Depression and Anxiety can go hand-in-hand, but not always. In the “About Me” section of this website, I talk about my own battle with both. I have been in those deep, dark places and through therapy, eventually saw more light and began living again. Depression and anxiety can be paralyzing and seem unbearable. However, there is treatment available. We can work together on you having brighter days and a calmer mind. You may still have a difficult day; however, it is possible for you to learn how to tolerate these times and to cope better. Your depression/anxiety can also diminish and possibly end altogether.
Depression is not just “sadness”. It consists of many symptoms that last for days/weeks/months at a time. Depression can affect your functioning physically, emotionally, socially, vocationally and behaviorally. It can seem impossible to make it through a day and tend to tasks, family, children, friends and responsibilities. Sometimes, getting out of bed and taking a shower is too much. Running an errand can be exhausting. You may “put on a happy face” in public, while inside you feel horrible. Some of the symptoms you may experience with depression are as follows:
- Loss of appetite or overeating.
- Getting too much sleep, or not enough sleep.
- Depressed mood.
- Feeling sluggish and heavy with little energy.
- Diminished interest in hobbies, socializing and activities.
- Poor concentration and difficulty making decisions.
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, anger.
- Low self-esteem and negative thought patterns.
- Suicidal ideation, thoughts or gestures.
Anxiety can take different forms where you may worry about “everything” big or small, have unrealistic worries (that seem very real and are upsetting), have a specific phobia (ex. fear of driving), experience social phobia (ex. avoidance of social activities, fear of saying something or doing something “foolish” in front of others) and/or through having panic attacks. Some symptoms of anxiety may be:
- Worry that is constant and difficult to control.
- Restlessness, tiredness, shakiness, muscle tension.
- Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dry mouth, nausea, stomach upset.
- Feeling on edge, problems concentrating, irritability, hard to relax.
- Problems with eating and/or sleeping.
- Avoiding what you are anxious about.
- Obsessive thoughts.
In all, we can work together to gain awareness and insight of your bodily sensations, emotions and thoughts related to depression/anxiety. In turn, this may help you to gain greater control of your depression/anxiety and lessen your depression/anxiety symptoms. You may also learn relaxation and coping skills, change unhelpful thought patterns, break through your cycle of self-defeating behaviors and work on resolving the core conflict that is the source of your depression/anxiety. I am located in Buffalo/Williamsville, NY. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me via e-mail, phone, or through contact forms on this site. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you are thinking of harming yourself or others, please reach out to Crisis Services at (716) 834-3131 or call The Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you are planning to kill yourself or others, please call 911. Do not keep this to yourself. Also, if you are in recovery and are considering using or picking up that drink, please call your sponsor or a supportive person.
A few recommended books:
Bassett. L. (2005) From Panic To Power. New York, NY: HarperCollins
Bourne, E. (2015) The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, 6th ed. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
Harris, R. (2008) The Happiness Trap. Boulder, Colorado: Trumpeter.
Williams, M. & Penman, D. (2012) Mindfulness:An Eight Week Plan For Finding Peace In A Frantic World. New York, NY: Rodale
Young, J. & Klosko, J. (1994) Reinventing Your Life. New York: Plume.