There are many types of mental illnesses, but this article focuses on anxiety and depression. These, according to Dr Tshifhiwa Kodisang, have been on the rise since the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the clinical psychologist from Pretoria, “drifting away from yourself” captures what mental illness means. She shares some eye-opening and therapeutic insights.  

What does anxiety look like?

Kodisang defines anxiety as “a constant feeling of uneasiness that’s overwhelming. It’s a constant feeling of suffocating”. She cautions that such feelings emanate from fearful thoughts and then manifest physically. For instance, she says that most people will not say they think they have anxiety. Rather someone will say things like: “I feel like I’ll stop breathing. I can’t swallow anymore.”

Kodisang emphasises that the signs and symptoms of anxiety differ from person to person – the same is true for depression. Here are a few signs to look out for:

• Dry throat
• Tight stomach
• Constant worry
• Feeling helpless
• Feeling tense

What does depression look like?

This is how Kodisang describes depression: “When a person has been under a lot of pressure and the body has been communicating ‘but we can’t go on like this’. It’s like being pressed down as a result of a traumatic experience or even [life changes]”.

She emphasises that for some people, what someone else considers positive, such as a job promotion, might cause them to feel depressed. Here are some of the signs to look out for:

• Feeling hopeless
• Memory problems
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Losing interest in hobbies or activities
• Suicidal thoughts
• Changes in weight
• Isolation

 Are you ready to get help?