Background. Depression And Comorbid Anxiety . The Great

This paper explores anxiety and depression at length including a discussion on their similarities and differences. Other areas that will be examined in this research paper include describing just what anxiety is and how this mental disorder presents, different types of anxiety disorders and their symptoms and what treatment interventions are offered that help cope with this disorder. Depression is also explored as well as its prevalence, signs and symptoms of this mental health diagnosis and different ways depression is treated. Other factors included in this research paper will also explore how both anxiety and depression can affect one’s occupational performance.

Before starting the discussion of emotion-focused therapy, it is very important to have an understanding of what emotion is. Historically, emotions were seen as nonspecific and disruptive; however more recent analyses have emphasized the functions that emotions serve (Hebb, 1949). Although emotions address different adaptive problems, they generally facilitate decision making, prepare the individual for rapid motor responses and provide information regarding the ongoing match between organism and environment (Schwarz & Clore, 1983). In addition to this, emotion also serves as a social function for they inform us about others’ behavioral intentions, give us clues as to whether something is good or bad and control our social behavior (Greenberg & Safran, 1987). From an emotion-focused perspective, according to Greenberg (2004), emotion disorder is seen as a result of more failures in the dyadic regulation of affect, avoidance of affect, traumatic

Over the course of my career I have been trained in interventions from various theoretical orientations, with particular emphasis on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I always find myself gravitating to the structure of CBT, which in order to be effective, requires collaboration between the provider and patient to identify maladaptive patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors within the context of the individual’s environment. The CBT approach has a wide array of carefully constructed exercises, in addition to various protocols, to help clients evaluate and change their thoughts and behaviors.

With anxiety disorders being one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in the United States continued research is critical. The pervasiveness of these disorders including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder and specific disorders comes at a high cost both socially and economically (Beidel et

An important but rarely discussed problem, anxiety, is a public health issue that impacts a large population in the United States with different level of severities. Anxiety is a feeling of stress or abnormal emotion that can cause several types of anxiety disorders. According to the statistics of Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, which affect nearing 18 percent of the U.S.’s total population. This mental illness can affect one person’s general mental ability, which is the ability to understand the significance of his or her behaviors, in normal life. Most people develop anxiety through the feeling of panic, fear, and uneasiness in their life, especially on homeless young adults. Generally speaking, the cause of anxiety can vary. Homeless young adults who are impacted by anxiety issues can suffer from both physical illnesses and psychological social disorders. Although the causality of anxiety issues can vary, the common characteristic for the group to develop with anxiety is that they all suffered from a significantly stressful life event which made them more vulnerable in the community in many ways such as experiencing anti-social behavior and mental illnesses.

Research in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has had recent success in effectively making CBT one of the most—if not the most—empirically supported psychotherapy (Spiegler, 2010). The more research in CBT, the more effective and understood the therapies are. Without a thorough understanding of how and why therapies work, it can be difficult to know which therapy would be most effective with a given patient. Additionally, the success of new innovations in third generation psychotherapies, such as acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions, is greatly attributed to research in CBT. Also, there is a growing amount of research of various minimally supported treatments within CBT

anxiety and depression, with support from meta-analyses (Bar-Haim et al., 2007; Peckham, McHugh, & Otto, 2010). Cognitive biases are also frequently explored in patients with chronic pain, and are predicted by a number of theoretical models, in addition to Beck’s schema theory, such as the Self-Regulatory Executive Function theory (SREF), the Fear-Avoidance (FA) model, and the Misdirected Problems-Solving (MPS) model. The SREF models argues that metacognitive factors like beliefs about worry, cognitive confidence, and the need to control thoughts direct and focus one’s attention on disease-related information ((Wells & Matthews, 1996). The FA model suggests that fear of pain leads to hyper-vigilance towards pain sensations and avoidance

“A revolution in the field of mental health was initiated in the early 1960s by Aaron T. Beck MD “ ( Beck,2011,pp 1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be traced back to early 1920s as it stems from the development of behavior therapy. During the timeframe of 1950-1970 was when the concept of behavioral therapy was extensive used. It was inspired by the behavioral learning theory of Pavolov, Watson and Hull. (Bannink, 2012) The behavior therapy tradition took shape into what is now known as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). (Dattilio, 2014) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was developed from a form of psychotherapy. (Castle, 2006)

Today, there is still much debate over the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; however, most researchers agree that the therapy is effective. According to Beck Institute, “Cognitive behavior therapy is one of the few forms of psychotherapy that has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in hundreds of clinical trials for many different disorders”. The therapy is more of a long-term solution for the individual seeking treatment because it provides them with skills that they may apply to their daily lives. Throughout the therapy term and even after, the individuals learn to identify their dysfunctional thinking patterns, correct their way of thinking about the situation, and move on with a new outlook and more positive behavior.

A book titled ‘The Therapeutic relationship in the Cognitive behavioural Psychotherapies’ (Gilbert & Leahy, 2007), refers to Rogers core conditions (1951) and Bowlby’s secure base (1988) and they are both regarded as essential in CBT to promote change, which shows me the importance of the therapeutic conditions in therapy. A further study in the book also found empathy as central to change in CBT (Gilbert & Leahy, 2007) which confirms to me again a limit of CBT is the value placed on the thinking that is connected to the feeling, and not the feelings themselves.

Anxiety Disorders are characterized by many symptoms and often associated with depressive tendencies. Although the majority are produced in a person based off of their genetic material, other influences exist environmentally that can encourage or discourage the severity of the symptoms and prognosis it has on one’s overall well-being. Early diagnosis and a systematic combination of treatments can help reduce the tensions and encourage a more normal life than what was previously experienced by the person with the disorder.

Anxiety is a very under estimated Public Health Issue that effects millions of people. How can society become more aware of what Anxiety is? According to Peter Crosta (2009) anxiety is defined as, “a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying” (Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments, para. 1). The society people live in are accepting anxiety and the affects it has on individuals, letting this mental illness run their lives. This is what is happening, what the community should be doing is letting the public know that anxiety is an actual illness. Doctors prescribe anti-depressants to those who have anxiety which is a similar mental illness but not the same. Adolescents

College represents a form of higher learning. For many, it is also a time for personal growth as we transition into adulthood. This in itself is a stressful situation as one must make drastic adjustments to a new role, environment, and demands. Stress is a major contributor to the development of mental and emotional issues (Rodgers, L., Tennison, L. 2009). Research has been done to determine the impact of depression and anxiety on university students. It has been

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “18.1% of the United States adult population” has an anxiety disorder (Any Anxiety Disorder Among Adults). This percentage would equate to about 40 million adults in the United States, making anxiety the most common mental illness in our country (Facts and Statistics, 2016). Furthermore, “… only about 17% of United States adults are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health.” Approximately, 26% of adults are living with a mental health disorder in any year (Mental Health, 2014). Even with these high statistics, not all who have this condition seek treatment. In a twelve-month treatment period, only 33 to 35% of people are obtaining minimally adequate treatment for help with the disorder (Any Anxiety Disorder Among Adults). It is important that those who are experiencing this disorder are able to find the necessary treatment to alleviate anxiety issues. Similarly, Virginia shows high mental health disorder

Mr. Daniel Boyle is a spry 91 year old gentleman who has lived a full life. He was a Merchant Marine, was a MIT trained automotive engineer, and enjoyed chorus line dancing. Four years ago, Mr. Boyle had cataract surgery, but within two years his vision began to decline further. He then stopped driving, he said that it was not that he couldn’t see, but because he felt it was the safer thing to do. Around this same time, two years ago, the Monday after Easter, Mr. Boyle had his first ever panic attack. He has since been diagnosed as having general anxiety disorder and depression. He currently takes a benzodiazepine, and antidepressant, and buspione, but his anxiety persists. His anxiety manifests itself as a general nervousness and worry.