People wish to live to remain happy and active most of the time, but there are times that you feel sad and depressed. Life today is so fast-paced that many times it is not easy to keep pace. You love to meet commitments, perform the tasks to your best abilities but still fall short of expectations.
Some of the problems that often bother a person include anxiety, stress, and depression. Anxiety is a normal body reaction to a stressful situation. Nearly every person feels anxious now and then. You may feel anxious before an exam, presenting in front of an audience, or competing in a race.
Having anxiety occasionally is natural, but consistent anxiety can be part of a mental disorder. Certain mental illnesses can cause fear and anxiety. Feelings of constant anxiety can make you want to isolate yourself from others, lack focus on things, and avoid meeting people. However, with proper treatment, anxiety and depression can easily be managed.
There are government-backed and private counseling agencies that provide treatment for various health issues, such as
- Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder)
The goal of public and private counseling agencies is to lower anxiety levels and allow an individual to overcome fears and calm the mind.
The Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Any feelings of unease or worry come under anxiety. Everyone feels uneasy and anxious due to a particular situation, but it can develop into an ongoing problem. Anxiety can be both positive and negative for your body. For example, feeling anxious before an exam makes you alert and helps you concentrate more. However, feeling overly anxious and worried about something is not good for your health.
Some of the signs and symptoms for which I may need anxiety counseling and treatment for depression near me are
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Feeling worried most of the time
- Not being able to concentrate
- Feeling uncomfortable and irritable
- Not wanting to meet and interact with people
- Having no motivation to perform the simplest of tasks and daily chores
When you feel anxious and depressed, then the body releases hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones cause physical symptoms such as
- Faster heartbeat
- Regular palpitations
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Sweating
- Chest pains
Anxiety can be caused due to other mental health conditions such as PTSD and panic disorder, where you may feel fearful due to disturbing or frightening events. If you feel anxious consistently, then it can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure). Your lifestyle will be badly affected if you experience regular anxiety and do not seek help.
The Purpose of Counseling and Therapy to Treat Anxiety
When you face symptoms of anxiety and depression for more than two weeks, you need to make an appointment and visit the nearest counseling agency. Anxiety may affect every person in a different way which is why no one solution fits all.
The therapy can be administered by different mental health professionals that including psychologists, counselors, and psychiatrists.
Psychologists are professionals who study the function of the brain and human behaviors and focus on providing talk therapy. The counselors can uncover the reasons for anxiety and then suggest ways and therapy methods find relief. Both the psychologists and counselors cannot recommend any medication.
Psychiatrists, on the other hand, are professional medical doctors who can prescribe medicine and also counsel the individual.
It can be sometimes difficult to select the best professional who can treat your anxiety. Today, we may even feel overwhelmed by the therapy options to choose from. However, it is better to select the best therapy so you can get effective treatment.
No matter if you are going through panic attacks, constant worries, and obsessive thoughts, one thing to know is that treatment is present. Medical experts suggest that medication may numb the feelings for a while, and anxiety may surface again. Therapy is the best treatment as it can
- Identify the underlying reasons for your anxiety
- Make you know how to relax
- Help you look at things from a different perspective
- Develop better skills and ways to cope with anxiety and depression
The counseling practice agency provides various online and in-person sessions in which a professional will evaluate, diagnose, and treat anxiety. The treatment may be individually or take place in a group with people with similar anxiety problems.
The Importance of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety
The anxiety disorders and symptoms differ from person to person, so a counseling agency has to determine and tailor the right treatment for you. For example, if you have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), your treatment will be different from a person with PTSD.
The type of therapy treatment and length will also be different. However, most of the anxiety problems are short-term. The standard number is 8 to 10 sessions, as established by the American Psychological Association (APA).
The common method of treating anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and it is commonly used worldwide. CBT is quite effective for treating panic disorders, anxiety disorders, phobias, and other mental health conditions. The main focus of CBT is to determine the perspective in which an individual may perceive things. CBT therapy consists of two aspects,
-
Cognitive therapy
It covers the negative thoughts and emotions that contribute to anxiety
-
Behavior therapy
It focuses on the way an individual may react to different situations that can trigger anxiety
The CBT focuses on the individual’s thoughts rather than the situation that causes anxiety and depression. Experts say that it is not the situation that determines your feelings but your perception of the situation. During a CBT session, you will learn to adjust your thoughts, behaviors, and reaction to various situations and events. The goal of the CBT session is to identify the negative thoughts and replace them with positive and realistic thoughts.
Conclusion
Life today is so fast-paced that you may feel that you may not have enough time for anything. Anxiety is a growing concern that many people are going through. However, the best solution is to get timely treatment before the anxiety and depression can cause other health issues.