Navigating depression and anxiety can feel like weathering an internal storm. These struggles often manifest through tangible symptoms like stomach pains, headaches, disrupted or excessive sleep, and challenges in motor control. Research suggests that both genetics and environmental triggers, such as trauma and life challenges, can heighten the likelihood of experiencing these mental health challenges.

Depression

Depression tends to intensify post-childbirth and in late fall, adding an extra layer of complexity to the emotional landscape. The intricate interplay between depression and anxiety complicates daily life, making it harder to concentrate on tasks and engage in conversations. As individuals grapple with these challenges, they may notice shifts in their coping mechanisms. Some might turn to alcohol, drugs, or overeating, leading to additional health issues. Others may resort to self-harm behaviors as a way to cope with feelings of numbness or detachment (dissociation), or as a way to ask for help.

As mental health challenges unfold, depression and anxiety may bring prolonged feelings of apathy, sadness, guilt, exhaustion, and irritability. Receiving a diagnosis involves a comprehensive mental health evaluation and physical tests to rule out alternative causes for the symptoms. Meeting the diagnostic criteria requires experiencing persistent symptoms for at least two weeks.

Anxiety

While depression and anxiety are often linked in subtle ways that go unnoticed, anxiety can also present itself as is. Once again, our genetics and/or the environment may cause the brain and body to feel on high alert, always. Some symptoms may include: a racing heart rate, the feeling of a 100lb weight on your chest (shallow breathing), racing thoughts and worries, and a feeling of being in survival mode. A few other mental health issues that fall under the umbrella of Anxiety are Panic Attack Disorders and Phobias. If you frequently experience these symptoms, you can most likely describe to others what a panic attack feels like. I’ve been there, and I’m here to tell you that your Anxiety does not define your future.

There are many tools out there that can help which we’ll learn and practice together. We might also talk some of the things in the past that seem to keep coming up today, not allowing you to be fully present with yourself, with others, or with the activities you enjoy. To share a final thought, anxiety is when we live too much in future, while depression is living too much in the past. I consider every person unique and collaborate with you to personalize your treatment plan. The journey toward healing is gradual, and support is available to walk it together.