The words “anxiety” and “depression” are used very casually now. We say things like “I am depressed because my favorite T.V. show was cancelled,” or “I’m anxious that our guests won’t like my cooking.” But, we know that the words also refer to more serious feelings and reactions to difficult circumstances in life. Depression can be sadness and despair, numbness and apathy, or agitation and anger. Anxiety can turn into panic, terror or inaction.
What do you do when you can’t seem to “get over” something, when those more serious feelings linger or keep returning, or when they paralyze you and interfere with your life?
If you choose to try therapy, you will have a place to talk about your feelings and be understood without judgement. You will trace your history, and be given support and guidance to help gain more control over your thoughts and actions.
Positive thoughts and actions can make you feel better; negative ones make you feel worse. Doing nothing doesn’t help at all.
What could be different in your life if you weren’t confined by depression or anxiety? Sometimes “not doing” is actually protecting you from facing something else. If so, what? Could it be the risk of failure? The intimacy of a relationship? Changing something? Accepting an unwanted truth? Therapy helps you to see yourself more clearly and make conscious choices.
If you have been depressed or anxious for a long time, it takes courage to keep fighting. But if you had totally given up, you wouldn’t be reading this now. It is natural that a part of you will “resist” making efforts, because it can feel too difficult or hopeless at times. But, as you learn more about “resistance,” and how to counteract it, you will gain more power over it.
Little by little, one day at a time, you will see changes and feel better.
Don’t delay any longer. Change happens when you take action.