Depression & Anxiety 1

Depression & Anxiety Habits: Classical Argument

Whitney Peterson

LDS Business College

11/23/2017
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Abstract

This paper reveals the truths about depression and anxiety disorders. It addresses the many

misconceptions society has regarding this disorders. It explains the mental processes that take

place in relation to these disorders. This paper explores various opinions, thoughts, and

comments from scholarly articles, informational sources, and other popular websites. It also

contains knowledge from the authors personal experiences and life events. The goal of the paper

is to shed light on the truths about depression and anxiety, as well as recognizing that those

disorders are not diseases and can be overcome.

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Depression & Anxiety Habits: Classical Argument

In the United States, the most common mental illness among Americans is anxiety

disorders. These disorders affect over forty million people above the age of eighteen years old.

That is approximately eighteen percent of the United States population (ADAA, Aug. 2017).

Major Depressive Disorder affects over sixteen million people in the United States over the age

of eighteen years old. That is another seven percent of the nations population. Each year these

numbers get larger, and more people openly deal with these disorders.

These people are everywhere, all around us. Everyone knows at least one or two who are

affected by either depression or anxiety. Including relatives, good friends, neighbors,

acquaintances, colleagues, and classmates. It is likely that you could even be one of them. In my

life, that is my mom. That person is my best friend. That person was my deceased grandma. That

person easily could have been me too.

I selected this topic because I have seen many different aspects of depression and anxiety

throughout the course my life. I watched as they responded to various events and witnessed the

changes I saw in those people. I listened, comforted, and provided advice because it was all I

could do. I saw the struggles, hardships, and pain. I heard all the excuses and dealt with

negativity. Years ago, I existed with some of those emotions personally. I was at such a low

point in my life that I have no doubt I could have been stuck there forever - however I climbed

out. As this topic has become an open conversation with many, I have been able to peel away

some of the blurry layers around these disorders.

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Anxiety and depression are slightly different from each other, but they share a lot of the

same characteristics and symptoms (ADAA, Aug. 2017). Quite frequently these disorders go

hand in hand with each other. It is definitely not unusual to hear of someone who lives with both

disorders. Unfortunately, even though these disorders continue to grow in number, there is still a

huge gap in societys understanding of them. There are still many debates and misconceptions

regarding the truths behind them.

Many people believe that depression and anxiety are diseases that a person was be born

with. They categorize these diseases as controlling, constant, and permanent in a person.

Depression and anxiety have become a tattoo on a persons forehead. Recognized as a condition

attached to the end of a persons title. The way society views these diseases and bolts them to a

person is a real problem.

The truth is, there are some uncontrollable factors that affect a persons likelihood and

their ability to develop either one of these mental illnesses. Chemical imbalances, situational

circumstances, and brain make up are some obvious unruly factors that a person cannot control.

Another factor is the influence left by an affected person on someone else. They can have a

heavy impact on someone else when they are deeply absorbed in either disorder. Since there are

quite a few influential factors regarding depression and anxiety, it makes sense that people make

the assumption that depression and anxiety are equally as disorderly, restive, and fractious.

Regardless of these outlying factors, the reality is that depression and anxiety are indeed

developed disorders. When broken down, depression and anxiety are simply habits regarding the
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way someone processes, thinks, and feels about the world around them. Depression and anxiety

disorders are cultivated and formed over time within a persons brain.

The brain is an incredible complex machine. It has amazing capabilities and has all kinds

of responsibilities. Our brains like to simplify all the tasks it has to complete, and to do this it

creates shortcuts. In psychology these shortcuts are known as heuristics. In anatomy these

shortcuts are known as synapses. These are the cognitive, neuronal, or chemical paths our brain

paves and then uses over and over again. They act as a way for the brain to conserve energy

and work more efficiently. These little tricks and rules of thumb allow us to quickly make

judgments and solve problems, (Gregoire, Carolyn, March, 2017). Synapses or heuristics

remember the choices we made during other similar situations and establish conclusions based

upon the past. They allow our thinking process to take place quickly and subconsciously. We

would be exhausted if we did not rely on them to help us make thousands of minor decisions

each day.

Many people do not realize that they have unintentionally created a very specific and

individual way of thinking. Our mental development was formatted by all the small choices and

big decisions we make over the course of our life. The way a person has trained themselves to

think becomes a series of personal habits or internal behaviors. Habits are one of the main

influences on the development of depression and anxiety. These disorders are created by a means

of destructive habits and damaging thoughts (Luciani, June 2016). Naturally, all humans have

experienced moments of negativity. Bad thoughts tend to come and go, however, for some they

stick around long enough to create damaging synapse/heuristics. At this point, the brain relies on

those pathways on a day to day basis. Bad habits are made up of [damaging] repetitive
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behaviors done over and over again. (Richard OConnor, Ph. D, March 2012). This constant

negative outlook mixed with recurrent damaging habits is the highway to depression and anxiety

disorders.

Eventually, depressive thoughts could even be considered an addiction (Lucida, n.d.).

People can become dependent on their harmful way of thinking and unhealthy coping. Negative

thoughts can become a dangerous false sense of security. This security blanket can even be as

addictive as drugs to an affected person. Affected persons cannot imagine what it feels like not to

be depressed. Depressed is their comfort zone. After these habits are rooted so deeply inside of

someone, especially those who have had depression for a long time, it can be extremely hard and

uncomfortable to try to dig their way out. For these reasons, depression and anxiety disorders

should be grouped in the addiction category alongside issues such as: pornography, smoking, or

alcohol.

Many of us find hard to comprehend how someone could be addicted to depression or

anxiety. Why would anyone want to be stuck in a gloomy unhappy state? Most people cannot

and will not ever recognize that they are addicted to these subconscious behaviors. They do not

realize there is an error in their way of thinking. Since they cannot recognize their detrimental

position, many people do not notice they are addicted. An affected person may not understand

that they need help. Even if they did, many avoid or push off seeking help due to their pride and

fear of appearing weak.

Depression can easily catch a person in a snare, especially when that person has

additional odds against them. It is important to recognize the role that various uncontrollable
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factors do play on these disorders and where they come into the mix. These factors are not the

cause of depression or anxiety, but the increase the odds of being affected by these disorders in

several ways. They increase a persons chances of becoming engulfed by negative thoughts when

life gets them down. These factors can also add difficulty to a persons ability or efforts in

conquering their issues. Finally, the factors can provide other triggers which simply makes it

easier for a recovered person to fall back into their old habits.

The reality is that depression is, above all else, a vicious circle. People keep depressing

because they dont know any other way, (Richard OConnor, Ph. D, March 2012). Are human

nature allows us to become satisfied with our acquired habits whether they are good or bad. We

become content with what we are doing and then never attempt to reconfigure or improve them.

This is not only a problem associated with depression and anxiety, but can also a problem with

any other types of habits.

The natural man in all people is responsible for the feelings of self doubt and self pity

that we all experience at some point. Too often we find ourselves the helpless victim - this is a

complete lie. We have so much power and control of our lives and sometimes in the world

around us, but especially in ourselves. One of the biggest misconceptions associated with anxiety

or depression is that you cannot do anything about it. It is inaccurate to assume we cannot do

anything about disorders, habits, or addictions like these, because we can. We all have the

capabilities to make weaknesses become strengths.

One fundamental part of overcoming these disorders is learning self-control. Self control

skills can help us become the master of any thought, habit, or addiction. The ability to conquer
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these mental illnesses is real. Dr. Joe Luciani, a practicing clinical psychologist for over 35

years, suggests that self-coaching is also a successful way to overcome these nasty habits. In one

of his articles, Anxiety and depression: Habits or mental illness? he shared the following on

self-coaching:

By coaching yourself to restructure your thoughts and perceptions, you begin to

slow down and eventually stop this erosion. You begin to starve your habit(s). You do
this any way you can: distractions, substituting rational for irrational thinking, or simply a
firm act of will: "STOP it! DROP it!" You DO have a choice when it comes to your own
thoughts. I've found that simply being aware of the feeding/starving nature of habits
associated with anxiety and depression gives you a choice. A choice to take responsibility
for scary, neurotic thinking and replace it with more rational, mature, reasonable
thinking. You do this one thought at a time.

To summarize what Dr. Luciani said above, there are ways to reroute a persons brain, repave

those synapses, and alter those heuristics. All of these techniques can really only be done by the

struggling person themselves. Sadly, no one can take the place of an affected person and do it for

them. Although, they will need plenty of support and encouragement from their love ones.

Overcoming addictions and habits is never easy, but always worth it.

Depression and anxiety are more properly related to a cut, than a permanent tattoo. There

are many different ways we could become inflicted with a cut, gash, or wound of some kind.

Sometimes they vary in size, depth, and width. Sometimes we will need stitches to help it heal,

but other times a band aid does the trick. Sometimes we pick at old scabs and bump into another

problem, but in the end, the wound will stop bleeding. The skin may be good as new or we might

have a scar in its place. Either way, these disorders are not permanent ink.
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It is so important to understand that depression and anxiety are not just a diagnosis from a

doctor. Additionally, a disorder should not be something we attach to a persons title. It is not

who they are. It should never become the main way a person chooses to views themselves. It is

unfair to judge others by a disorder. Why do we allow others to look down upon others this way?

People are not our diseases, disorders, or problems. Society needs to stop viewing them in this

way.

Understanding that depression and anxiety are developed by the way a person thinks,

helps us be more mindful of our thoughts. Knowing that these disorders are simple a sequence of

bad habits allows us to be more aware of the actions we take. This does not suggest that

overcoming depressive habits, especially addictions, is an easy thing for someone to do. It is

simply the optimistic reality that it is completely possible for an affected person to conquer

depression and anxiety. Not only can an affected person be healed, but it is entirely possible for

any person to apply preventative strategies in order to avoid the bonds of depression entirely. All

of us are capable human beings. We are not victims, pawns, or gophers. We are powerful,

dynamic, and competent people. Any weaknesses can always become our strengths. Any

problem we have can be solved. All that is required of us if hard work, determination, and focus.

We were built to preserve, endure, and withstand all trials. All challenges - mental, physical, or

emotional can be overcome. The truth is that it is possible.

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References:
1. Depression. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, ADAA,

www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression.

2. Depression: 5 Habits That Can Make Your Depression Symptoms Worse. Mental

Health Treatment Resource Since 1986, PsyCom.net,

www.psycom.net/depression-5-habits-worse.

3. Depression In Teens. Mental Health America, 8 Dec. 2016,

www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/depression-teens.

4. Facts & Statistics. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, ADAA,

Aug. 2017, www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

5. Gregoire, Carolyn. This Common Mental Shortcut Can Lead To Bad Decision-Making.

The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 3 Apr. 2017,

www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/psychology-mental-shortcuts-decision-making_us_58e26

bfee4b0c777f7892021.

6. Is Depression Addictive? Lucida Treatment Center, Lucida, 7 Dec. 2014,

www.lucidatreatment.com/blog/news/depression-addictive/.

7. Is Depression a Habit? Lawyers With Depression, 27 Mar. 2012,

www.lawyerswithdepression.com/articles/is-depression-a-habit/.

8. Luciani, Joe. Anxiety and Depression: Habits or Mental Illness? NY Daily News, 20

June 2016, 10:00AM, www.nydailynews.com/life-style/.

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9. Sack, David. Are You Addicted to Unhappiness? Pschology Today, 5 Mar. 2014,

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10. Serani, Deborah. Two Takes on Depression. Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers,

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11. Solomon, Andrew. Depression Is a Disease of Loneliness | Andrew Solomon. The

Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Aug. 2014,

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12. Symptoms. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, ADAA,

adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression/symptoms

13. Rodriguez, Diana. How to Cope With Anxiety and Depression. EverydayHealth.com,

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