Psychology Department
In health matters we do not merely understand the absence of disease, but can help achieve a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well being, thereby allowing the individual to remain socially active and economically productive.
Depression
Depression is a common and serious illness. Sporadically all we feel sad or melancholy, but usually, these feelings are fleeting and disappear in a few days. When a person has a depressive disorder, this interferes with their daily lives, causing significant distress and impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of the individual’s life, causing pain to them and their loved ones.
Symptoms include: persistent feelings of sadness, depressed mood, loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed, hopelessness, pessimism, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness; fatigue and lack of energy; overeating or lose appetite, insomnia, waking up very early or sleeping too much, difficulty concentrating, remembering details, making decisions and finally, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. The great majority, even those cases with severe of depression, improve with treatment.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders affect many people around the world, filling them with fear and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last for months and may worsen if left untreated. There are many types: Panic disorders, characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by pain in the chest, rapid palpitations of the heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, anxiety, fear of losing control. These are known as panic attacks. A continuing concern is that new will occur.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, is when obsessions cause anxiety and unrest. These ideas, thoughts, images or impulses are recurrent and persistent and invade the consciousness, are often repugnant or meaningless, or invoke compulsions and/or external or internal mental actions whose purpose is to neutralize or minimize the anxiety. The most common types are associated with hygiene, order and repetitive checks to prevent incident, etc.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder occurs as a result of a traumatic event such as the death of someone, a threat to the life of the person or of someone else, or where the sufferer has experienced serious physical or emotional damage. Generalized anxiety disorder is when there is chronic and exaggerated worry, agitation, tension, irritability, apparently without cause, or more intense than would be reasonable in a given situation. Concentration problems and difficulty sleeping, tremors, headache, dizziness, agitation, muscle tension, pain or discomfort, sweating are often symptoms.
Social phobia (or social anxiety disorder), is when anxiety is felt in social situations or public performances which leads them to avoid such circumstances.
Specific phobias. Anxiety is provoked in response to specific situations or feared objects, such as blood, animals, flying, confined spaces, height, or insects.
Agoraphobia, is a fear of places where the sufferer may not get help or where escape is difficult or embarrassing if a panic attack or anxiety symptoms occurs. Fear of fainting, suffering a heart attack, losing control, or ridicule may also factor. In this case the sufferer tends to avoid situations that may cause anxiety, like leaving home, using public transport, cinema, restaurants, being in large areas, etc.
Each anxiety disorder has different symptoms, but all are grouped around a fear, anxiety or irrational and excessive worry. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek information and treatment immediately.
Addiction
Anxiety disorders affect many people around the world, filling them with This is any activity that the individual is not able to control and which harms their quality of life. For example, addiction to substances (alcohol, drugs, medication, etc), sex, gambling, pornography, television, new technologies, food, etc.
A physical or psychological dependence is manifested on the object of desire. It is a compulsive disease, because the addict does everything possible to reduce anxiety and satisfy their addiction. It is a progressive disease, because the loss of control is increased gradually. Addiction always involves a loss of control over thoughts, feelings, ideas or behaviours when the desired item appears. Even when an addict tries to stop or curtail their addictive behaviour, they fail in the attempt.
If intervention is not started in time it may lead to death. Addiction is a disease, like diabetes or high blood pressure. It can develop very quickly, or in a slow and progressive manner. It can appear in any stage of the life, from childhood until old age. Some features of an addict include: not accepting being an addict, not recognising their problems, acting first and thinking later, often has regrets but continues its actions despite the fact that affecting physical, psychological and social aspects of their overall health.
An addict always will need help. If a friend, family or acquaintance has a problem of addiction or if the problem is yours, here we can help put you back in control of your life..