Special Newsletter Article - beyondblue - Mental Health Week 2011

Share our newsletter article for Mental Health Week 2011

Mental Health Week, 9-15 October 2011

Share

Depression and anxiety don't discriminate. Do you?
Depression and anxiety can affect anyone at any time but often, people won't talk about how they're feeling because they're worried what others will think.

Don't let discrimination and stigma stop you, or someone else, from getting help.
Depression and anxiety can affect people's thoughts, mood, behaviour and physical health. They are common illnesses - around one million Australian adults have depression and two million have an anxiety disorder. If it's not you, it could be someone you know.
People with depression and anxiety need to talk to a doctor or other health professional to get appropriate treatment.
beyondblue Acting CEO Clare Shann is encouraging everyone to make an effort during Mental Health Week, to help break down the stigma associated with depression and anxiety.
"This year, we will be aligning our awareness-raising efforts with Mental Health Week, which runs from Sunday 9 October to Saturday 15 October. Mental Health Week is a national awareness event, held every October and incorporates World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October).
"During Mental Health Week, we are asking everyone - individuals, community groups, schools and workplaces - to help raise awareness of depression and anxiety, and reduce the associated stigma. beyondblue information materials that can be displayed in workplaces, schools or community centres during Mental Health Week can be ordered via the beyondblue website from September," says Clare.

Get the facts about depression and anxiety at www.beyondblue.org.au or call 1300 22 4636.
For more information on how to get involved with Mental Health Week, go to www.beyondblue.org.au/mentalhealthweek

Anxiety..... a silent disease part 1

Anxiety is one of the "silent" diseases, those that nobody talks about due to a certain stigma. If nobody knows about it, what can they do??? They really cannot do much about it as they don't know you suffer from it!

I always tell people about my anxiety and they look surprised - they don't often believe I have it! I'm just your average 26 year old bloke who loves getting out and experiencing new things - things like trike touring, helicopter scenic flights and paintball to name but three! But deep down inside, there's a ticking timebomb waiting to bring me crashing down to earth at any time - doesn't matter where or when, anxiety does not differentiate between day or night! Some nights I sleep right through, others I will squirm then there are other nights where I'll get out of bed and walk around the house in the dark.

At work, anxiety presents another entirely different set of problems..... if I get a anxiety attack, I can't just walk away from the situation in which I find myself - I need to stop and calm the attack down before I end up getting hurt. I work in a abattoir as a skins labourer - if I end up having a severe attack, I could end up hurting myself on some of the machinery I work on.... and most of it is really sharp or has a risk of pinch/crush injuries! I have had a bad injury or two due to work - one was a finger which became infected so bad I could not bend it past about 20 degrees!  It got so bad I had to go and get it looked at by a doctor. Turned out it was so badly infected I ended up with cellulitis! Tetanus shot and clean later, I have anxiety to thank!

Part 2 to come.....

Welcome & Disclaimer

Hi all,

Welcome to this, my anxiety blog! This will help you understand a bit more about anxiety from a sufferer's view and where you can get help!

f you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask and I will do my best to help! Email me at the link shown: Joe Hupp and I will help!

Joe

DISCLAIMER:
This is no substitute for medical help - this is general assistance from someone who has anxiety! If you are in need of help, see your GP!