Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety is a normal body response, but it becomes problematic when it gets in the way of showing up in life or functioning in your life/work.
Sure, we all feel anxious at some point. This anxiety shows up in the form of nerves on occasions like presenting information in front of an audience, interviewing for a job, and taking an important exam. These events can create stress responses, and anxiety/nerves give us the extra energy to perform well and be alert.
Although you may reveal physical reactions (e.g., increased heart rate), this type of anxiety eventually passes, making it temporary – but this is not always the case.
Anxiety can also reveal itself as panic attacks.
Anxiety can also take the form of panic attacks where we cannot breathe and feel like we will die or something bad will happen. The anticipation of something going wrong is dreadful and paralyzing.
You constantly feel tense, stressed out, weak, tired, and nervous. The ability to concentrate, remain calm, and breathe in a controlled manner is non-existent. Anxiety manifests not only emotionally but also physically. It causes your body to tremble and your heart to palpitate faster than average to the point that you can’t stop sweating.
Anxiety becomes problematic when it gets out of control and persistently creates physical and emotional responses to stressful situations or triggers.
If this is happening to you, problematic anxiety is driving the bus of your life.
Depression feels dark and gloomy.
Although some forms of depression are temporary and are responses to a particular situation, persistent depression has many causes and shows some symptoms like anxiety. Major depression, however, can create physical and emotional responses that can impact every part of your life and stop you from properly functioning in your day-to-day life.
With depression, there is no motivation to do anything. Being in bed sounds more bearable than existing in the world. Thoughts like “I want to take my life” (suicidal ideation) or “If I were not here, I would not have to feel this pain” (morbid ideation) run through your mind constantly.
The interest in doing once pleasurable things is gone. The idea of being with friends/loved ones or going out sounds dreadful. You don’t have an appetite, or you can’t stop eating your emotions. You cannot sleep or oversleep, often crying excessively, and feel agitated and/or restless.
Depression can make you feel like hope is gone. If this is happening to you, problematic depression is driving the bus of your life.
This is where I come in! The Good News is that anxiety and depression are treatable – and you are not alone.
Anxiety and depressive symptoms can take many forms and can overwhelm us to the point that we cannot get out of bed and make our hope disappear. They have many causes, and it is hard to pinpoint those causes without professional help.
You are not alone, and some people can get better through therapy. Others need both therapy and medication.
Our work together will focus on pinpointing the root cause or causes of your anxiety or depression. As we uncover those causes, we will introduce tools that will allow you to cope with your symptoms and address events, past and present, that trigger those emotional and physical downswings.
I have the experience to help you work through those feelings. We will work together to get you the support you need to get back on your feet.
Reach out to me, and I’ll help you get out of this never-ending downward spiral. It is time for this to stop and for you to get your control and happiness back.