Depression and Anxiety Disorders in Denver, CO—Therapy and Counseling

Justine has been fighting depression and recently moved in with Claire, her sister. One evening, Claire wanted to cheer her sister up, and so Claire arranged to have Justine’s favorite meal prepared. As the family came to the dinner table, the tempting smell of meatloaf wafted throughout the room. Justine took her first bite, and spit it into her napkin. “It tastes like ashes,” she explained. Depression has taken Justine’s world—her ability to enjoy life, to provide for herself, and even her taste buds. No, Justine was not trying to be rude or inconsiderate. She truly tasted ashes when she put the bite into her mouth. While Justine’s story is part of the movie, Melancholia, her journey is all too real. People who struggle with anxiety and depression understand the toll these mental illnesses can take.

Anxiety and depression are not the normal blues or jitters that everyone experiences. These fluctuations in emotions are normal, and they naturally rise and fall. However, depression and anxiety are distinguished by far more severe and long-lasting symptoms. Depression and anxiety also disrupt people’s ability to function in the daily personal and professional lives. And yet, effective treatment is attainable. Many people are reaching out to mental health professionals to battle these symptoms and refocus their attention upon living their lives.

The therapists and counselors at Thriveworks Denver have helped many people who are struggling with anxiety and depression. We see each client as an individual—not an illness and not their symptoms. Our professionals work hard to find treatment plans that relieve their clients’ symptoms.

Anxiety and Depression: The Most Common Mental Illnesses

One in four adults in the United States will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, and one in six adults will be diagnosed with depression. They are the most commonly experienced form of mental illness. While they are not the same, they often accompany each other and are frequently associated. In fact, as many as half of all people diagnosed with anxiety will also receive a depression diagnosis as well.

“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do,
but it doesn’t get you very far.”
– Jodi Picoult, Sing You Home

Even though anxiety and depression are widespread, myths about these mental illnesses abound. Loved one who have the best of intentions may offer advice about beating the blues or overcoming jitters. However, anxiety and depression are not phases that people just snap out of. They involve the following symptoms:

• Negative emotions that are overwhelming—sadness, hopelessness, and emptiness.
• Apathy toward formerly enjoyable activities.
• Psychological or emotional pain that is experienced physically (Psychosomatic pain).
• Suicide attempts and/or thoughts of dying.

These symptoms persist for weeks, months, and even years. They also keep people from living their normal lives. Often, people’s personal and professional lives are derailed by anxiety and depression. Some cases of anxiety and depression can result in death. Working with a mental health professional is paramount in recovery, just as a cancer patient will work closely with a physician. Mental health professionals can often formulate a treatment plan that addresses their clients’ symptoms and spares them from many symptoms. Without question, fighting anxiety and depression is worth the effort.

Anxiety and Depression’s Effects

People’s bodies and their minds are intertwined, and when one is sick, the other often suffers as well. The same holds true for anxiety and depression—the effects are often seen in people’s bodies and in their minds. A few of those effects may be…

• Irregular Sleep Patterns – Anxiety and depression can make sleeping difficult (insomnia), or they may cause people to want to sleep all the time (hypersomnia). Irregular sleep patterns are common among those who suffer from anxiety and depression.
• Fatigue – Sometimes lethargy results from the sleep disruptions, but sometimes, it occurs independently from insomnia or hypersomnia. Fighting anxiety and depression often leaves people depleted and fatigued.
• Difficulty Focusing – Negative thinking often plagues people who struggle with depression and anxiety, and these thoughts can be distracting from everyday tasks. Accomplishing person or professional assignments often becomes more difficult.
• Disrupted Eating Habits – Some people may desire to eat all the time. Others, like Justine, may not be able to get a spoonful of food into their mouths. These disrupted eating habits may also come with weight gain or loss.
• Indecisiveness – Anxiety and depression often replace clarity with chaos. Even simple, daily decision can feel overwhelming, leaving people stuck in indecision.

Scheduling Counseling for Anxiety and Depression at Thriveworks Denver, CO

Often, treating anxiety and depression involves multiple approaches. Treatment plans often include a medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), to help people combat the symptoms of their depression and anxiety. Then, a talk-based therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can helped build people’s coping skills. CBT teaches people to identify untrue, negative thoughts and replace them with true, positive thoughts. This multi-faceted approach often sets people up to experience long-term healing.

If you are ready for therapy, the counselors at Thriveworks Denver are ready to help. We have appointments available for anxiety and depression. When you contact our office, you may have your first appointment the following day. We offer weekend and evening sessions because we understand how hard it can be to make an appointment during normal, business hours. We also work with many insurance companies and accept most forms of insurance.

Let’s work together against anxiety and depression. Contact Thriveworks Denver today.