Physical Illness And Mental Health: Help Is At Hand In New Booklet

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Anxiety / Stress
Article Date: 17 Aug 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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"As soon as I was diagnosed, I felt the depression starting." 46-year-old with breast cancer, Northampton.

"After my heart attack I felt really anxious all the time... I was worried that anything strenuous could trigger another attack." Man aged 68, Glasgow.

Having a physical illness, and treatment for it, can affect the way we think and feel. A new booklet from the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Help is at Hand series explains the emotional effects of having a serious physical illness, and offers advice on how to cope with the mood changes that often accompany ill health.

The booklet describes what it is like to be anxious or depressed, and looks at the reasons why these feelings are more likely to occur if someone has a serious illness.

Being ill and having treatment are stressful, and people become depressed and anxious when they are stressed for any reason. Some drug treatments, such as steroids, affect the way the brain works and can cause depression and anxiety directly.

Factors that may make a person more likely to become anxious or depressed include having experienced these feelings before; not having family or friends to talk to about the illness; having other stresses going on at the same time, such as divorce, or the death of someone close; and being in a lot of pain.

The booklet offers advice on when people should seek help, and emphasises that this is not a sign of weakness. Some people try to cope with feelings of anxiety and depression by keeping busy, but overactivity can lead to even more stress and exhaustion.

It can be difficult asking for help when we are physically ill because we may feel that our distress in understandable, and therefore there is nothing that can be done about it. Other reasons include not wanting to complain, or believing that the doctors and nurses are more interested in physical problems than emotional ones.

Health professionals need to know if a patient with a serous physical illness is depressed, so that they can decide if treatment for anxiety of depression is needed. General practitioners, counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists may be able to help.

What help is available? Talking treatments allow a person to express their real feelings, and get things in perspective. There are several types of talking treatments, all of which involve a trusting relationship between patient and professional, the opportunity to talk freely about thoughts, feelings and problems, and help in coping.

Antidepressant drugs may also be useful, not only in helping a person to feel less anxious and depressed, but also to lessen pain and improve sleep.

The booklet offers advice on self-help. Taking care of yourself, healthy eating, exercise and avoiding too much alcohol are all practical things that a person who is physically ill can do to help themselves feel better.

Family and friends can also help, by spending time with the person who is ill, offering reassurance that they will get better and encouraging them to accept their treatment.

http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk

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