The loss of a job, loss or death of a loved, or not achieving an important goal may cause us to experience a deep sense of sadness or emptiness. But knowing whether this mood is a normal reaction or whether it is a symptom of a more serious mental disorder can sometimes be confusing. We all have felt depressed at some time in our life. For many, the feeling passes with time and with no adverse effects. But for others, long periods of these feelings can negatively affect our goals, relationships and general quality of life. Depression is highly common and becomes of concern when it affects every aspect of one’s life, persists for more than two weeks, or happens for no apparent reason.
The individual may begin to withdraw from others, have difficulty sleeping or sleep too much, wake erratically during the night, feel irritable or hopeless, have a difficult time concentrating, experience decreased energy, cry easily, and lose interest in activities they used to find pleasurable.
Therapy can provide hope while helping the individual to understand the feelings of loss and learn how to move forward and feel more positive about the future. It can be difficult for an individual to seek therapy when they are accustomed to blaming oneself for their current state. Depression is treatable through therapy because an individual learns how to recognize negative self-talk and change it to more supportive thoughts and actions. These actions can include raising self-awareness and gaining insight to enable him or her to seek out healthy relationships and improve the relationships he or she is currently in.
Depression can manifest itself in three ways:
Types of depression that I treat include::
Anxiety is a basic human emotion that everyone has experienced. Reasonable amounts of anxiety actually act as a protection to keep us from ignoring dangerous situations. Something would be wrong if an individual didn’t feel some anxiety in facing day-to-day stressors. Using problem-solving and relaxation helps individuals handle difficult or anxiety provoking situations. But for some, overwhelming anxiety can produce significant distress and prevent one from functioning in a normal manner either socially, in school, or on the job. In these cases, the anxiety itself is the major disturbance and it can become quite debilitating.
What is even more frustrating is those experiencing high amounts of anxiety are aware of the self-defeating nature of some of their behaviors but feel incapable of controlling them. In more severe cases, the individual may spend large amounts of time trying to deal with their often debilitating fears, but are unsuccessful. This preoccupation can lead to increased emotional stress, behaviors that are self-defeating, and disruptions in their significant relationships. I have had success in treating clients with a variety of anxiety disorders and they have been able to return to a more productive level of functioning in their lives.
Anxiety can manifest itself in three ways:
Some of the more common anxiety disorders include:
It is vital that the match between therapist and client fit. Please feel free to contact me and we can discuss your needs confidentially.