Depression and Anxiety Counseling – Therapists and Counselors in Bristol, VA
Many people feel anxious or depressed and have experienced sadness, worry, anxiety, or nervousness at some point in time. These emotions are normal reactions to stressful and upsetting events like losing a loved one, going through a divorce, and being fired from a job.
While feeling anxious or depressed are common reactions to stressful events in life, some people experience these emotions on a day-to-day basis and sometimes seemingly for no reason at all. They find it is often difficult to keep up with daily life. These feelings interrupt usual routines and functioning. When a person struggles to keep going with everyday activities because of these feelings, he may suffer from depression or anxiety disorder – or both.
How Anxiety Can Lead to Depression
Anxiety disorders can cause a person to suffer terrifying fear—and their fears are about things that others would not think twice about. While the individuals with the disorder are aware that their thoughts are irrational, they are unable to prevent them.
When a person is anxious, they have a tendency to think about some worry or problem and feel bad about it. They feel as if they’ve failed, and the result is, many times, that they move on to depression. The risk of developing depression in addition to an anxiety disorder is high. In fact nearly half of the people who have major depression also have anxiety. One can trigger the other.
There may be a biological predisposition to depression and anxiety disorders.
Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
- Excessive worrying.
- Clenching the jaw and balling up fists.
- Panic attacks, which are feelings of helplessness that overcome a person all of a sudden.
- Problems with sleep.
- Flashbacks or recurrence of a tragic event.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
- Irrational or overwhelming fear.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
- Sweating.
- Heart rate is higher, pressure on the chest.
- Nauseousness.
- Fatigue.
- Numb or tingly feelings.
- Dizziness.
- Frequently using the bathroom.
- Hot/cold flashes.
- Feelings of choking.
- Difficulty focusing and concentrating
- Feelings of restlessness and irritability.
- Feelings of dread.
- Being in a state of confusion.
- Panic.
Symptoms of Depression
- Relentless feeling of hopelessness, loss of confidence.
- Little interest or pleasure in things.
- Feelings of anger.
- Trouble falling or staying asleep or oversleeping.
- Feeling tired or lacking energy.
- Poor appetite or overeating.
- Feelings of being a failure and letting others down.
- Having a hard time concentrating.
- Thoughts of harming oneself.
- Social withdrawal.
- Negative thinking.
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt, as well as blaming oneself for things that go wrong.
- Stop caring about hygiene and physical appearance.
- Agitation, such as pacing, going from one room to another without reason or obsessively walking.
- Feelings of physical discomfort with aches and pains that are not the cause of a physical condition.
- Participating in risky behavior, such as reckless driving, drinking alcohol or using drugs.
- Suicidal thoughts.
How Can Depression and Anxiety Be Diagnosed?
Depression and anxiety disorders are different, but individuals with one disorder often experience symptoms that are close in nature to the other. The symptoms of nervousness, irritability, and problems sleeping and concentrating are symptoms of both depression and anxiety.
Formulating a correct diagnosis for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can be difficult, and they may co-occur.
What Treatments are Available
There are treatments for anxiety and depression, as well as when anxiety/depression coexist. Effective treatments include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is often used to treat the two disorders. It teaches people to manage fears, anxieties and the symptoms of depression by finding out what they are caused by. People also learn how to take control of their emotions.
- Relaxation techniques include yoga and meditation. By practicing these techniques, people can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Exercise can greatly help with both disorders by releasing chemicals in the body that make people feel good. It also is helpful for relaxation. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, by walking for only 10 minutes people may lessen the symptoms of anxiety and depression for several hours.
Thriveworks therapists and counselors have more than 10 years of experience in working with thousands of people who have disorders, such as anxiety and depression. There is no reason to continue to suffer from anxiety and depression–the trained professionals at Thriveworks in Bristol, VA are available to work with you to learn about the causes, identify what the triggers are, and strategize ways to deal with depression and anxiety.
When you are dealing with these disorders and are finding it difficult to carry on with your daily routine, we understand. Call us or schedule online to get started today.
