Depression & Anxiety

“It was like I was underwater and couldn’t break the surface…like everyone else was playing in the sunshine and I was drowning in my sadness.”

“My family made fun of me, they called me a worrywart and told me ‘Just RELAX!’ But they didn’t understand. It wasn’t logical, but I just felt paralyzed most of the time.”

“I felt like I was weighted down with a lead blanket. Just getting out of bed took more effort than I could muster some days.”

“The thought of leaving the house was enough to make me anxious. I was able to get to work, but I couldn’t kick the feelings that everyone was judging me or something really bad was about to happen.”

Depression and anxiety are so common that most of us know someone who is affected; however, it’s hard for a majority of people to understand how overwhelming, even disabling, these conditions can be.

Over 40 million adults are diagnosed with anxiety disorders in the United States, making it the most common mental illness. Depression affects nearly 15 million, and is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for individuals between the ages of 15 and 44. Furthermore, nearly half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.*

Fortunately, clients with anxiety and depression tend to respond very favorably with proper treatment. The most important first step for most clients is understanding that they are in a safe environment where they can talk about their experience without fear of judgment. Establishing safety allows clients to talk about the fears and grief they hide from their family and friends, freeing them from shame and self-imposed isolation. We then get down to the work of understanding the roots of what they experience and changing responses to triggering events and beliefs.

With caring support and knowledgeable guidance, my clients in San Diego can confront their fears, grief and isolation, emerging from their struggles to live better, more fulfilling lives.

*Anxiety and Depression Association of America