Dr. Barbara Anne Ammon, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

Collectively, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues diagnosed in the United States -- even more common than depression. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, and it is extremely common for a person with anxiety to have another illness at the same time, such as depression, a physical illness, or substance abuse.

Treatment for anxiety usually involves medication and psychotherapy together. Medications used may include antidepressants (which also work for anxiety), anti-anxiety medications, or beta blockers (which can be used to control the physical symptoms of anxiety). Psychotherapy can be useful to teach patients new ways of thinking and reacting so that they can manage their feelings of worry and fear. Support groups can also be very effective for anxiety, and they can be a form of treatment themselves for social phobias. Stress management, relaxation techniques, and meditation all help reduce feelings of anxiety or of being out of control. Finally, having a strong support network of family and friends is an excellent way to help manage the difficulties of life with anxiety.

We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.

Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.

Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.

These problems and others can make a workplace seem toxic. For example, a worker may be propositioned with "quid pro quo" harassment, when a superior seeks sexual favors in exchange for a job benefit. Beyond being highly inappropriate, this sexual harassment can cause the targeted employee to suffer from damaged self-esteem, emotional distress, and other mental health problems. Different workplace issues, like low salary or dangerous work conditions, can threaten a worker's financial and even physical health.

One of the most common forms of workplace issues is bullying or abuse from coworkers. It can occur in a number of situations, from high performers facing threats from jealous coworkers, to a worker receiving unreasonable requests from a supervisor. Workers may be too fearful to confront work abusers and complaints to HR departments and supervisors can be unfruitful or even detrimental, leading to incidents going unreported.

Mental health therapy can mitigate the negative emotions and behaviors arising from workplace issues. Therapists may listen to people's workplace issues and provide advice for how to navigate a number of work-related problems. Online counseling can be particularly helpful in the modern workplace. Direct access to a therapist throughout the day can help alleviate recurring pressure and anxiety arising from one's job. In some cases, therapists may encourage some to seek other job prospects and opportunities.