Understanding How You Feel
Starting counseling can feel like a big step, and knowing how to describe what you’re feeling might seem challenging at first. You may be experiencing a range of emotions and symptoms, like anxiety, depression, or grief, which can feel overwhelming or confusing. Here’s a bit of guidance on how these symptoms might feel and how to describe them to help us better understand what you’re going through.
Anxiety often brings a sense of worry, tension, or fear that may seem hard to control. You might feel constantly “on edge” or as if something bad is about to happen, even without a clear reason. Physical symptoms like a racing heart, restlessness, or difficulty sleeping are also common. If this sounds familiar, you might try describing specific situations or times when you feel most anxious or how anxiety impacts your daily life.
Depression can feel like a deep sadness or emptiness that lingers, often paired with a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. You might feel low energy, find it difficult to concentrate, or struggle with feelings of hopelessness. Some people also experience physical symptoms, like changes in appetite or sleep. Sharing how long these feelings have lasted, specific thoughts you’re having, or areas of your life that feel most affected can help us support you more effectively.
Grief & Loss can bring a range of emotions, from sadness and anger to confusion and numbness, especially after losing someone or something important to you. You might feel waves of intense emotions that come and go or notice difficulty in daily tasks. Describing your loss, what triggers these feelings, or how your emotions shift over time can be helpful in making sense of your grief.
Remember, there’s no “right” way to describe how you feel. Talking openly about what you’re experiencing, even if it’s unclear or hard to put into words, is a powerful step forward. Our sessions are a safe place to explore these feelings, and we’re here to listen, understand, and help you find relief. Let’s take it one step at a time—together.
Understanding Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress or uncertainty, and it’s something everyone feels from time to time. But when these feelings become intense, persistent, or start affecting your daily life, it might be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can show up in many different ways, but one thing is common: it often feels like an “alarm system” that’s always on, even when there’s no immediate threat.
How Does Anxiety Feel?
Anxiety can feel different for each person, but it’s often described as a constant sense of worry, tension, or unease. You might feel on edge like you’re waiting for something bad to happen, even if you can’t pinpoint why. Physically, anxiety can show up as a racing heart, sweating, trouble breathing, restlessness, or even stomachaches. Mentally, you may find it hard to stop racing thoughts, concentrate, or relax, which can lead to feeling tired or burnt out.
How Anxiety Can Affect Daily Life
In daily life, anxiety can influence everything from relationships and work to sleep and physical health. It might make you avoid certain situations or feel uncomfortable in social settings. Some people find it hard to make decisions, while others may struggle to get through simple tasks because they’re so focused on their worries.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is an umbrella term, and there are different types of anxiety disorders that vary in symptoms and focus:
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Ongoing, excessive worry about various aspects of life, like health, work, or family.
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Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized in social situations.
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Panic Disorder: Recurring panic attacks—sudden feelings of terror accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath.
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Phobias: Strong, irrational fears of specific things or situations, like heights, flying, or certain animals.
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) meant to ease those thoughts.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Anxiety that follows a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks, avoidance, and hypervigilance.
Anxiety can be challenging, but it’s also very treatable. Learning more about how it affects you is the first step, and reaching out for support can help you find ways to manage it effectively and feel more at ease in daily life.
Understanding Depression
What is Depression?
Depression is more than just “feeling down” or having a bad day—it’s a complex mental health condition that affects both mind and body. It can impact how you think, feel, and function in your daily life. Depression doesn’t always look the same for everyone; it can show up in various ways and have different levels of intensity, from mild to severe.
How Depression Feels and Shows Up in Daily Life
For some, depression feels like a heavy cloud that never quite lifts, creating a sense of sadness or emptiness that can be hard to shake. You might feel constantly tired, even after a full night’s sleep, or notice you have little to no energy for things you usually enjoy. It can also affect concentration, making tasks feel overwhelming or exhausting. Depression sometimes brings about physical symptoms too, like changes in sleep patterns (either too much or too little), appetite, or aches and pains with no clear cause.
In everyday life, depression might make it challenging to keep up with responsibilities, work, school, or even social engagements. For some, just getting out of bed or going through daily routines can feel like a big task. Others may feel more irritable, withdrawn, or emotionally numb. It’s common to lose interest in hobbies, activities, or relationships that used to feel meaningful.
Types of Depression Diagnoses
Depression isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” condition. There are several types, each with its own unique characteristics:
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Often known simply as “depression,” MDD involves symptoms that last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. This type of depression can range from moderate to severe and may come in episodes throughout a person’s life.
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Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD): Also known as dysthymia, PDD is a chronic form of depression. While it may not feel as intense as major depression, it lasts longer—usually at least two years. It’s like living with a constant low mood that’s difficult to shake.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Some people experience depression related to the changing seasons, often during the winter months when sunlight is limited. Symptoms tend to improve during the spring and summer.
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Postpartum Depression (PPD): This is a type of depression that some people experience after childbirth, often involving intense sadness, fatigue, and difficulty bonding with their newborn.
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Bipolar Disorder: While not technically under the “depression” category, bipolar disorder includes depressive episodes that feel similar to major depression. It’s characterized by mood swings that range from high-energy “manic” phases to low, depressive phases.
When to Reach Out
If you’re noticing these symptoms and they’re affecting your day-to-day life, it might be time to talk to someone. Depression is a common and treatable condition, and understanding your unique experience is the first step toward relief. Therapy, support, and sometimes medication can make a big difference. If you’re not sure where to start, just talking with someone about how you feel can be a great first step.
Understanding Grief & Loss
Understanding Grief and Loss
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something important to us. It’s not just about the sadness that comes from loss; it can bring a mix of emotions, like anger, confusion, relief, and even guilt. Grief shows up in different ways for everyone and can be triggered by many types of loss—not only the death of a loved one, but also life changes like divorce, the loss of a job, a significant move, or even major changes in health.
How Grief Feels and Shows Up in Daily Life
Grief doesn’t follow a set timeline or pattern. For some, it may feel like waves of sadness or longing, while others might experience numbness or a sense of being “stuck.” These feelings can show up in daily life in ways like trouble focusing at work or school, changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, or the urge to withdraw from social situations. You might even notice physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue, as our bodies feel the weight of our emotions. Grief can also affect your sense of identity or how you see yourself in the world, especially if the loss significantly changes your daily routine or relationships.
Common Grief-Related Diagnoses
When grief becomes intense and long-lasting, it can sometimes fall under specific mental health diagnoses:
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Prolonged Grief Disorder: This is when grief remains intense and consuming over an extended period, making it difficult to adjust to life without the person or thing that was lost. It often includes a persistent yearning or preoccupation with the loss.
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Adjustment Disorder: When grief is a response to a major life change or stressor (like job loss, divorce, or health issues) and includes emotional or behavioral symptoms that make it hard to carry on with daily responsibilities, it may be classified as an adjustment disorder.
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Depression: Grief and depression share a lot of similar feelings, like sadness and low energy. However, if these feelings persist and affect daily functioning to a significant degree, depression might be part of the experience.
Understanding grief and how it impacts your life is a personal process. There's no “right” or “wrong” way to grieve, and it’s okay to seek help along the way. Whether you're coping with recent loss or a long-standing grief that’s still affecting your day-to-day, you don’t have to go through it alone. Reaching out for support can make a real difference in processing grief and finding ways to move forward with healing and understanding.