Navigating Life’s Challenges: When Anxiety and Depression Take the Lead
Written by Gracie Skaggs
Sometimes, life can feel like you are just going through the motions; like you’re constantly walking through tough times, and they seem to never end. As soon as one trial ends, another one comes your way. In these times, anxiety and depression can often take hold of us, making everyday life feel disrupted and like a long haul. If you find yourself in a place like this, know that you are not alone and that it is perfectly okay to seek out help. There is light in the darkness.
Anxiety and depression are very common, and they both can impact anyone, no matter their background. They often show up in one’s life without warning, and it is not uncommon for anxiety and depression to disrupt your days so much that you feel behind on daily tasks, lose sight of joy, and and simply have a hard time existing. In the “always on the go” world we live in today, this can be frustrating.
The fist step in seeking help for anxiety and depression is being able to recognize it within yourself. In all honesty it, would take pages and pages to help you fully comprehend the specifics of these disorders, as there are many type’s depending on duration, life’s circumstances, prior health issues and more. We want to simply provide you information that will potentially connect with you and your struggles in this life. If any of the following symptoms are persistent, lasting for more than two weeks to the point where you have trouble with eating, sleeping, work, social life, or sex drive please seek support soon by scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician (PCP)!
Take out a pen and paper and write down the symptoms you are experiencing from the following paragraphs. This will be helpful when you seek support from your PCP and later on when you take the step towards therapy.
NOTE: Medication may not be the first suggestion your doctor makes — talk therapy is extremely successful in treatment of disorders such as anxiety and depression.
The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” It says that “Anxiety is not the same as fear, but they are often used interchangeably. Anxiety is considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffuse threat, whereas fear is an appropriate, present-oriented, and short-lived response to a clearly identifiable and specific threat.”
Depression is characterized by overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. The American Psychological Association defines depression as “extreme sadness or despair that lasts more days than not for at least two weeks. It interferes with the activities of daily life and can cause physical symptoms such as pain, weight loss or gain, sleeping pattern disruptions, or lack of energy. People with depression may also experience an inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.”
Do you relate?
The world can put a stigma on mental health issues as a sign of weakness, often making it difficult for one to have the courage to reach out to others. So seek help! There should never be shame in doing this. Remember that you are doing what is best for yourself. You are taking the initiative to better your mental health, and possibly your overall well-being. One of the best things about therapy is seeing growth. This is a growth that will make you feel better and glad that you did reach out for help. There are so many mental health professionals ready and willing to listen to and help you, including here at Renew Counseling. Seeking help shows that you have recognized the problems that you are dealing with, and it shows that you are strong and capable of overcoming these issues
Outside of therapy, surround yourself with individuals who care about you. Surround yourself with people you know you can talk to about what you are dealing with, or people who are simply fun and encouraging. Do activities that bring you joy with these people, or even alone if that is what uplifts you. Being self-aware about the things that are helpful or unhelpful to you is important in both therapy and social interactions like these.
It is also completely okay to take these issues to God and ask Him for help. He can provide peace and can also help navigate you through tough situations if you simply ask Him. God loves you and wants to help you. One of my favorite passages of Scripture to lean on in anxious moments comes from Luke 12:22-32. It says:
“Then he said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you- you of little faith? Don’t strive for what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.’”
Through this process of healing, give yourself grace. Remember that this growth will not happen overnight; it is a process. There may be setbacks and that is okay. There will also be small and large victories. Celebrate those! Knowing these things, be patient with yourself. Remember that you can seek help without judgement, and you are strong for that! Anxiety and depression will never overcome you.
