“ME AND TREE” BLOG
BLOG (5/1) posted on 2018/04/22 – check this blog for the next update in two week’s time
MOVE OUT FROM UNDER THE DARK SHADOW OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
The relationship between depression and anxiety
Although depression and anxiety are two different diagnoses, I have found in my work over the years, that they often go hand in hand in the inner world of people suffering from them. Doctors, professional people and people in paramedic/supportive professions often agree with this phenomenon. Many anti-depressants nowadays therefore also have anti-anxiety properties.
Passivity and unhealthy activity
As mentioned earlier in this blog on moving out of the shadows of depression and anxiety, the symptoms of depression usually have more to do with passivity, e.g. hypersomnia (the need to sleep most of the time / more than usual), anhedonia (the inability to enjoy), listlessness, lack of energy and motivation, in addition to feelings of hopelessness-helplessness. In HealthyPlace.com you can read the following relevant quote on depression: When you suffer from depression “I’m tired” means a permanent state of exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix. In the case of anxiety however, one would find forms of unhealthy activity, e.g. certain physical reactions such as: increased heart rate, shortness of breath, increased rate of breathing, trembling, sweating, dizziness, scratching the face or pulling the hair. The well known writer, Jodi Picoult, described the unhealthy activity which can be associated with anxiety as follows: “Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far”.
The depressed person tends to fall into passivity. That is why becoming more active might be part of the solution.
The anxious person on the other hand exhibits irrelevant activity (as mentioned above), which is often part of over-reaction.
Therefore much of the treatment of the anxious person involves ways to calm them down – one possible approach is relaxation therapy which mostly focuses on regulating breathing (compare the recommended intervention at the end of this blog).
The person suffering from both depression and anxiety, will at times tend to be more passive, and at other times manifest unpleasant and unhealthy physical symptoms/activity. Anxiety also numbs you in a different way than depression. It prevents you from being maximally productive and constructive. That is why I referred to the activities associated with anxiety as unhealthy.
The treatment of a person suffering from both depression and anxiety, will therefore consists out of a combination of encouraging healthy activity on the one hand, and relaxation on the other hand.
Recommended intervention to help you moving out of the shadows of depression and anxiety
- Look at a tree.
- Become aware of how the tree is just there - holding itself...
- You might become aware of the calming effect the tree can have on you – as the tree is, you are... enough...
- Now become consciously aware of your breathing. Experience the gift of your breathing.
- Just feel how your body is breathing in for you... and how your body is breathing out for you ... three times (thrice)...
- Try to commit in doing this exercise once a day, every day for the next year.
It will heighten your awareness (mindfulness) as your breathing has the ability to draw you into the power, potential and wonder of this moment... It may help you moving out of the shadows of depression and anxiety... In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh: “Smile, breathe, and go slowly.”
