Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. If you suffer from one, it’s not uncommon to suffer from the other. Depression is a mental illness characterized by a constant feeling of loss and sadness. Anxiety, on the other hand, causes a person to feel overwhelmed by worry and fear. Anxiety is a broad term that applies to an entire group of disorders, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. Depression and anxiety counseling programs in FL provide solutions for the symptoms of these disorders.

Depression

We can all relate to feeling depressed. That feeling of melancholy or being down in the mouth is an unavoidable part of being human. At some point, everyone will experience events that will leave them feeling depressed, at least temporarily. However, if the feeling doesn’t subside, depression can become a severe problem. No matter what level of depression, please seek depression counseling programs in FL for a better tomorrow. A persistent sense of hopelessness and despair typically leads to a diagnosis of depression.

Some of the symptoms of depression are:

Continual sadness
Irritability
Change in appetite
Difficulty concentrating
Unexplained aches and pains
Disinterest in social activities
Insomnia or hypersomnia

Depression can come from several potential sources. These include:

Family history—Depression can appear in numerous family members across generations as a result of a genetic predisposition.
Neurotransmitters—Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine have a pronounced effect on a person’s mood. Insufficient amounts of any one of these three critical brain chemicals can disturb a person’s emotional state and lead to a bout of depression.
Hormones—Imbalances in chemicals such as triiodothyronine, thyroxine, estrogen, and testosterone, are also potential causes of depression.
Biology—Inflammation or shrinkage of in parts of the brain such as the hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala, can also contribute to depression.

Anxiety

Anxiety is typified by persistent, unwarranted, or disproportionate feelings of nervousness, fear, or worry. The term anxiety is used as an umbrella that applies to numerous related disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic disorder. More than 40 million Americans report suffering from some manner of anxiety, making it the country’s most frequently diagnosed mental illness.

Anxiety and depression share some common characteristics, like:

Inability to concentrate
Irritability
Sleep issues
Restlessness
A sense of fear or worry
Fluctuations in heart rate
Shallow breathing

The potential causes of anxiety are also similar to those of depression. They include:

Family history—Anxiety is often passed down from previous generations and may be shared among members of the same family.
Hormones—Imbalances in many of the same chemicals that can trigger depression, such as estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and adrenaline, can bring about anxiety.
Environmental factors—Stressful situations like a troubled home or a toxic work environment are often precursors of anxiety.
Withdrawal symptoms—Anxiety is a common side effect of detoxifying from drug or alcohol use. Please note that, while many people attempt to kick a chemical dependency on their own, detox is far safer and more likely to succeed if attempted with the help of the proper professionals.

Treating Depression and Anxiety

There’s no universal cure for either depression or anxiety. However, both can be treated effectively with a combination of medication and counseling services in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Given the chemical components of anxiety and depression, medication is a common and highly effective method of treatment for both. Antidepressant medications typically work to maintain the proper balance of three major neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) in the brain. Some of the more well-known brands include Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, and Lexapro.

Anti-anxiety medications work with similar chemicals, which is why some medicines—like Celexa and Prozac, for instance—can be prescribed for either depression or anxiety. However, some conditions, like panic disorder, require faster-acting medication to countermand their symptoms. These include Ativan, Xanax, and Klonopin.