Symptoms Anxiety and Depression

If you are suffering from anxiety and depression, life can feel quite hard. Having the motivation to do anything can be difficult and you might feel as if you're stuck in a rut. One of the best things you can do is to work on how you're feeling: this is where a therapist for anxiety and depression can help.

Below you'll find the common symptoms of each, how they differ, and how therapy can help.

Do You Think You Are Suffering From Anxiety Or Depression?

Symptoms of anxiety

You could be suffering from anxiety if you experience some of the following symptoms:

• Breathing rapidly
• Difficulty concentrating and sleeping
• Difficulty controlling how much or how often you worry
• Difficulty thinking about anything other than what you are currently worried about
• Feeling restless, tense, or nervous
• Feeling weak or tired
• Having a sense of impending panic, danger, or doom
• Increased heart rate
• Having gastrointestinal issues
• Sweating and trembling
• Trying to avoid things that can trigger your anxiety

Symptoms of anxiety can be so overwhelming that they affect your daily life. You might not be able to concentrate at work or you may avoid leaving your home as much as possible.

Symptoms of depression

You could be suffering from depression if you experience some of the following symptoms:

• Agitation, anxiety, or restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering things, and making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, sleeping too much, or having insomnia
• Experiencing unexplained physical symptoms such as headaches or back pain
• Feeling sad, hopeless, empty, or tearful
• Feeling tired, and having a lack of energy to complete even the smallest task
• Having outbursts of anger, frustration, or irritability
• Loss of pleasure or interest in some or all of your regular activities
• Recurrent or frequent suicidal thoughts or thoughts about death, suicide attempts
• Reduced appetite and experiencing weight loss or weight gain and increased cravings
• Slowed body movements, speaking, or thinking

If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time of day.

Some people experience symptoms so severe that they can interfere with their daily life. Problems can be caused at work or university because of how they're feeling. Other people might feel miserable without knowing why.

How Therapy Treats Anxiety and Depression

Therapy for depression and anxiety can take various forms, including interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Here's a brief explanation:

Interpersonal Therapy: This short-term therapy treats major depressive disorder by reducing symptoms and improving social functioning. It focuses on creating better interpersonal relationships.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addresses negative thinking patterns related to self, life experiences, and the future. It helps patients identify and change these patterns, making it highly effective in preventing future relapses. CBT teaches skills for a new and healthier perspective on life.

How Therapy For Depression And Anxiety Works

Therapy gives you a place to talk through how you're feeling with someone trained to help. A good therapist offers a non-judgmental space where you can explore the causes of your anxiety and depression, and you'll be encouraged to be open and honest in a safe and welcoming environment.

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help you to:

• Develop the ability to accept and tolerate distress while learning to use healthy behaviors
• Discover new ways to cope with and solve your problems
• Explore experiences and relationships while developing positive interactions with other people
• Gradually encounter the situations that are making you anxious so you can build the confidence you need to manage them
• Identify any issues that might be contributing to your depression and anxiety while working to change the behaviors that make it worse
• Identify any negative behaviors and beliefs that you may have, while replacing them with positive and healthy ones
• Make adjustments to your current difficulties or crisis
• Regain a sense of control and satisfaction while you work on easing your symptoms of depression
• Work to set some realistic goals.

Online Therapy vs In-Person Therapy: Which is Better?

For a while, you could only see a therapist in person. These days, however, a depression and anxiety therapist may also offer online therapy. This type of therapy can be useful for people with busy lives but also for those who might struggle to see a therapist in person, for whatever reason.

But which type of therapy is better? Does online therapy offer just the same as in-person therapy? Here's a quick comparison to help you decide:

• Communication Methods: Therapy that takes place online can feel slightly different from in-person therapy, because body language is a little harder to read. However, talking via video is the next best thing to being in the same room. After a few sessions, you might feel more at ease having online therapy.
• Convenience: Online therapy offers unmatched convenience. Attend sessions from anywhere, eliminating travel time. This flexibility fits therapy into your schedule with ease, whether you prefer home comfort or an external setting.
• Cost: Check if your insurance covers online therapy. Rates are usually similar for both formats, but always confirm costs with your therapist. See our insurance and pricing page for details.
• Effectiveness: Online therapy is as effective as in-person for anxiety and depression. If leaving home causes anxiety, online therapy might be better, offering support in a comfortable setting.
• Licensing: Therapists must be licensed in your state. Make sure your online therapist is a qualified professional. Every therapist on the Heal Your Roots Wellness directory lists the states they're licensed in.
• Privacy: Your privacy is legally protected in both formats. HIPAA safeguards your health information, so make sure your online platform is secure.

Finding a Therapist for Anxiety or Depression

Anxiety and depression are both very treatable, and you don't have to figure out which one you're dealing with before you reach out. To see how this works online, read about treating anxiety with telehealth therapy.

Heal Your Roots Wellness is a directory of licensed therapists who run their own practices. Read more about anxiety therapy and depression therapy, or find a therapist and filter by state, specialty, and insurance. When you find someone who fits, send them a consultation request from their profile, and they'll follow up with you directly.