Anxiety is another very common experience for many Americans.

Some of the symptoms of anxiety include:

  •   Excessive worrying and fretting about issues
  •   Feeling fearful and panicky
  •   Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
  •   Difficulty concentrating or the mind going blank
  •   Feeling nervous, irritable, and tense
  •   Difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless or unsatisfying sleep

Anxiety disorders include:

  •   Panic Attack
  •   Agoraphobia
  •   Specific or Social Phobia
  •   Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  •   Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
  •   Acute Stress Disorder
  •   Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  •   Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder

My experience with people suffering form various types of anxiety is that there is an essential disconnect with one's own inner strength, purpose, and power. Self-doubt and fear are common underlying components of anxiety disorders. Often there has been trauma, excessive criticism, shame, humiliation, and lack of safe, constant, and positive appreciation at consequential times in one's life.

When a person is experiencing frequent anxiety, the psyche is seeking balance and healing from previous negative experiences. Along with a wide range of psychotherapeutic modalities such as relaxation or changing anxiety-producing thoughts and images, I would ask you to begin exploring deeper into yourself. Your anxiety symptoms provide a window into areas where you need attention and are ready to make important lifestyle and relationship changes.

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Depression is the most common mental health concern in our culture today. The main reason for this phenomenon is our dysfunctional lifestyle. We have stripped away supports such as family and community and replaced them with material objects, larger homes, entertainment centers, and more time at work for money and success, rather than interest, meaning, or passion. The lack of support, connectedness, and meaning leaves people feeling empty, lost, and depressed. These negatives feelings are symptoms trying to tell us that we're being deprived of essential human nutrients: to be seen, heard, and understood. Thus, depression is a healing crisis.

How do I know that I am depressed?

Following are some symptoms and patterns that would strongly indicate that you are depressed:

  •   Feeling sad and down often
  •   Difficulty in sleeping or getting up in the morning
  •   Losing interest in life and people
  •   Poor concentration, difficulty making decisions, and completing tasks
  •   Unable to cope with stress and constant feelings of overwhelm
  •   Decreased energy and fatigue
  •   Low self-esteem
  •   Poor appetite or overeating
  •   Agitation and low tolerance for stress

Are there other types of depression?

Depression falls within the category of mood disorders according to the American Psychological Association. They include the following types of depression

Bipolar Disorder: This type of mood disorder is characterized by one or more Manic or Manic-Depressive episodes, usually accompanied by Major Depressive Episodes.

A manic episode would include the following symptoms:

  •   A distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least 1 week.
  •   During the mood disturbance:
        √   your self-esteem is inflated and grandiose;
        √   sleeping 3-4 hours per night;
        √   more talkative;
        √   highly distractable;
        √   engaging in unrestrained buying sprees, sexual encounters, or foolish business investments.

If you or your family is suffering from a few of these symptoms you need to get psychological counseling and quite often medical help. This is a treatable and manageable condition with appropriate therapies.

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