How depression and anxiety needn’t be lifelong afflictions
It’s a common misconception that mental illness is something a sufferer has to endure permanently, but with appropriate professional treatment these debilitating conditions can be managed and ameliorated
Are mental illnesses like depression and anxiety incurable and lifelong?
The short answer: No
For many people living with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed, this is one of the most common misperceptions about mental illness in general – that it is something the sufferer has to deal with for the rest of his life because it is incurable or untreatable.
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Thankfully, for those with a mental health condition, there is hope for healing. According to Dr Tommy Chan, registered clinical psychologist at Matilda Medical Centre in Hong Kong, which has clinics in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and The Peak, as long as treatment is sought early enough and medical intervention takes place in time, it is reasonable to say that most mental health conditions are treatable or at least manageable in the long term.
Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental disorders in Hong Kong, but Chan says that they tend to be underdiagnosed. “This may be due to a lack of access to the mental health system, a lack of knowledge about the conditions, misdiagnosis, or stigma surrounding these illnesses that prevents many people from getting help. As depression and anxiety often show up as fatigue or physical pain and discomfort, these conditions can also be hard to pinpoint.”
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People with depression tend to have mood disturbances, low energy levels and a lack of enthusiasm for life. They may also experience problems with concentration and memory and feel socially isolated, or “cut off” from others, including loved ones. In some cases, they may even have suicidal thoughts. On the other hand, people with anxiety experience a dysfunctional fear. Their obsessive thoughts may reach a point where the sufferers have trouble falling asleep or are unable to function normally on a day-to-day basis. To curb their anxious feelings, they may turn to alcohol or drugs.
