Healing from Anxiety and Depression
“Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence,
something helpless that wants our love.”
– Ranier Maria Rilke
Your mind feels like a wild elephant, scared and wreaking havoc.
The worries feel out of control. You think about all the worst-case scenarios, and then you can’t get those frightening images out of your head. What if? What then?
You try to find a solution but end up speculating until you exhaust yourself and feel defeated. The worries distract you during the day and wreak havoc on your sleep at night.
Then the worry, rumination, and sleeplessness become exhaustion, despair, depression. You feel hijacked, caught in a looping cycle of anxiety and depression.
And your body, too, no longer feels trustworthy.
Your heart is racing…
Your breaths are shallow…
Your chest is tight…
Even your gastrointestinal system feels out of whack.
Your body feels every thought you think. If this state of heightened arousal continues long-term, it can cause major health problems.
Anxiety hijacks your nervous system.
Anxiety causes your mind to over-analyze everyone’s intentions and assume the worst. You and your body believe your fears and catastrophic thoughts are true.
As it holds you back from accomplishing your dreams, making friends, sleeping, and being productive at work, anxiety steals your joy.
I can help you reclaim your joy! Call me at (941) 404-6355 for a free phone initial consultation.
The key is to befriend the wild elephant in your mind. I can help you do this!
Anxiety and depression are not as evil as they seem. Like the wild elephant, if properly cared for and tamed, the energy behind depression and anxiety can work for you.
The reality is that there will always be stress in your life. But it isn’t the stress that’s making you miserable; it’s the way you respond to the stress. Learning how to handle the stress will circumvent the anxiety/depression response.
Together, we’ll befriend anxiety and depression and turn them into allies.
In therapy, you’ll learn to use stress as an opportunity to lean into your emotions and listen carefully to what they are saying. Anxiety and depression are important signals, like the check engine light in your car asking you to pay attention. Almost always, they are telling you something important, even trying to protect you.
The paradox is that if you can turn toward your feelings with curiosity and kindness, they often soften and become trusted guides.
When you allow yourself to feel and tell the truth of your experience in the safety and support of a therapeutic relationship, you feel what it is to be connected and attuned to yourself. This connection and attunement calms your nervous system and allows you to return to the present moment.
You are no longer hijacked by the fight/flight/freeze response. You know how to pay appropriate attention to fear and depression, but they are not driving the car – your wise, kind, adult self is at the wheel.
There is a clear path into a life of joy and presence. I can help you get there! If not now, when?
Call me now at (941) 404-6355 for a free 20-minute phone consultation.
