, people with Anorexia may have more difficulty in recognising that they have a problem. They therefore are less likely to seek help and are more likely to resist assistance from others.

Substance Abuse

What is substance abuse? Substance abuse occurs when a person uses a substance to the point where their ability to function normally becomes impaired. Symptoms:

• Physical - the person may not be able to walk or they may become physically ill
• Emotional - they may easily become distressed or aggressive
• Mental - the person may not be able to think clearly or concentrate

Substance abuse is a major concern because it can lead to dangerous behaviour. People exhibiting any of the above symptoms may be more willing to take part in risky activities such as driving while drunk, high, or following through on a dare.

Reasons for abuse

• People feel pressured by their peers to drink or take drugs
• Some people who have never used drugs may be curious
• They believe they can't have fun or feel alive without getting "wasted"
• Some people cannot tell when their body has had enough so they keep abusing
• To numb emotional pain
• To escape their personal problems
• Because they are addicted

One of the biggest concerns is that it can be difficult for a young person to recognise that they are abusing their body and are at risk of developing serious, long-term medical and social disorders. If you can relate to any of the above information, please take the time to make an appointment and speak to a psychologist.

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