Depression
Are you feeling hopeless, isolated and not your usual self? Do you feel “off” or in a funk, easily irritated, or find yourself crying more often ? Do the things that used to make you happy don’t anymore or are you having difficulty staying focused? You are not alone.
Approximately 1 in 10 adults experience depression.
Perhaps you have recently thought privately or shared with a loved one one or more of the following:
If those intrusive thoughts do not feel like your usual self, chances are you may be suffering from depression. Many of my clients find hope and relief to realize their struggle does not own them and there are many options available for eventual relief. Others question the label of depression and worry about social stigmas and what this may mean for their life. I love helping clients sort out environmental, biological and circumstantial factors while offering support and care through a very dark time. If you are hoping to finally lighten this load and feel like yourself again, I invite you to call me to see if I can help you.
Approximately 1 in 10 adults experience depression.
Perhaps you have recently thought privately or shared with a loved one one or more of the following:
- “I am worthless and can’t do anything right”
- "I can’t do this anymore”
- “I feel guilty for just wanting to eat, sleep and be alone”
- “I hate who I am these days”
- “I can’t stop tearing up, which just makes me want to stay away from others”
- “I feel gut wrenching pain, but nobody would understand that”
- “My life and the world are dark. I hate that, but I can’t change”
If those intrusive thoughts do not feel like your usual self, chances are you may be suffering from depression. Many of my clients find hope and relief to realize their struggle does not own them and there are many options available for eventual relief. Others question the label of depression and worry about social stigmas and what this may mean for their life. I love helping clients sort out environmental, biological and circumstantial factors while offering support and care through a very dark time. If you are hoping to finally lighten this load and feel like yourself again, I invite you to call me to see if I can help you.
Anxiety
How Would You Describe Your Anxiety?
Stressed, anxious, always on edge, not feeling yourself, a mind that races a mile a minute. Would you use these words to describe either yourself or someone you care about who needs help? Many of my clients have used these words to describe their experience when suffering from anxiety.
We can experience small levels of anxiousness all the way to a full-blown panic attack where we can feel like we are dong to die. According to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America website:
“Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population.” (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)
While anxiety is very common, it is also extremely treatable. There can be a variety of causes which will be discussed below, but many times anxiety manifests itself due to a combination of thoughts, physical attributes, and circumstantial events.
Stressed, anxious, always on edge, not feeling yourself, a mind that races a mile a minute. Would you use these words to describe either yourself or someone you care about who needs help? Many of my clients have used these words to describe their experience when suffering from anxiety.
We can experience small levels of anxiousness all the way to a full-blown panic attack where we can feel like we are dong to die. According to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America website:
“Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population.” (Source: National Institute of Mental Health)
While anxiety is very common, it is also extremely treatable. There can be a variety of causes which will be discussed below, but many times anxiety manifests itself due to a combination of thoughts, physical attributes, and circumstantial events.
Reasons Stress and Anxiety Can Develop
Most everyone nowadays experiences stress and anxiety. The fast-paced, instant gratification world we live in makes it a challenge to relax and not feel like we are behind or enough. External events and internal stress can escalate our feelings and thoughts of anxiety. Example of external events can include:
Example of internal stress can include:
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Symptoms of Anxiety
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How Therapists Treat Anxiety and Worry
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
This is my approach to treating anxiety. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for anxiety disorders is an innovative acceptance-based behavior therapy that focuses on decreasing the behavior function of anxiety and related thoughts, and has a strong focus on behavior change that is consistent with your values. Therefore, this therapeutic method has two main objectives: (a) the acceptance of problematic unhelpful thoughts and feelings that cannot and perhaps need not be controlled, and (b) commitment and action toward living a life due to chosen values. This indicates why ACT is about acceptance and it is about change at the same time. Applied to anxiety disorders, you learn to end the struggle with you anxiety-related discomfort and take charge by engaging in actions that move you to your chosen life aims (values). This method also teaches you skills to appreciate and observe unfavorable thoughts and feelings just as they are instead of teaching “more, different, better” strategies to change or decrease unwanted thoughts and feelings. Therefore avoidance of anxiety along with flexibility in response to it and other forms of emotional discomfort provides an situation for individuals that actuate them in the direction of chosen life aims even when unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations are present
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Counselors working in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy will address the thoughts and behaviors in you that are potentially holding you back from freedom. They will help you to create and form alternative thoughts and beliefs that are more productive.
Establishing Social Connections
People who suffer from anxiety can tend to isolate themselves from friends and family who can be a resource to them and give them strength to push through the anxiety. The therapist will help you re-establish those connections.
Interpersonal Therapy
When I have worked with anxious clients, over time they can identify where in their mind and heart that their lives feel out of control. This focus of therapy can help the you to embrace areas of their lives you cannot change and equip you take steps to control areas you have authority to change.
Mindfulness Techniques
Mindfulness is a "hot topic" in Western psychology right now - increasingly recognized as a powerful therapeutic intervention for everything from work stress to depression - and also as an effective tool for increasing emotional intelligence. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a powerful mindfulness-based therapy (and coaching model) which currently leads the field in terms of research, application and results.
Mindfulness is a mental state of awareness, focus and openness - which allows you to engage fully in what you are doing at any moment. In a state of mindfulness, difficult thoughts and feelings have much less impact and influence over you - so it is hugely useful for everything from full-blown psychiatric illness to enhancing athletic or business performance. In many models of coaching and therapy, mindfulness is taught primarily via meditation. However, in ACT, meditation is seen as only one way among hundreds of learning these skills - and this is a good thing, because most people do not like meditating! ACT gives you a vast range of tools to learn mindfulness skills - many of which require only a few minutes to master. Many clients find mindfulness to also be relaxing. Learn more here.
Medications
This is never my first choice as a therapist, but many of my clients come to me already taking a medication to help with their anxiety or they ask for a referral to seek out medication. Medications will not take the anxiety away, but they can reduce the “edge” of the anxiety enabling you to cope and take bigger steps to healing.
Exercise and Nutrition
Exercise is a great way to get rid of excess adrenaline in your body and to reduce your cortisol (the stress hormone). If you are not eating right or drinking enough water, your body cannot function at optimal levels, leaving you prone to anxious thoughts.
In Conclusion
If you are experiencing any of the above anxious symptoms or ones not mentioned it maybe good to tell a friend. If they are not able to help you like you had hoped, I’d encourage you to talk to a professional in your area.
I’d be happy to set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with you to see if I am a good fit to come alongside of you in your anxiety.
You don’t have to live with constant internal stress, worry and anxiety. Life is meant to be lived in freedom and joy. Together we can co-create solutions for you to reduce and even eliminate your anxiety so that you can get back to life and live it to the fullest. Your family and friends will notice the difference. You’ll enjoy yourself a whole lot more!
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
This is my approach to treating anxiety. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for anxiety disorders is an innovative acceptance-based behavior therapy that focuses on decreasing the behavior function of anxiety and related thoughts, and has a strong focus on behavior change that is consistent with your values. Therefore, this therapeutic method has two main objectives: (a) the acceptance of problematic unhelpful thoughts and feelings that cannot and perhaps need not be controlled, and (b) commitment and action toward living a life due to chosen values. This indicates why ACT is about acceptance and it is about change at the same time. Applied to anxiety disorders, you learn to end the struggle with you anxiety-related discomfort and take charge by engaging in actions that move you to your chosen life aims (values). This method also teaches you skills to appreciate and observe unfavorable thoughts and feelings just as they are instead of teaching “more, different, better” strategies to change or decrease unwanted thoughts and feelings. Therefore avoidance of anxiety along with flexibility in response to it and other forms of emotional discomfort provides an situation for individuals that actuate them in the direction of chosen life aims even when unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations are present
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Counselors working in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy will address the thoughts and behaviors in you that are potentially holding you back from freedom. They will help you to create and form alternative thoughts and beliefs that are more productive.
Establishing Social Connections
People who suffer from anxiety can tend to isolate themselves from friends and family who can be a resource to them and give them strength to push through the anxiety. The therapist will help you re-establish those connections.
Interpersonal Therapy
When I have worked with anxious clients, over time they can identify where in their mind and heart that their lives feel out of control. This focus of therapy can help the you to embrace areas of their lives you cannot change and equip you take steps to control areas you have authority to change.
Mindfulness Techniques
Mindfulness is a "hot topic" in Western psychology right now - increasingly recognized as a powerful therapeutic intervention for everything from work stress to depression - and also as an effective tool for increasing emotional intelligence. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a powerful mindfulness-based therapy (and coaching model) which currently leads the field in terms of research, application and results.
Mindfulness is a mental state of awareness, focus and openness - which allows you to engage fully in what you are doing at any moment. In a state of mindfulness, difficult thoughts and feelings have much less impact and influence over you - so it is hugely useful for everything from full-blown psychiatric illness to enhancing athletic or business performance. In many models of coaching and therapy, mindfulness is taught primarily via meditation. However, in ACT, meditation is seen as only one way among hundreds of learning these skills - and this is a good thing, because most people do not like meditating! ACT gives you a vast range of tools to learn mindfulness skills - many of which require only a few minutes to master. Many clients find mindfulness to also be relaxing. Learn more here.
Medications
This is never my first choice as a therapist, but many of my clients come to me already taking a medication to help with their anxiety or they ask for a referral to seek out medication. Medications will not take the anxiety away, but they can reduce the “edge” of the anxiety enabling you to cope and take bigger steps to healing.
Exercise and Nutrition
Exercise is a great way to get rid of excess adrenaline in your body and to reduce your cortisol (the stress hormone). If you are not eating right or drinking enough water, your body cannot function at optimal levels, leaving you prone to anxious thoughts.
In Conclusion
If you are experiencing any of the above anxious symptoms or ones not mentioned it maybe good to tell a friend. If they are not able to help you like you had hoped, I’d encourage you to talk to a professional in your area.
I’d be happy to set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with you to see if I am a good fit to come alongside of you in your anxiety.
You don’t have to live with constant internal stress, worry and anxiety. Life is meant to be lived in freedom and joy. Together we can co-create solutions for you to reduce and even eliminate your anxiety so that you can get back to life and live it to the fullest. Your family and friends will notice the difference. You’ll enjoy yourself a whole lot more!