Psychotherapy is a type of counseling that can help you overcome anxiety and depression. It is usually offered in combination with medication. It’s crucial to work properly and develop trust with your therapist.
A typical therapy plan includes challenging negative thoughts, analyzing unhelpful beliefs, and practicing stress management skills. It may also include healthy lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise.
Stress Management
Stress is part of life, but when it becomes long-term or chronic, it can cause negative effects on your mental and physical health. Talking to a professional can help you learn healthier ways to cope with and better manage stressors. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common psychotherapy for treating anxiety disorders like panic and generalized anxiety disorders. It helps you recognize thought patterns that lead to troublesome feelings and then change them. Your therapist may also recommend medications, such as beta-blockers, that reduce rapid heartbeat and trembling, which can be anxiety symptoms. Your therapist can teach you strategies to challenge irrational, anxious thoughts, like testing out unhelpful beliefs and comparing them to reality. They can also help you find calming ideas to replace them with, such as realistic reassurances. This enables you to feel more in control when facing the situations that normally send your stress levels soaring.
Self-Esteem
A psychotherapist Toronto can help you understand your negative self-talk and replace it with healthy, productive thought patterns. They may also teach you relaxation techniques and stress management skills.
When you practice these techniques, your anxiety and depression should improve. In addition to talk therapy, you can take antidepressant medications that affect the brain’s serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Some examples are Duloxetine, Cymbalta, and Venlafaxine. Anxiety and depression are often linked with underlying interpersonal issues. Interpersonal therapy helps people examine their relationships with others and identify ways to improve communication and problem-solving. Depression can also be related to problems with eating or sleep and unresolved grief or loss. Behavioral therapy that targets these issues, such as cognitive-behavioral or problem-solving therapy, can be helpful. SNRIs (a group of antidepressants that impact both serotonin and norepinephrine) can be effective in treating depression, as well.
Coping Skills
Anxiety is a natural stress response; under certain circumstances, it enhances performance or keeps you alert in dangerous situations. It becomes harmful, however, when it is excessive and interferes with your daily functioning. In psychotherapy, your therapist can help you develop healthier coping skills to deal with stressful situations and reduce your anxiety. Coping skills can include breathing exercises, distraction techniques and utilizing healthy dietary habits to manage your weight and food intake. In addition, your therapist can teach you to challenge negative thoughts and beliefs through cognitive therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.
To find the right therapist for you, ask friends and family members who have had depression or anxiety treatment for recommendations. Make sure the therapist is licensed and has specialized training in treating mood disorders. You can also use an online therapist locator or contact your primary care physician for referrals to a mental health professional. Some therapists are also trained to prescribe medication; some may accept your health insurance or offer a sliding fee scale.
Healthy Relationships
A therapist can teach you healthy ways to interact with people so you can build strong relationships. They can help you recognize your triggers and develop coping skills to avoid them, such as breathing exercises or positive self-talk. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an established treatment for anxiety disorders and can also address co-occurring mood disorders like depression. CBT involves identifying the negative thoughts and beliefs that fuel your anxiety and replacing them with healthier ones. It can also help you overcome anxiety-provoking situations through exposure therapy. Many factors, including environmental stressors, traumas, serious illnesses, and relationship difficulties, can cause anxiety. If you are experiencing severe anxiety symptoms or a low level of depression, talk to a licensed mental health professional.