ANXIETY
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety Disorder may be present when it regularly gets in the way of daily life. There are times when no one knows why someone might get an anxiety disease. But genetics, the environment (an event, situation, or long-term condition), or a mix of the two can all play a role.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: This is ongoing worry or dread that is persistent for weeks, months, or even years.
Panic Disorder: This is a feeling of extreme fear and/or the body’s fear response, even when there is no clear or present danger.
Social Anxiety Disorder: This is the worry or dread of how others may evaluate you or how you present to those around you. It is recurrent fear that interferes in social situations such as school, work, gatherings, or other social situations.
Separation Anxiety: This is the fear of being separated from a person you are attached to or an extreme fear or worry that harm will occur with the person you are attached to.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): This is a pattern of unwanted thoughts or fears that lead to repetitive behaviors.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This is anxiety or fear related to one experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event (terrorist act, rape, natural disaster, war, accident, death, etc.). nightmares, hypervigilance, mistrust)
Phobia-Related Disorders: This is a debilitating fear of something(s) in particular (flying in an airplane, heights, spiders, animals, public restrooms, being outside of the home alone or crowds).
Treatments:
Treatment options for anxiety vary based on the specific cause and symptoms. Often, the best course of action is to combine many treatments. Typical therapies for anxiety include the following:
Deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and exercise are examples of relaxation strategies that can help manage symptoms and naturally calm the body.
Therapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy, assists in identifying triggers, reframes beliefs, and symptoms. This rephrasing of ideas aids in behavior modification, teaching the body and the mind to respond differently.
It is possible to manage symptoms with medicine, such as antidepressants or anxiety pills.
It is not just you. Together, we will choose the best course of action for you. Together, we will develop a treatment plan, and I will support you in achieving your objectives to become well.
DEPRESSION
A mood is a continuous emotional state that can last anywhere from a few minutes to several days. More intense or noticeable moods might influence your experiences and actions, either favorably or unfavorably. Any protracted mood that results in impairments to one’s ability to function is labeled a mood disorder. This can range from a chronically melancholy mood to an extremely arousing bipolar state. A mood disorder is categorized based on its features, duration, and impact on behavior and thought processes.
Although there are many kinds of mood disorders, depression is one of the more prevalent ones. The etiology of depression or other mood disorders is not always understood. Nonetheless, a person’s environment (an experience, an ongoing circumstance), their genetics or brain chemistry, or a combination of both might be common contributing factors.
Depression: This is feelings of sadness or indifference nearly every day for at least two weeks or longer. Depression is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the severity of symptoms.
Psychotic Depression: This includes symptoms of depression but is also accompanied by psychosis. Some psychosis symptoms are: -Hearing or seeing things that others cannot-Experiencing disturbing fixed and false beliefs or delusions-Paranoia. The psychotic symptoms often have a depressive theme like guilt, death, illness, or poverty.
Other Depressive Disorders: Depression can be associated with other medical conditions such as low thyroid, androgen, or vitamin D levels.
Treatment:
Therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify symptoms, triggers, and ways to reframe thoughts. This reframing of thoughts helps to change one’s behaviors, thereby training the body and the mind to not react in the same way. Other therapy techniques can also be used to process past behaviors or events, thinking traps, or the expression of emotion.
Medication such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers can be used to help control symptoms by improving the way the brain sends signals and regulates chemical levels. This ultimately helps improve your mood and your ability to manage emotions more appropriately again. These medications often take several weeks to build up within your system and can take a time to start feeling the full benefit of the medication(s). Therefore, it’s very important to give it time before determining if and what medications work best for you.
You’re not by yourself! I can help you figure out what kind of care will work best for you at Mercygrace Mental Wellness. I will make a treatment plan with you and help you reach your goals so that you can feel better again.
ADHD
Persistent patterns of inattention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity, impacting daily life and functioning.
Attention Deficit: Struggles to focus and maintain attention.
Impulsive Decision Maker: Acts impulsively without thinking.
Difficulty with Instructions: Has trouble following detailed instructions.
Chronic Interruptions: Interrupts others frequently
Time Management Troubles: Struggles to manage time effectively.
Organizationally Challenged: Has difficulty staying organized.
Hyperactive and Restless: Exhibits excessive energy and movement.
Difficulty with Task Prioritization: Finds prioritizing tasks challenging.
Forgetful and Absentminded: Often forgetful in daily activities
INSOMNIA
Conditions impacting sleep quality, duration, or timing, leading to daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms include Daytime sleepiness or fatigue, Irritability or mood disturbances, Impaired performance at work or school, Waking up frequently during the night, Feeling unrefreshed after sleep, Difficulty concentrating or focusing, Waking up too early, and Difficulty falling asleep.
