Understanding Stress,

Anxiety, and Depression

& Making Mental Health
your Priority

Ma. Noemi V. Gella, RPm

OBJECTIVES
1.To educate the participants about the differences of
stress, anxiety, and depression.

2.To promote mental health in the workplace.

3.To remind participants that it is okay to not be okay.

MENTAL HEALTH
 MENTAL HEALTH
a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his
or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of
life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to
make a contribution to her or his community.

World Health Organization

MENTAL ILLNESS
Also known as Mental Disorder or Psychological Problem.

It comprises a broad range of of problems, with different

symptoms. However, they are generally characterized by
some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions,
behavior, and relationships with others.
 FICTION FACT
It only affects a few people. It is common. Mental illness is the 3rd
most common disability in the
Philippines.

It is caused by a personal weakness. It is not a character flaw. It is caused

by genetic, biological, social, and
environmental factors.

People with mental illness will never With appropriate treatment, many
get better. people can and do recover from
mental illness.
 Common Mental
Health Problems in
the Workplace
STRESS
A person’s response to events that are threatening or
challenging.

A state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in

your life, work, etc.

Something that causes strong feelings of worry and anxiety.

 TYPES OF STRESS

EUSTRESS DISTRESS

Positive Stress Negative Stress

Motivational Detrimental
EUSTRESS
It is a positive cognitive response to stress that is healthy, or gives one a
feeling of fulfillment or other positive feelings. Eustress occurs when the
gap between what one has and what one wants is slightly pushed, but
not overwhelmed. The goal is not too far out of reach but is still slightly
more than one can handle. This fosters challenge and motivation since
the goal is in sight.
DISTRESS
Distress describes the negative kind of stress that most people associate
with feeling “stressed out”. Distress tends to cause people to feel
overwhelmed, anxious, and to experience physical and psychological
symptoms like headaches, tension, insomnia, inattentiveness or
irritability. It decreases performance and can lead to mental and physical
problems.
 CATEGORIZING STRESSORS
Cataclysmic Davao City Flood 2013
Stressors
Strong stressors that occur
suddenly. It typically affects
many people at once. The
stress induced by these
events is shared by other Mindanao Earthquake
who also experienced the 2019
disaster.

COVID-19 Pandemic
 CATEGORIZING STRESSORS
Personal Stressors
These are major personal life
events that has immediate
consequences that generally
fade in time.

Financial Problem Arguments

Expectations
 CATEGORIZING STRESSORS
Technical Problems at work Background
Stressors
“daily hassles”
“everyday annoyances”
Minor irritations of life
encountered time and time
Commuting
again. It may cause long-
term ill effects if they
continue or are
compounded by other
Traffic
stressful events.
ANXIETY
Feeling of worry, anxious, uneasy. It can be a reaction to
stress, or it can occur in people who are unable to identify
significant stressors in their life.

A fearful mood that has a vague or no specific focus and is

accompanied by bodily arousal.

A vague and general sense of uneasiness not linked to any

specific situation or object.
HOW DOES
STRESS AFFECTS
THE BODY?
EFFECTS OF STRESS AND ANXIETY
Psychological and Physical Effects

Headache Rapid Breathing Fast Heartbeat Stomachache & Diarrhea

Sweating Insomnia and Fatigue Frequent Urination

EFFECTS OF STRESS AND ANXIETY
Behavioral Effects

Change in Appetite Procrastination Angry Outbursts / Irritability Nail-biting

Drug or Alcohol Misuse Smoking Social Withdrawal

DEPRESSION
 DEPRESSION
IT IS A COMMON AND SERIOUS MEDICAL
ILLNESS THAT NEGATIVELY AFFECTS HOW
YOU FEEL, THE WAY YOU THINK AND HOW
YOU ACT. FORTUNATELY, IT IS ALSO
TREATABLE. DEPRESSION CAUSES FEELINGS
OF SADNESS AND/OR A LOSS OF INTEREST
IN ACTIVITIES YOU ONCE ENJOYED. IT CAN
LEAD TO A VARIETY OF EMOTIONAL AND
PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AND CAN DECREASE
YOUR ABILITY TO FUNCTION AT WORK AND
AT HOME.
COMMON SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

✓ lowered self-esteem or self-worth ✓ reduced capacity to experience pleasure

✓ change in sleep patterns, insomnia or ✓ reduced pain tolerance

broken sleep
✓ reduced or absent sex drive
✓ changes in appetite or weight
✓ poor concentration and memory
✓ less ability to control emotions such as
pessimism, anger, guilt, irritability
✓ reduced motivation
✓ varying emotions throughout the day
✓ lowered energy levels