Anxiety and Depression Treatment and Symptoms
For many people, symptoms of depression go undetected, and anxiety and depression treatment are overlooked. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes depression hits us like a ton of bricks, but for many of us depression sneaks up on us gradually. We don't even realize it until someone brings it to our attention. Yet for others, because depression has been with them their whole life, it feels normal.
Because the range of depression is so great, professional anxiety and depression treatment is your best hope. You need a skilled depression therapist with specialized training in all types of depression and anxiety.
If you think that you or someone you know might be suffering from depression or anxiety, please don't hesitate to get a professional anxiety and depression treatment evaluation. This just might be the first step in beginning to live the life that you have always wanted, but could never seem to reach.
For depression help in the Washington DC area, please call us at the Pastoral Counseling and Consultation Center: 202-449-3789 x719 or email us.
Anxiety and Depression Treatment in Washington DC
One of our depression therapists will be happy to do an initial evaluation and help you determine what the best course of action might be for you. The course of action might include:
- Therapy
- Therapy and medication
- Your ups and downs are within the normal range of everyday living, and no treatment is required.
Symptoms of Depression
There are many symptoms of depression, and all types of depression vary over time in intensity. Symptoms of depression may be expressed differently in different people. You don't have to experience all of these symptoms to be depressed or manic.
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
- Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
- Restlessness, irritability
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Symptoms of Mania
- Abnormal or excessive elation
- Unusual irritability
- Decreased need for sleep
- Grandiose notions
- Increased talking
- Racing thoughts
- Increased sexual desire
- Markedly increased energy
- Poor judgment
- Inappropriate social behavior
Helpful Tips That You Can Use To Help Yourself:
Meanwhile, here are some things that you can do to help yourself until you receive professional anxiety and depression treatment. These should not be a substitute for beginning to work with a trained therapist. Most people find that treating their depression by themselves is never as successful as working with a trained professional.
- Recognize there may be certain times of the day when you feel better, and use that to your advantage.
- Regular exercise almost always helps people begin to feel better physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Being with people, participating in events, renewing old friends.
- Avoiding alcohol and non-prescribed drugs. While these drugs may provide a temporary high, in the long run they can intensify depression.
- Break large tasks into smaller ones; set priorities and take things one at a time; avoid taking on too much responsibility and setting overly difficult goals.
- Right now, try not to expect too much from yourself so as to lessen any feeling of failure you may have.
- If affected with depressive disorders, you may feel exhausted, worthless, helpless and hopeless. You may feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these symptoms and negative thinking are part of depression. When anxiety and depression treatment begins to take effect, the negative thinking fades.
- For people who are so inclined, it has been found over and over again that prayer, meditation, and becoming more involved in a spiritual community is very helpful in addressing the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Contact Us For Skilled and Caring Anxiety and Depression Treatment
Again, if you live in or near the Washington DC area, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our therapists are trained to help you relieve your depression and anxiety. We are located throughout Washington DC, and we want to help.
Please call: 202-449-3789 x719 or email us.
Someone will call you back, sometimes within minutes, always as soon as possible.
