Stress, Depression, Nervousness – What Is the Difference?

Stress, Depression, Nervousness - What Is the Difference?

Stress, depression, nervousness – lately, these are the three words we hear around quite often. The problem is that they indicate the most common psychological disorders today. Stress, depression, and nervousness can occur alone or at the same time.

How do stress, depression, and nervousness affect us?

According to some scientific studies, these disorders have a direct impact on our worldview. They also affect our brain activity and attitudes toward the environment.

Also, they can change our self-esteem, enthusiasm during a certain activity or work. In addition to the above problems, these disorders can also negatively affect our immune system.

Depression, nervousness, and stress affect the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is this part of the brain that is responsible for our thinking, through which we plan our future, develop strategies to solve certain problems, and make decisions. This area is also closely interconnected with the limbic system, our emotional brain.

Stress: what do we need to know about it?

Now only the lazy don’t talk about stress. It can appear out of nowhere for unknown reasons, turning a person into an evil, irritated, and constantly nervous person. Doctors say that a little stress can even be helpful, but you should not be in a constant state of stress.

Severe and prolonged stress can make a person more vulnerable to various mental and physical illnesses. Stress can cause low blood sugar, an enlarged thyroid gland, risk of heart attack, increased bile secretion, and high cholesterol in the arteries.

Some of the most common symptoms of these problems are:

  • headaches,
  • abdominal pain,
  • difficulty swallowing and digesting food,
  • temporary dizziness,
  • shortness of breath,
  • insomnia,
  • tachycardia,
  • excessive sweating,
  • sleep disorders,
  • fatigue,
  • weakness,
  • inability to focus on anything for a long time,
  • sexual problems,
  • nightmares.

Sometimes stress manifests itself in the form of phobias or mental disorders.

Scientists have proven that insufficient intake of vitamin B12 can also cause stress. Drinking alcohol, smoking, and taking thyroid medication can also cause stress.

Depression: what do we need to know about it?

This problem can be described as being upset, unhappy, melancholy, sad, and miserable. Sometimes there are certain reasons and needs for such feelings, and sometimes they arise out of nowhere. Many people find themselves in this state at least a few times in their lives, although it is worth noting that such disappointing periods do not last long.

Clinical depression is a long period of mood swings. People who suffer from depression are usually irritable, upset, and often every little thing can bring them to tears.

A psychiatrist can diagnose depression in just a few sessions, and he can prescribe the right treatment.

The most common symptoms of depression are:

  • sleep problems,
  • constant drowsiness,
  • change in appetite (or excessive appetite, or complete lack of it),
  • weight loss or gain,
  • lack of energy,
  • exhaustion,
  • self-hatred,
  • feelings of uselessness,
  • feelings of unjustified guilt,
  • indifference to favorite pastimes,
  • laziness,
  • loneliness,
  • despair or thoughts of suicide or death.

Nervousness: what do we need to know about it?

Nervousness, or a feeling of anxiety, is a patient’s reaction to an external or internal stimulus. These stimuli can arise from certain thoughts, feelings, and recent events. They have certain physical aspects, stimulate the peripheral and motor systems, and can influence your behavior.

Nervousness affects the quality of life as well as feelings of fear, anger, happiness, and sadness.

Studies show that a person’s rapid, adequate, and correct response to a threat or problem depends on their physical health.

Statistics claim that more than 20% of the population suffers from nervousness problems, and they are not even aware of it.

Doctors explain this problem by the fact that the body activates its adrenergic system, signaling the central nervous system of danger.

Nervousness, or a feeling of excessive anxiety, has the following symptoms:

  • hyperactivity,
  • tachycardia,
  • dizziness,
  • unexplained loss of self-control,
  • chills,
  • excessive sweating,
  • nausea,
  • insomnia,
  • numbness or muscle weakness,
  • restlessness,
  • negative thoughts,
  • obsession,
  • problems in communicating with others.

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