Anxiety and Depression
Depression and anxiety often go together.
Anxiety is most often described as a feeling of helplessness… and depression is most often described as a feeling of hopelessness.
It’s that feeling when you dread the sound of the alarm clock in the morning because you don’t want to face another day.
The smile on your face gets more challenging to keep in place. On the outside, everyone thinks your life is everything you want it to be. But they don’t know about the countless nights you cry yourself to sleep.
There are still things you want to achieve in life. But you’re getting older, opportunities to get ahead seem slim. Now your mind won’t stop churning through all the things you should’ve done, could’ve done better, or wish you hadn’t done them. Repeatedly, these thoughts run through your head – how do you shut them off?
Everyone has their challenges, but they seem to navigate them better than you.
Why can’t I move on from this mistake?
I have a family that loves me and friends who care about me. Why don’t I find joy in them the way they do in me?
This relationship isn’t good for me. So why do I stay? Why do I think I don’t deserve better?
They’re common if you’ve experienced trauma or childhood abuse.
In terms of thoughts and emotions, anxiety and depression are two sides of a similar stress reaction. Anxiety is a state of high alert or arousal, whereas depression is low activity and affect.
The experience is deeply personal…
It doesn’t feel the same for everyone.
Medications can help, but there are no magic pills when talking about the nervous system’s reactions to stress.
Relying solely on medication may not be enough without changing your behavioral patterns or working through your trauma.
Here’s how we’ll get you feeling better…
Prioritizing routines…
Here’s one you can do… and it’s something you can do for yourself. Affirm yourself by saying, out loud, “I am enough.”
Breathe it in and out of your body. If you do this 200 times a day or more, you’ll build healthy new pathways in your brain.
This might seem like a baby step, but remember, baby steps can add up to long-lasting, effective results!
Processing your childhood or existing trauma…
How often in childhood did you hear, “We’ll do that this weekend”… then the weekend came and went, but it didn’t happen. It sounds innocent enough, but it can wire the child’s brain for disappointment if it happens often enough. Eventually, his or her inner-voice begins to say, “I don’t deserve it.”
Developing self-esteem…
You’ll learn to value yourself within through affirmations. For example, an affirmation can be “I deserve to be happy” or “I deserve love.” It is what you believe about yourself (not what other people think).
As a part of this, you’ll keep a “gratitude journal” that you can read when you feel “low.”
I’m here for you. Let me help…
Don’t let the ups and downs of anxiety and depression rule your life.
You can enjoy the pleasures you once loved. You can find joy in spending time with the ones you love.
It’s time for this roller coaster ride to end. Call me today to your schedule your appointment: (480) 431-4994. I look forward to hearing from you.