214. A Combination of Things

Barbara Altman, an author and presenter on the themes of depression, anxiety, and psychosis, started a discussion on What is the best way to help someone with depression and anxiety? Here is a response from Carole Zirlin, a psychologist from Israel.

I would say that it is a combination of things and not one thing in particular. Firstly, I would want to know the severity of both conditions and more about the individual in order to tailor help appropriately. Generally I would choose the following: nutrition, cutting out sugar which is lethal for both. I would put in place an exercise regime and of course a course of CBT which is very empowering and helps the patient to regain control over negative thinking, emotions and behaviour. The point being that with depression and anxiety disorders there appears to be a complete loss of control over the above. Putting in place a healthy regime where the body and mind can gradually control and dissipate symptoms by self-action is very empowering. This is some of what I do in my practice and depending on the causes and symptoms, I see how patients slowly start to take back control of their lives.

The next blog will be another response – a wonderful definition of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

About Patrick Day

In 2010, I escaped from four long years of deep, dark depression. This blog shares lessons I learned from those years as depicted in my autobiography - How I Escaped from Depression - as well as other insights about depression and anxiety that only come from someone who has gone through it. When you have a heart attack, you become an expert in heart attacks. When you have diabetes, you become an expert in that condition. As such, I am an expert in depression, with a four-year experiential degree and graduate studies in how to live a life going forward that keeps the ever-lurking Depression at a healthy distance.

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