Anxiety & Depression
“Let’s just be honest here… nothing is more exhausting than arguing with your own brain every day, all day. Every single thought is like a battle within itself. Having anxiety makes you care too much, having depression makes you not care enough. When you have both, it can be nothing short of hell.”
— Mallory Porche
Anxiety and depression are the most common reasons that individuals choose to enter counselling.
It’s not necessary to have a diagnosable anxiety or depressive disorder to feel anxious or depressed.
Some of the common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Persistent worry, nervousness or fear
- Restlessness, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating
- Overly fixated on what other people think, fears of criticism or disapproval
- Physical symptoms like dizziness, sweating, racing heart, tightness in your chest and perhaps feeling nauseous or claustrophobic
Some of the common symptoms of depression include:
- Constant sadness (which may include dark or suicidal thoughts*)
- Loss of interest or pleasure in favorite activities, or contact with others
- Difficulty making decisions
- Changes in sleeping and eating, with a marked decrease in energy
Anxiety and depression can occur because of psychological factors.
Every person experiences the effects of the outside world differently. We filter all of what happens in the world through our previous experiences, our upbringing and strongly held beliefs. This influences the way we think. Our thinking can easily become distorted in the present moment because of our past. For example, if we have a core belief that we are “not good enough,” and then if a friend doesn’t return our call immediately we might jump to the conclusion that it’s because we are not a good friend instead of that they might just be busy. This kind of thinking further contributes to our emotional suffering.
We can also feel anxious or depressed following a stressful event.
The death of a loved one, a move, a divorce, financial difficulties, job loss, relationship conflict, chronic illness, a stressful workplace or social isolation can all be contributors.
While it is common to feel moments of anxiety and depression, if its persistent and you are struggling to feel better, counselling can help. With the help of your counsellor, you can take a look at the way you are thinking and make shifts in your mindset. There are a number of tools and techniques to help you not only manage your symptoms but also heal the root causes of your dysfunctional thinking. Your counsellor will work with you to find the correct path that will help you move forward to a more peaceful and joyous life.
