Anxiety & Depression Counselling

Anxiety:

If you suffer from high nervousness , especially when it stops you doing things you love to do, then treatment can help you before this condition gets out of hand.

Anxiety can interfere with enjoying life, attaining goals and reaching your potential.

If you are not having any fun in your life, or  your work and career is suffering, or anxiety may be affecting your social and family relationships as well, then you could also be feeling less confident and depressed.

You may feel that you are not progressing in your life because of this re-occurring distress. if you are unable to work this only adds to your distress, so watch out for your  health at this time.

Break this cycle now, cut out self blame and start to recover your self esteem!  This is  the first step to eradicating such symptoms as:

  • Excessive worry
  •  Freezing up, sweats, stomach pains in a panic attack
  • Grief or shock from past critical events.
  • Fears and phobias of certain things, people or situations.
  • Repetitive obsessions and compulsions that are unhelpful to your life
  •  Fear of  speaking in public.

If you suffer any of the above symptoms, please contact us for counselling in Northern Beaches, Manly & Mona Vale: 0401032095 or Email: info@citcounselling.com.au

Depression:

It is often referred to as the “psychological common cold”, partly because depression is such a common psychological difficulty.

It can be  recurrent and hard to shake, often hitting when your resources are low or your immune system is weakened.

The experience  can be very different for different people. Depression varies greatly in the feelings that it brings, its severity, and the effect that it has on you.

images-5For some, the main feeling is being sad or blue or down. It can bring feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, or despair.

Others experience depression  as a feeling of fatigue, and a lack of energy, motivation, interest or enjoyment.

Still others may predominantly experience feelings of guilt or failure.

It is possible that you are feeling a bit of all these.

In its most severe forms depression can stop people from eating, washing, sleeping, or getting out of bed. For others it interferes in some areas of life, but they carry on with the essentials, such as work and domestic obligations. Others may carry on as normal, but go about their life with a certain sense of detachment, disinterest, or depleted energy and motivation.

Depression can even come on suddenly, bringing a marked change from a person’s previous life and outlook. Other times it builds gradually, growing steadily more intense over time. Alternatively it can linger for many years in a mild form, coming and going and fluctuating in intensity, but never too far away.

A period of depression is often triggered by difficult life events, or during a period of stress. Equally, it can come out of the blue, seeming to hit for no apparent reason.

Whatever form it takes, depression can have significant effects on mental health and wellbeing, relationships, work, and physical health. Not surprisingly, a great deal of research has gone into developing effective treatments and therapies for depression, both psychological and medical.

For some people psychological therapies by themselves are effective in resolving their depression. For others, a combination of therapy and medication is the most effective path. Together with your medical professionals, a psychologist can help you find the combination that is right for you.

Psychological therapies that have been found to be effective for depression include Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Mindfulness-based therapies.

The approach that is right for you will depend on your own experience of depression, its causes, and your own individual preferences, personality, and priorities. Taking your particular situation into account, effective depression treatment gives you the knowledge, skills, and strategies that you need to regain your energy, confidence, optimism, and strength. Effective treatment for depression also helps you to rebuild areas of your life that may have suffered as a result of depression, such as your relationships, social life, leisure, family, and career.

As well as resolving current feelings of depression, successful treatment equips you with psychological skills and practices that promote lasting resilience to depression and long term mental health and wellbeing. Just as physical health involves diet and exercise, so mental health involves ongoing psychological self care.

In an environment of support and respect, our Northern Beaches psychologists can help you to cultivate the lasting changes that will build your mental health and wellbeing for the long run.

To make an appointment to see a psychologist in your most convenient location, just call 0401032095 or Email: info@citcounselling.com.au