High Point, NC Depression and Anxiety—Therapy and Counseling

Misinformation and myths still abound about two of the most common mental illnesses in the US—anxiety and depression. When people struggle with these, they often also must bear the weight of these misunderstandings. Their loved ones, with the utmost intentions of helping, may offer advice like…

“Could you go to a yoga class. That helped my friend.”

“Have you tried any of these relaxation exercises? When I’m stressed, I breathe in and out to a three count.”

“Maybe getting more sunshine and fresh air would help. Try going for a walk outside.”

“Life is so challenges when you’re tired. Get a good night sleep. It won’t be so overwhelming in the morning.”

Advice like this is almost offered with a sincere desire to help, but it greatly underestimates what anxiety and depression are and what recovery looks like. Just like any other serious mental or physical illness, anxiety and depression are often best treated under the supervision of a mental health profession, and many treatment options are available and effective.

The staff at Thriveworks High Point gets what it is like to battle anxiety and depression. We understand the treatments available, and we have helped many clients find the right treatment for them.

Anxiety and Depressive Disorders

Anxiety and depression are distinct diagnoses, but they are often talked about together because they frequently accompany one another. As many as half of people who receive an anxiety diagnosis will also fight depression. The following outlines criteria for recognizing both.

“Depression is the most unpleasant thing I have ever experienced. . .
It is that absence of being able to envisage that
you will ever be cheerful again. The absence of hope.”
– J. K. Rowling

Experientially, many people will be able to relate to what J. K. Rowling describes. As many as 1 in 6 people will fight depression in their adult lives. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) outlines very clearly what this means when it gives the diagnostics for Major Depressive Disorder.

When determining a depression diagnosis, therapists will rely upon their clients to report what symptoms they are feeling. Many of these symptoms will be measured against what each individual experiences as normal. For example, sleeping patterns may be disturbed, but are people sleeping more? Are they sleeping less? Clinicians will rely upon their clients to make some of those judgments. Similarly, clients may experience stomach aches and headaches. Are those symptoms new and developing? Have they been experienced previously? Clients and therapists must work mutually and establish a trust-based relationship during therapy.

The DSM-5 also gives these symptoms. When people experience them for the majority of the day for a period of at least two weeks, they may have major depressive disorder. This disorder often lasts six to eight months, but it can also last for years. These symptoms are often disruptive to an individual’s professional and personal life:

• Difficult and intense feelings like worthlessness, sadness, guilt, despair, emptiness, hopelessness, or self-hatred.
• Lost interest and enjoyment of daily activities.
• Fluctuations in one’s appetite and weight (gain or loss).
• Unhealthy sleep patterns—sleeping all the time (hypersomnia) or an inability to sleep (insomnia).
• Fluctuations in one’s activities.
• Fatigue.
• Difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly.
• Suicidal idealization or persistent thoughts about dying.

These are the symptoms for Major Depressive Disorder, but within the broader category of depression, there are a variety of types. For example, people may struggle with Bipolar Depression, Postpartum Depression, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and more. Working with a mental health professional to find a proper diagnosis is paramount.

The DSM also gives a picture of what it is like to struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder DSM-5 300.02 (F41.1). Symptoms for anxiety include…

• Experiencing intense worry and anxiety more days than not and for a minimum of six months.
• An inability to control those feeling.
• Experiencing a minimum of three of the following (children may only have one):
• Restlessness.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Fatigue.
• Difficulty staying on task.
• Muscle tension.
• Irritability.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder’s symptoms are severe enough to disrupt and impair people’s ability to carry out their normal personal and professional tasks.
• These symptoms cannot be attributable to the physiological effects of a drug in order to be diagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

As with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder has several variations. For example, Social Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Panic Disorder are all forms of anxiety disorders. As with depression, working with a mental health professional to find the right diagnosis is important for anxiety and finding the right treatment for it.

Setting Up Treatment for Depression or Anxiety at Thriveworks High Point

Effective options for treating depression and anxiety are available. Often, therapists can combine a form of talk-therapy and medication. Of course, there are no magic formulas, but over time and with a treatment plan, people often find the relief they desire. Thriveworks High Point offers appointments for anxiety and depression. When you contact our office, you may have your first appointment within 24 hours. We also work with many insurance companies and accept a variety of insurance plans. Weekend and evening sessions are available because we understand that not everyone can make it to an appointment during business hours.

Let’s fight anxiety and depression together. You are not alone. Contact Thriveworks High Point today.