Mental Health Part 1:
Anxiety and Depression
The Signs, Symptoms, and Stigma
Hailie Rondeau, RN | Care Specialist, HumanaCare
Mental illness is defined by the Public Health
Agency of Canada as “alterations in thinking,
mood, or behaviour.” Anxiety and depression
are the most common mental illnesses that affect
Canadians, in every age group. Elders are not
immune to mental health illnesses or injuries
and may in fact be more at risk, especially for
depression. However, anxiety and depression
tend to be under-recognized, underdiagnosed,
and undertreated in older adults. The symptoms
of these mental illnesses are often brushed off
as over-reactions or normal signs of ageing.
Recognizing signs and symptoms of mental
illness and advocating for ourselves and others
is the first step in increasing awareness
and reducing the stigma of mental illness.
In this four-part series, we present information
on common mental illnesses, symptoms,
treatments, getting and giving support, engaging
others, and attaining and maintaining mental
wellness. There are many mental illnesses, but
anxiety and depression will be discussed here in
part one as they are the most common.
• Anxiety is characterized by worry,
nervousness, or fear. These feelings can be
normal in response to stressful situations,
but when it becomes excessive or out of
proportion to the perceived threat, it is said
to be an anxiety disorder. There are many
types, including generalized anxiety disorder,
panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a chronic,
exaggerated worry about routine life events and
activities, including almost always anticipating
48 | arta.net
the worst even when there is little reason to
expect it. Physical symptoms can include fatigue,
shakiness, muscle tension, headache, and
nausea. Episodes of panic attacks can occur.
• Panic Disorder manifests as panic attacks,
with symptoms of tingling in the hands, feet, and
mouth; fast breathing; feelings of ‘floating’ or
observing events from far away; sudden ringing
in ears or muffled hearing; feelings of being
unable to breathe; and intense fear. The person
experiencing a panic attack may feel like they are
dying or having a heart attack. These symptoms
usually resolve on their own in a few minutes
and have no discernible medical cause.
• Phobias are intense fears that can lead
to panic attacks in response to the feared
experience or object, such as blood, snakes,
or flying. People with phobias may experience
panic disorder, where they seek to avoid the
object or experience that causes panic to avoid
the panic attack or the embarrassment. This
situation can progress to social isolation, as
people are reluctant to leave their homes for
fear of experiencing an episode that may cause
embarrassment or where help is not available.
This fear is known as agoraphobia, which has
been shown to increase later in life if illness or
injury has occurred.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder has
symptoms of panic if ‘rituals’ are not performed
— rituals that the affected person may perform
to avoid a fear-causing thought or event.
Intrusive and unwanted thoughts can also occur
and compel the person to perform behaviours,
such as over-washing hands because of fear of