Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression are common reasons that people seek therapy. But just because they’re common experiences, that doesn’t mean you have to manage symptoms on your own.
-
Common Signs of Anxiety
Feeling nervous, restless or wound up most of the time
Constant worrying or anticipating and solving potential problems
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Problems falling or staying asleep
Muscle aches, headaches, racing heart, or chest tightness
-
Common Signs of Depression
Feeling deeply sad or down
Feeling uninterested in or unable to by not being able to enjoy the things you used to enjoy
Fatigue or loss of energy
Changes in sleep or appetite
Difficulty making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness
Thoughts of death or suicide
Even though anxiety and depression can feel very different, they are paired together here for two reasons:
it’s common for people to experience both anxiety and depression, either at the same time or at different points in their lives; and
despite different symptoms, common themes show up in therapy.
Is any of this familiar?
-
Feeling bad about yourself
Are you hard on yourself for feeling anxious our depressed? Do you struggle with perfectionism and constant self-criticism? Are you afraid that if you were nicer to yourself, you wouldn’t change or get things done?
-
Ugh, feelings
Do you think feelings are gross, stupid, or pointless? Or is it hard to know how you are feeling beyond “okay, I guess” or “bad”? Or maybe you feel too aware of your feelings and spend a lot of energy trying to keep them tightly under control.
-
Fear of conflict
Do you regularly say yes to things you don’t really want to do? Does the thought of asking for what you need bring up intense guilt or fear? Or perhaps you do speak up, but it keeps not working out the way you’d hoped.
-
Feeling stuck
Does anxiety stop you from doing things you want or need to do? Is depression weighing you down in ways that hold you back from doing the things you used to do? Are you worn out from trying so hard to get through each day?
Therapy Can Help
You already possess resilience and the capacity for growth that’s needed for growth and healing. My job as a therapist is to provide a safe and supportive space that helps you to tap into those resources. You may also find it helpful to read more about me and my approach to therapy.
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”