Anxiety and Depression in Chattanooga, TN—Counselors and Therapists
If anxiety and/or depression is making daily living harder, consider reaching out for help. Thriveworks Chattanooga offers treatment for depression and anxiety, and we have seen many people find the relief they so desperately desire. Give us a call at (423) 403-3732 to schedule your appointment.
What Exactly Are Anxiety and Depression?
Anxiety affects almost 25 percent of adults in the US, and approximately 15 percent of adults will experience depression. These are the two most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses, and while they are separate, they frequently co-occur. What is it like to live with anxiety, depression, or both?
Misinformation about anxiety and depression abounds. Well-meaning people may describe them as the jitters or the blues. Loved ones may offer advice about snapping out of it, but anxiety and depression are not phases. They are mental illnesses that disrupt people’s lives with the following symptoms:
- Disinterest in activities that were formerly enjoyable
- Negative emotions such as hopelessness, sadness, and emptiness
- Psychosomatic pain (physical pain that is rooted in psychological injury)
- Persistent thoughts of death and/or suicide attempts
If these symptoms are keeping you from the life you once lived, consider reaching out for help. Anxiety and depression are serious and can lead to loss of life when left untreated, but effective treatments are available.
The Potential Effects of Anxiety and Depression
When people’s minds are ill, their body may follow. Many people experience physical side effects as they battle anxiety and depression. For example:
Hypersomnia or insomnia: Irregular sleep patterns are a common side effect. Some experience them as sleeping all the time (hypersomnia). Others experience the sleep disruption as an inability to sleep (insomnia).
Fatigue: Anxiety and depression can leave people physically depleted and lethargic. Accomplishing tasks often becomes far more difficult.
Difficulty focusing: Depression and anxiety can stir negative thinking patterns that make focusing difficult.
Disrupted eating habits: Sometimes, anxiety and depression increase an individual’s appetite. Other times, they make eating more difficult and literally change people’s taste buds.
Indecisiveness: Making a clear decision when fighting anxiety or depression can feel impossible.
These effects are severe, but they are not inevitable. Effective treatments are available, and when people commit to a plan and work with a therapist, they often experience relief.
Therapy for Anxiety and Depression at Thriveworks Chattanooga, TN
The best treatment for anxiety and/or depression often involves both talk therapy and medication. When you want to meet with a mental health professional to talk about treating your anxiety or depression, know that the therapists and counselors at Thriveworks Chattanooga are ready to meet with you.
Call Thriveworks Chattanooga today at (423) 403-3732. Let’s work together to help you thrive.
