Anxiety & Depression
While anxiety and depression can occur separately, it’s not unusual for these mental health disorders to happen together. It is believed that they both stem from the same biological vulnerability, which may explain why they so often go hand-in-hand. Since depression and anxiety can make each other worse, it’s important to get professional help for both conditions.
Whether you suffer from one or both of these disorders, you may be noticing that they are slowly permeating into every aspect of your life. They interfere with relationships, work, and the ability to get through the day. The hidden triggers of anxiety and depression can include the state of your physical health, how well you manage stress, your relationships with the people around you, and how safe you feel in your environment. Regardless of what may or may not trigger a disturbing episode, anxiety and depression are not the result of character flaws or personal weaknesses. It is helpful to always keep in mind that this is not your fault and you absolutely can get better. Just as there are many different experiences of anxiety and depression, there are a variety of options for treatment and coping techniques to help manage your symptoms. The good news is there are ways to overcome this and move beyond.
Without professional help, the outlook can be debilitating, reducing your overall health and quality of life. This can sometimes lead to substance abuse in a misguided attempt to self-medicate or become numb to the psychological turmoil of anxiety and depression. Treatment goals are most effective when you commit to them, are consistent with each element of your treatment plan, engage socially and rely on others for support, and use self-care strategies at home to be proactive about symptoms and negative thoughts and behaviors. While people who suffer from depression and anxiety share certain symptoms, each person’s experience is unique. We will help you explore what is keeping you stuck and together we will create new, healthy connections in your mind and in your life.
