Depression Therapy and Anxiety Therapy in Worcester, MA—Therapists, Counselors, and Psychologists
Those who haven’t experienced depression sometimes think of it as a period of sadness that you can “just get over.” Unfortunately, depression is a lot more serious than just a bad day. Depression can cause you to lose interest in your favorite activities and even lose interest in just getting out of bed in the mornings. A bad day is something we all experience, but depression is often debilitating, requiring the help of a therapist and occasionally prescription medication to manage.
Similarly, anxiety can cause a list of difficulties, including high blood pressure and what feels like an inability to enjoy daily activities. If you’ve been suffering, contact us. Experienced, caring Thriveworks Counseling in Worcester depression therapists and anxiety therapists are ready to help you get out from under the dark cloud you’re living under.
To book a therapy appointment with one of our professionals, simply give our office a call. We’ll be here to help you when you need it and when you’re ready.
Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are separate disorders, but they often occur together. After a period of anxiety, the person suffering may become depressed about their experience. And if someone has been experiencing depression for a long time, it can cause them to develop anxiety. If you are only experiencing one or the other, they have overlapping symptoms that make it difficult to pin down which disorder you are experiencing without the help of a professional.
- Common Symptoms of Anxiety: Symptoms of anxiety include agitation, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, irritability, and tension.
- Common Symptoms of Depression: Symptoms of depression can include all of the above and a depressed mood, lack of interest in your day to day, low self-esteem, and suicidal ideation. “These symptoms are typically bad enough to cause problems in your daily activities, like work, school, social life, and your relationships,” says Shawn Channell, a Licensed Psychologist at our Worcester office.
Fortunately, the counselors and therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in Worcester can help their clients manage both anxiety and depression. Channell explains how this might work for depression: “There are a variety of different techniques a clinician may use to help clients with depression. One of the most common and effective therapeutic treatments is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. The basic premise of CBT is that our thoughts and attitudes contribute to our depressed mood.” Similarly, our thoughts and attitudes can cause anxiety, which means that CBT can help treat both depression and anxiety.
Depression and Anxiety Help: Reach out to a Therapist
If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms above on an ongoing basis, it may be time to contact a therapist. While we all have bad days, depression goes above and beyond a bad day. For example, lasting changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and all of the emotional symptoms can be detrimental to your health. Fortunately, therapy can help you.
If you’re experiencing a physical health crisis, depression may occur alongside it. However, depression is not a “normal” response to a health crisis, so it’s important to seek help if you notice signs or symptoms of anxiety or depression. Treating it properly can improve your quality of life and increase the chances of a successful recovery or management of your physical health problem. “You may have noticed that when you feel depressed, you are often thinking about yourself in a critical, pessimistic way,” says Channell. “These negative ways of thinking (referred to as ‘negative thoughts’) can lead to depression. In counseling, you will learn how to describe the events and situations in your life which are upsetting, identify the feelings which result, and target the negative thoughts that are associated with your depressed mood.”
If you’ve never been to therapy, it may feel a little scary or intimidating. However, time spent with the therapist is actually pretty straightforward. During the initial intake session, your anxiety or depression therapist will learn as much as possible about you: your early life, your current situation, your hopes, and any struggles you’re facing. From there, think of your therapist as a friendly, neutral third party, who is strictly concerned with helping you get from where you are to where you want to be.
Our first goal will be to determine what is at the root of your anxiety or depression. Often when clients realize what is at the root of their anxiety or depression, there is a sense of relief. Some clients have walked around for months or years with no idea what is causing their pain. Discovering the cause can be very affirming. Next, we will focus on changing the thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs surrounding this root cause. Because negative thoughts create negative feelings, shifting your thought process and beliefs toward more positive patterns can create more positive feelings.
Thriveworks Counseling in Worcester, MA Counseling for Anxiety and Depression
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, or if you just know something is wrong, contact Thriveworks Counseling in Worcester. Our counselors have helped many clients overcome their depression or anxiety, and we are ready to help you too.
We don’t operate with a waiting list, and we can usually set you up with a counselor within 24 hours of your call, so help is available immediately. Thriveworks in Worcester, MA counselors look forward to helping you live the best life possible.
