'Worried Wanda': the Sneakiest Depression Go-away
No introduction is necessary for 'Worried Wanda'. Why you don't even have to be depressed to know about worry. Everyone worries, right?
Yes, everyone worries. That is why I say that 'Worried Wanda' is the 'sneakiest 'Depression Go-Away'. She seems normal. But for those struggling with depression she is more than normal. She is a serious symptom to be dealt with.
Why? Because there is a difference between everyday worry and depression worry.
Depressed people are not so preoccupied with worrying about what might happen to them in the future. They think they already know what will happen, and they believe it will be bad, the same bad stuff that's happening to them now.
You might want to check out the rest of that article by an anxiety coach.
What comes first, worry or depression? No one can really tell. They are intertwined like a can of worms. But worry is more serious for someone with depression that you may realize.
I came across this interesting explanation recently that was a new way of understanding depression and worry for me:
When you worry incessantly about something which can’t be immediately solved or is circular, you generate unresolved emotional arousal. Once an emotion has been roused it must be deactivated in order to complete the biological circuit of arousal in the primitive brain circuits in our brains (either by being acted upon in some way during the day, or metaphorically through dreaming at night).
It is well known that depressed people experience longer, and more intensive, periods of REM sleep. This is because we need more REM (dream) sleep than usual to de-arouse the increased unresolved emotional arousal which results from our excessive worrying and introspection. This is exhausting both physically, due to the decreased amount of restorative slow-wave sleep and mentally, due to the increased firing of the orientation response (which is also linked to our motivation and attention capacities) during the REM state.
Wow, have you ever heard that before?
This is a warning: watch out for 'Worried Wanda' and realize that the ideas she is burdening you with may be a sign of depression.
The best solution to depression worry is probably to try to resolve your worries. Not so easy I know but here are a few ideas that have helped me over the years:
1. Writing them down column style, worries on one side, possible solutions on the other side.
2. Talking about your worries with someone you trust.
3. Prayer
4. Cognitive Therapy
'Worried Wanda' is really hard to get rid of altogether but just don't welcome her, or embrace her or invite her to stay for awhile, okay?
WHAT ABOUT YOU? How are you feeling today? Have you been worried about something today? Do you need to think about whether or not it is a genuine worry or just your mind playing tricks on you?
Don't give up! There is hope for depression.
