Everyone feels anxiety from time to time. A clinical diagnosis for an anxiety disorder is not required in order to ask for help.

If you have any of the following symptoms, and they bother you more than you are comfortable with, don’t hesitate to reach out to a licensed mental health clinician to ask some questions.

• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.
• Being easily fatigued.
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
• Irritability.
• Muscle tension.
• Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep).

Many people find relief from these symptoms with the help of therapy. Some of the things you may do with your therapist include exploring your thoughts and beliefs, identifying triggers to symptoms, and developing tolerance to what has previously been unbearable. Feel free to ask questions of any therapist you consider working with about what you can expect. Though therapy isn’t necessarily a comfortable process, it is intended to ultimately be one that is helpful to you. It is important that you trust improvements will come from your therapeutic experience, so find out what you need from your therapist beforehand.

 

 

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Do I have depression?

We all feel down or disappointed sometimes. When experiencing a loss, grief is a healthy, normal response. However sometimes it can feel like the blues have lasted too long, or that you are discouraged, unhappy, or unfulfilled more often than not.

If you are bothered by any of the following symptoms, it is likely that working with a mental health clinician will alleviate your discomfort, if you would like to make changes for yourself.

• excessive or much less sleep than what might be considered “normal”
• less energy than you feel like you should have
• feelings of guilt, especially for things out of your control
• lack of interest in people, activities or ideas
• difficulty concentrating
• changes in appetite
• speaking or moving more slowly than what might be considered “normal”
• thoughts of dying or harming yourself

Relief from the above symptoms has proven possible with the help of psychotherapy. Other things that may assist in your relief could include: increasing social support, developing your sense of community, improving your relationship with your body, with physical activities and with movement, appropriate nutrition, strengthening your spiritual connection, and identifying and fulfilling a sense of purpose.

In addition to regular office or online therapy sessions, there are many things you can do to feel better in your day-to-day life. Don’t hesitate to ask your therapist for homework, if you are interested in pursuing the relief that is available to you.

 

 

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