Am I Stressed or Depressed?
Honestly, it’s easy to get confused. It’s also easy to want to be confused as it’s often more acceptable to confess that you are struggling with stress than with depression. In our fast-paced, competitive, and wealth-driven societies, studies and surveys on stress are everywhere. Even though one condition is regularly concealed and the other so common, doesn’t mean we should remain uninformed or indifferent to the more severe signs and symptoms of both.
I want you to think about that question: Am I stressed or depressed? Because there is a big difference!
Honestly, it’s easy to get confused. It’s also easy to want to be confused as it’s often more acceptable to confess that you are struggling with stress than with depression. In our fast-paced, competitive, and wealth-driven societies, studies and surveys on stress are everywhere. Even though one condition is regularly concealed (see video below) and the other so common, doesn’t mean we should remain uninformed or indifferent to the more severe signs and symptoms of both.
The truth is that I don’t know anyone who has not encountered some form of long or short-term stress in his or her life. Think about it. Can you honestly say that each day of your life has been stress-free?
Stress is how we react to pressure or when things become unbearable. Some of the common life experiences that can cause stress are:
- Moving into a new home
- Planning a wedding
- Career changes
- Studying for exams
- Financial struggles
- Dieting
- Relationship difficulties
- Aging
- Traveling
- Health complications
No wonder whenever we read about stress, it’s often in reference to how we can manage it! It’s universal! Nobody can promise you a stress-free life. Stress is here to stay and only you get to decide how you will treat this guest in your life. So, be mindful of your triggers.
Not all stress is bad. Acute stress is our body’s natural response to a new challenge or demand; its effects are moderate and even beneficial to body and mind. However, when acute stress occurs over prolonged periods of time, it is classified as chronic stress. And chronic stress kills. Physical and mental resources are depleted making sufferers more prone to heart and lung disease, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and even suicide.
Now, is stress a risk factor for depression? Yes.
Do they have the same symptoms? Yes!
Chronic long-term stress and avoiding stress by thinking it will go away willingly puts you at risk for depression. What is depression? A mental illness or mood disorder.
Depression affects your moods, thoughts, behaviors, sleeping and eating patterns, and your overall health. Depression makes navigating simple daily tasks intolerable or impossible! Some of the common symptoms are:
- Prolonged feelings of sadness
- Lack of interest in hobbies or activities that you previously enjoyed doing
- Oversleeping or lack of sleep
- Fluctuations in weight
- Constant tiredness
- Frequent crying episodes
- Poor concentration
- Thoughts of death
You hear the word depression, but do you truly understand the gravity of this condition?
Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Over 25 million individuals in the United States were living with major depression in 2014. Women are affected by depression to a greater degree than men. As mentioned in the video, 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from mental illness at some point in their lifetimes. The other 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will. Worldwide, depression is a leading cause of suicide. Most importantly, the frequency and severity of symptoms increase over time if not properly addressed!
How do you know whether you are suffering chronic stress or depression? Take a mental health questionnaire. Or schedule an appointment with a mental health professional. If you are interested in having a free initial screening with us, email us directly at info@counselingpc.com or call 347-494-5870.
We also recommend the following practices to fight chronic stress and depression:
- Seek Help from a Mental Health Professional
- Regular Exercise
- Goal Planning
- Social Interaction
- Journaling
- Group Therapy
- Practice Gratitude
- Meditation
Please know that chronic stress and major depression are treatable! Do not suffer in silence and live your entire life as if underwater!
At Counseling Space, P.C., we are here to listen. We are here to empower you with the tools to lead more emotionally stable and fulfilling lives! We are here to serve you.
Wishing you an inspired and stress-free week!
The S Word Can Kill You
Stigma and silence have power. But acceptance and sharing are even more powerful.
Are you one of many millennials suffering in silence? Even a decade ago, when many millennials would have been in high school or about to start their undergraduate careers, data showed that they suffered the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s!
Stigma and silence have power. But acceptance and sharing are even more powerful.
Are you one of many millennials suffering in silence? Even a decade ago, when many millennials would have been in high school or about to start their undergraduate careers, data showed that they suffered the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s!
Today, and due to a lack of targeted mental wellness resources, many millennials do not know where to turn for help. Stigma causes many others to believe that their struggles are not that serious. Please believe that stigma is one of the main reasons that silences people and prevents them from seeking help. Stigma can kill!
At Counseling Space, P.C., we are here to remind you that you are not alone. Those feelings you are struggling with are not a passing thing. They are not “wrong.” They are worth talking about.
While some are lucky to have family and friends who are willing to support, their help can only go but so far. One-on-one sessions with a trained mental wellness professional, or attending a group session facilitated by such a professional, ensure that recovery is one step closer! A trained mental wellness professional is:
- Unbiased
- Able to notice patterns
- Equipped to teach emotional management and coping skills (see T-Kea’s video testimonial)
- Fitted to relieve your burden of responsibility by offering you a safe space to be as honest, authentic and vulnerable as necessary
Being honest about where you stand emotionally and mentally does not make you weak. Your honesty will empower you for your overdue breakthrough! There is no shame in asking for help from a professional or from like-minded peers in a facilitated group setting. Please speak up if you are struggling!
If you or a millennial woman you know is in need of support NOW, we encourage you to sign up for our MILLENNIAL MINDS! Support Group for Millennial Women. Our group is designed to enhance self-awareness, improve mental well-being, explore problem-solving techniques and MORE!
If you are looking for more information about the support group, visit our EVENTBRITE page. If you are seeking more information on millennial mental health, visit our blog to follow our Millennial Monday Blog Series. Lastly, please feel free to share the information in this post with those you believe it would benefit.
We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to our support group! As T-Kea mentioned in the video, let’s THRIVE together!
Have a great week!
Millennials: From Crisis to Community
Over the last two weeks, we have discussed 2 characteristics that make the millennial generation unlike any other before it: their impressive entrepreneurial spirit and the acute stress they suffer. Yet, there is another distinguishing trait that makes millennials stand out: millennials will utilize social media to promote and fund a charitable organization. In fact, an extraordinary 94% of millennials prefer to use their skills to benefit a cause.
Over the last two weeks, we have discussed 2 characteristics that make the millennial generation unlike any other before it: their impressive entrepreneurial spirit and the acute stress they suffer. Yet, there is another distinguishing trait that makes millennials stand out: millennials will utilize social media to promote and fund a charitable organization. In fact, an extraordinary 94% of millennials prefer to use their skills to benefit a cause.
As we face the 9/11 anniversary, many millennials will have memories of a previous school day marked by loss and horror. The current political climate, devastating hurricanes, and the uncertainty of the Dreamers (DACA) legislation could also have a negative impact on mental health with feelings of helplessness, nervousness, and hopelessness. If these feelings are ignored, there is a risk of developing anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or depression.
At Counseling Space, P.C., our focus is to empower millennials to turn to community so that crisis becomes the energy behind creation! In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month and the fact that there are very few mental health and wellness resources tailored to the millennial population, we created the MILLENNIAL MINDS! Support Group for Millennial Women.
Why millennial women? Because millennial women are the MOST stressed of the millennials; many quoting stress as the prime factor preventing them from making healthy lifestyle changes.
This group is designed to empower these millennial women to live with intention by enhancing their self-awareness, improving their mental well-being, exploring problem-solving techniques and so much MORE! Our supportive group sessions start on Tuesday, September 19th and space is LIMITED with only 8 slots available (see flyer for more details).
Lastly, here are some additional resources for those needing more immediate assistance with understanding the rights of Dreamers (DACA), the destruction of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and the weight of this week’s 9/11 commemorations:
- World Trade Center Health Program
- CUNY Citizenship Now
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Hurricane Season Pharmacy Resources
- Disaster Assistance
- Feeding Texas
Please feel free to share the flyer and information in this post with those you believe it would benefit.
Stay tuned for our final Millennial Monday blog post next week, and have a great week!
The Millennial Entrepreneurial Spirit
Today, Labor Day is an official federal holiday with most taking advantage of the long weekend to plan mini vacations. But there’s one group for whom this day off may just be a suggestion to get more accomplished: millennial entrepreneurs!
Today, Labor Day is an official federal holiday with most taking advantage of the long weekend to plan mini vacations. But there’s one group for whom this day off may just be a suggestion to get more accomplished: millennial entrepreneurs!
In an environment of intense competition, most millennials believe that career success requires independence, inventiveness, and adaptability. Millennials are also less interested in managing others and climbing the corporate ladder than in owning their own businesses. Profit and purpose are inextricably linked for this self-determining generation.
Every day, millennial entrepreneurs are adding to a growing number of companies in both the traditional and non-traditional sectors. Millennial entrepreneurs are starting businesses a decade earlier than Boomers, launching in their mid-twenties versus the late thirties. Worldwide, the average millennial entrepreneur would have already started 7 companies by the age of 35. Their investible wealth now exceeds 5.6 billion.
However, outside of an unforgiving economy and mountains of student loan debt, the top 3 challenges that women business owners face are a limited access to funding and few industry-specific mentoring and skills development programs. They also experience the absence of resources that address the need for relationship building, time and stress management and increased self-confidence.
It is clear that millennial women entrepreneurs need to be guided in protecting their mental health just as fiercely and courageously as their ambition! At Counseling Space, P.C., the MILLENNIAL MINDS! Support Group for Millennial Women was created to fulfill this need. This group is designed to enhance self-awareness, improve mental well-being, explore problem-solving techniques and MORE!
Our supportive group sessions start on Tuesday, September 19th and space is LIMITED with only 8 slots available (see flyer for more details). Over the next 2 Mondays, we will share valuable insights into the stress and future outlook for millennials in our MILLENNIAL MONDAYS blog post series!
In the meantime, please feel free to share the flyer and information in this post with those you believe it would benefit.
Stay tuned for next Monday’s post, and enjoy your Labor Day festivities!
Millennial Women and Their Mental Health
Every generation has a defining word. The word for the Millennial Generation is: STRESSED. Numerous surveys conducted by the American Psychological Association found that millennials experience twice as much anxiety as the generations before and are much less equipped to manage it.
Every generation has a defining word. The word for the Millennial Generation is: STRESSED. Numerous surveys conducted by the American Psychological Association found that millennials experience twice as much anxiety as the generations before and are much less equipped to manage it.
Some other words to describe the Millennial Generation are: ambitious, highly educated, confident, and entitled. Millennials are addicted to ambition in an academic and professional climate of intense competition and debt. However, this generation also lives in an age with limitless options for material goods, media content, career possibilities, and lifestyles. They are paralyzed by choice, ambition addiction, career crises, debt and, most significantly, a lack of connection. These stressors all lead to poor sleep and eating habits and an inclination towards unhealthy coping strategies like substance and Internet abuse and involuntary isolation.
It is this isolation that truly hurts millennials! Much of their stress and psychological burden are lessened significantly by connecting to a supportive social network. This is the call we are answering at Counseling Space, P.C. with our Support Group: “MILLENNIAL MINDS!” for Millennial Women.
Why millennial women? Because millennial women are the MOST stressed: 51% losing sleep worrying at night compared to 32% of men. Millennial women based in just New York experience depression 15 more days per year than millennial men.
Our supportive group sessions start on Tuesday, September 19th (see flyer for more details). Over the next 3 Mondays, we will share valuable insights into the stress and future outlook for millennials in our MILLENNIAL MONDAYS blog post series! In light of next week’s Labor Day celebrations, our upcoming post will touch on the bold entrepreneurial spirit of millennials.
If you want to learn about our group, or are interested in seeking individual services, click here to schedule a free consultation.
In the meantime, please feel free to share the flyer and information in this post with those you believe it would benefit.
Stay tuned for next Monday’s post, and have a great week!