Together we can bring awareness
and validate ailments that affect
mental wellness.
Stress, life demands and extreme changes in our lives can generate two of the major culprits of mental imbalance, Anxiety and Depression. Anxiety and Depression are the two very real mental health disorders that can develop into much bigger and life threatening illnesses.
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In today's society, the stressful pace which most people live, the advanced automation and technological speed for constant attention, the immediate exposure to world major events that have extreme impact to our reality, and the limited time left for taking care of self, have increased the stress level which most of us have. This lifestyle has made anxiety and depression active players of our stressful environments, which take place at all levels of life, from children, youths, new parents, college students, mid-life process and the elderly.
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In Corporate-America the speed in which we move has also affected the human and labor environment.
"Change Management" was born from this need to help companies be successful in managing personnel as changes take place. The speed and amount of changes that takes place in people's jobs has generated an overwhelming spiral where many individuals feel scared for their livelihood to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Many career oriented individuals feel stuck, frustrated, and resentful. These changes and feelings affect people's life balance, their goals for the future, their families' environment, and even their health. For companies this shift in lifestyle causes high employment turnover and complicates their operational structure. For individuals, these changes can affect their future and others' lives around them. Change management groups call this spiral the "Valley of Despair".
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All human beings from the moment they are born, are exposed to stress, anxiety and negative or difficult circumstances that can spiral to a depressive state of mind, a feeling of helplessness, fear or overwhelming despair. Validation and empathy of these feelings to individuals (including ourselves) experiencing such moments can minimize the experience of isolation and provide hope. The simple knowledge that we are not alone during our dark moments can make a huge difference to not sink in too deep into the Valley of Despair.
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TCoU aims to be a beacon of hope to remind all individuals that have been, are going through or in some way are directly or indirectly absorbed somewhat into these spirals or dark moments of despair, that balance is the key and that together we can help one another to get back into the light and find peace.
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Of Course--Mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process. Like all diseases, early detection of serious imbalances are key to provide best treatment and therapy, to help individuals manage their mental wellness, identify symptoms, and develop a wellness plan and to hopefully stop the progression of the disease.
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Unfortunately, some individuals are additionally affected by extreme circumstances, trauma, hormonal or chemical imbalances, physical or inherited traits, and external traumatic experiences that add to the feelings of complete imbalance of the mind, causing disruption in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
NOTE: TCoU does not provide medical, therapy or any type of psychological advice.
TCoU's goal is to only bring awareness of these illnesses so individuals will feel validated and to encourage individuals experiencing extreme stress, ongoing anxiety and/or depression episodes which affect their reality and quality of life, to have the strength to reach out and if necessary get the professional help that can help them get back in mental balance without the stigma of shame, fear and/or guilt.
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Below are listed some facts about extreme impacts of Anxiety and Depression from public sites like the National Institute of Mental Health. At the bottom of this page (in early 2018), TCoU will slowly add links to sites that may be informative and helpful in some of these situations.
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Did you know that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults 18 and older? (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)
Did you know that according to the National Institute of Mental Health, in the U.S., during 2015 Depression disorders affected an estimated 16.1 million adults 18 and older, who had at least one major depressive episode in the prior year? (Source: National Institute of Mental Health-NIMH).
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(see: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml) (see chart below from NIMH showing demographics of depression in the U.S. in 2015)
Did you know that according to the Child Mind Institute, of the 74.5 million children and teens in the United States, an estimated 17.1 million have or have had a psychiatric disorder? This is more than the number of children with cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. The Child Mind Institute also states that half of all psychiatric illness occurs before the ages of 14, and 75 percent by the age of 24. Unfortunately, lack of awareness and entrenched stigma keep the majority of these young people from getting help. (Source: Child Mind Institute, see: https://childmind.org/2015-childrens-mental-health-report/)
Did you know that Anxiety and Depression contribute to one another, that individuals can have one or both disorders and that both have similar symptoms such as:
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â–¶ Depressive, irritable mood or mood swings
â–¶ Inability to feel pleasure or participate on favorite activities
â–¶ Loss of interest in usual activities; withdrawal from friends or family
â–¶ Changes in behavior, refusing to meet with others or socialize
â–¶ Shift of appetite, (either loss of appetite or over-eating)
â–¶ Extreme weight loss or weight gain
â–¶ Problems falling sleep, staying asleep, nightmares or sleeping too much
â–¶ Feeling angry and sometimes hyperactive or unusually energetic
â–¶ Frequent uncontrollable sadness or crying spells
â–¶ Feeling worthless, panic, fear and guilt
Did you know that suicide affects all age groups, including children. More people die from suicide than from automobile accidents? Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States in 2013, and has been growing ever since.
According to the ADAA's online survey (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) conducted on behalf of the three mental health and suicide prevention groups by Harris Poll in August 2015 among more than 2,000 U.S. adults:
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94% of the American adults taking the survey think suicide is at least sometimes preventable?
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55% of all American adults have been affected by suicide in some way?
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93 % of people would do something if someone close to them was thinking about suicide if they knew what to look for and what to do?
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67 % of adults said that if they were having thoughts of suicide they would tell someone, BUT men were significantly more likely than women to not tell anyone because it is considered a sign of weakness or coward behavior?
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53 % of participants did not know that people with anxiety or panic disorders are at risk for suicide, though they were aware that those diagnosed with depression and PTSD are at increased risk?
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(see: https://adaa.org/survey-finds-americans-value-mental-health-and-physical-health-equally)