Anxiety often it starts with an internal question, “What is wrong with me?” Sometimes it begins manifesting as anger, frustration, emotional outbursts, or an overwhelming sense of fear and dread. However the anxiety manifests, and when left untreated, it leads to depression. An individual begins to feel “stuck,” hopeless, worthless, and unable to cope with life. It is the feeling of being constantly overwhelmed which causes the mind to want to shut down and retreat from the world.

Whether it is abuse of any kind, physical, emotional, verbal, sexual abuse, and/or neglect are often root causes of childhood anxiety which lead to depression. The brain learns to default to “survival mode” and causes the mind and body to do anything and everything possible to avoid the abuse, including dissociation. There are often generational patterns of this cause and effect within family systems. Many individuals follow familial generational patterns and do what was modeled for them to cope, including abusing substances. Unhealthy behavioral coping patterns are also perpetrated, such as abusing themselves/allowing themselves to be abused by others and abusing the ones they are supposed to be protecting, including their children.  Counseling can help an individual to identify these issues and learn how to recover in a healthy way.

There is hope and healing from anxiety and depression. Counseling/therapy which can retrain the brain and body to cope with anxiety and depression is available through counseling so an individual can live a fuller and more balanced life.  If your therapist suspects a need, he can refer you to your physician for medication treatment, which can equalize the chemical imbalance in the brain.

If you are dealing with anxiety or depression, please contact our office to schedule an appointment.  We would love to help!