Anxiety, depression most common mental disorders

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of articles about mental health, managing disorders, treatment and local resources available for anyone with mental illness.

Anxiety disorders and depression are among the most common types of mental disorders and can lead to more serious health complications if left untreated.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates at least 40 million adults, 18 percent of the population, in the United States are affected by various anxiety disorders. Chronic feelings of anxiety can interfere with daily activities, such as job performance, school work and relationships.

Generalized anxiety disorder is estimated to affected almost 7 million adults and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Symptoms can in-

clude restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty controlling worry and difficulty sleeping.

Men and women equally comprise the more than 15 million Americans affected by social anxiety disorder and symptoms typically begin around the age of 13. Symptoms include feeling anxious about being around other people and difficulty talking to them, afraid of judgment, avoiding crowds, difficulty making friends or keeping them, feeling nauseous when other people are around, exhibiting signs such as sweating or trembling around others or worrying about feeling humiliated, embarrassed, rejected or fearful of offending others.

Women are also twice as likely to be affected by panic disorders, which affects more than 6 million Americans. Panic disorders can bring about recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which can include heart palpitations or an accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, sensations of smothering or choking and a feeling of impending doom.

Panic disorders have a very high comorbidity rate with major depression. About one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Other anxiety disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and specific phobias. The average age of onset of symptoms is 11.

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, but only about onethird of those with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Untreated anxiety disorders can lead to the development of chronic illnesses like congestive heart failure or diabetes, lead to other mental disorders such as depression or substance abuse, strain personal relationships and damage other components of a normal life, such as a professional career.

Depression is so common it is often referred to as the “common cold of mental illness.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates depression affects more than 25 percent of Americans ages 18 and older every year. Depression is estimated to be the second leading cause of disability in the world by 2020 behind only ischemic heart disease.

The CDC says depression is characterized by persistent sadness and sometimes irritability, especially in children. Depression is associated with an increased risk for mortality from suicide and other causes such as heart disease, lower workplace productivity and increased absenteeism which can result in lower income and increased unemployment and an increased risk for other conditions and behaviors, such as anxiety disorders, smoking, substance abuse or eating disorders.

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability for Americans between the ages of

15 and 44. It affects more than 15 million adults each year, is more prevalent in women than in men and the median age at onset is

32.5.

Persistent depressive disorder, known as PDD, continues for at least two years and affects more than 3.3 million American adults. The median age of onset for PDD, formerly called dysthymia, is 31.1.

Karla Gentry, a licensed professional counselor, recommends patience, kindness and understanding when interacting with someone with a mental illness or disorder.

“But most of all set boundaries for self-care,” Gentry said. “And have a clear understanding that treatment is necessary if life feels overwhelming and if there is physical or verbal aggression and or thoughts of suicide.”

“As a suicide prevention specialist, I tend to believe that suicide should be considered an area all it’s own,” said Susie Reece, violence prevention specialist for CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs and executive director of Suicide Prevention Allies.

“If you look at the information available on the issue, it tends to shock anyone new to the field. This subject has been studied and dissected for centuries. Far longer than many topics we see today.”

Garland County experienced a 50 percent decrease in suicides from 2015 to 2016, but state and national suicide rates continue to increase. Robert Gershon, CEO of Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness, said relatively little is still done to combat suicide.

“I think a lot of it is shame and stigma and people do not recognize help is readily available,” Gershon said. “The numbers are just staggering.”

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 121 Americans die by suicide per day for a total of more than 44,000 per year. The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.26 per 100,000 individuals.

Men die by suicide 3.5 times more often than women and white males accounted for about

70 percent of suicides in 2015. The rate of suicide is highest among middle-aged Americans, specifically white men.

Arkansas had the 13th-highest suicide rate in the country in 2014 at 17.25. The state ranked 10th in

2015 with a rate of 19.11. “With that ground swell of unimaginable grief that people go through, you would think there would be more people pounding on the door, so to speak, about why aren’t we doing more about it,” Gershon said. “It’s just not happening that much.”

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a major mood disorder characterized by manic episodes of high energy and episodes of depression.

Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are characterized by dysregulation of thought processes. Symptoms include delusions and hallucinations.

Lenora Erickson, clinical director for Therapeutic Family Services, recommended screeners on http://www.psychcentral.com for anyone who thinks they may need help. Erickson also chairs the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling and the SPA youth committee

“If you think someone is struggling with a mental health issue, ask questions and get help,” Erickson said. “No one wants to be on the end of a traumatic event, wishing they would have done different or sooner. Don’t wait, be safe.”

The NAMI HelpLine handles requests for information on mental health conditions, treatment options, local programs, recovery strategies, resource referral and support. More than 50,000 people contacted the HelpLine in 2015 and received service from NAMI staff, trained volunteers and interns.

Call 800-950-6264 to reach the HelpLine Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. The HelpLine is also available through email at info@ nami.org.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, best practices for professionals and resources for prevention. The Lifeline is available

24 hours per day, seven days per week at 800-273-8255.

An alternate line at 800-7994889 is available for anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing. A chat option is also available online at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

Trained crisis counselors are available 24 hours per day, day days per week via the Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741 for any type of crisis.