It is an odd paradox that a society, which can now speak openly
and unabashedly about topics that were once unspeakable, still
remains largely silent when it comes to mental illness.”
–Glenn Close
There are many problems with staying silent about mental illness—especially if you are experiencing symptoms of mental illness yourself. The first step in healing and receiving the help that you need is recognizing your symptoms. If we don’t talk about these symptoms, how will you know that there’s a problem and what that problem is? Let’s talk.
Our main mission at Thriveworks is to help people live happy, successful lives. One small piece of this is raising awareness for mental illnesses. We’d like to explain what you might experience if you have depression or anxiety so that you can determine what type of help you might need. If, after reading this information, you feel like you need to talk to a professional, please don’t hesitate to reach out. The team at Thriveworks Counseling in Glen Burnie, MD is here to help our clients work through depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems or concerns, too.
Why Do I Feel This Way? Am I Depressed?
Depression can affect all genders, all races, all ages. It can wreak havoc for a couple of weeks, several months, years, or longer (if it goes unaddressed). You, your friends, your family members, your neighbors, your coworkers, could all fall victim to it—as we explained, it does not discriminate.
If or when you do begin to feel depressed, the experience can be one of the most frightening and confusing of your lifetime, as the symptoms of depression are like nothing else. They include:
- Depressed mood, characterized by feelings of despair or hopelessness
- Reduced interest in all or most daily activities
- Significant changes in weight or appetite
- Sleep difficulty, characterized by insomnia or hypersomnia
- Obvious restlessness
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Diminished ability to focus or make decisions
- Thoughts of suicide or death
As you can see, these symptoms aren’t fun. In fact, they can prove incredibly harmful to the individual. The good thing about these symptoms is that they can signify a problem. If you are experiencing these symptoms yourself, you might be depressed, and it’s important that you talk to a professional about it.
A therapist or a psychologist can evaluate your depression symptoms, provide diagnosis, and most importantly, structure a treatment plan that will help you work through this.
Anxiety Rules My Life: How Can I Stop the Racing Thoughts?
Yes, overthinking from time to time is normal and okay. No, enduring constant worry and racing thoughts is not. Anxiety disorders are more than the occasional worry. These are characterized by severe or excessive fear/worry about various events.
According to the National Institutes of Health in the US (NIH), anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness among adults in this country. To be more specific, 40 million adults in the US are affected by anxiety disorders every single year. The good news is that as with depression, if you learn to recognize the symptoms, you can better understand whether you’re in the danger zone and if you need help.
Here are some common symptoms of anxiety disorders to keep an eye out for:
- Excessive worrying
- Intrusive thoughts
- Fatigue
- Emotional distress
- Irritability
- Hypervigilance
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Trembling
If you experience these symptoms, consult a mental health professional. Their job is to help people address their mental health challenges, such as the development of mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Schedule Mental Health Help at Thriveworks Counseling in Glen Burnie, MD
Thriveworks Counseling prides itself on helping clients live happy, successful lives. This is our mission, one that we work toward with determination and compassion. If you are being held back by depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition for that matter, please don’t hesitate to contact our office and set up an appointment with one of our mental health professionals.
We can set you up with a therapist who specializes in anxiety and/or depression treatment right away. You might even have your appointment within the same day. We work hard to connect our clients with counselors as fast as possible, as we want you to get the help that you’re looking for right away.
To schedule your appointment, just give our office a call or use the online booking widget on our website. Either way, we’re thrilled to meet you soon!
