Anxiety
Living with intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations are signs of anxiety. It is a sense of dread, unease, and distress and can be caused by many things, such as current life situation, childhood or past experiences, or physical and mental health problems. Anxiety can be treated with stress management techniques, improved sleep, and a healthy diet.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions), and behaviors (compulsions) that need to be repeated over and over. OCD is anxiety, and the individual tries to lessen the anxiety by the repetitive actions. OCD can be difficult yet can be treated with exposure and response treatment by a licensed counselor, along with medications if needed.
ADHD
Some of the signs of ADHD are disorganization, lack of focus, restlessness and anxiety, emotional concerns, time management concerns, lack of motivation, fatigue, negative self-image, impulsivity, substance abuse, and physical health concerns. Untreated ADHD often interferes with a person’s personal and work life. Counseling and medication have proven to reduce symptoms as well as help the individual function at a higher level.
Depression
Feeling empty and hopeless, having low self-esteem, loss of interest in activities, guilt and poor concentration are all symptoms of depression. It can be caused by adverse life experiences or stressful life events. Depression can impact your daily functioning, and how you think and feel. Depression is treatable using counseling, behavioral strategies, and antidepressant medication if needed.
Domestic Violence: Sexual, Physical, Emotional, and Economic Abuse
On average, 1 in 4 females and 1 in 7 males experience physical assault by their partner. Domestic violence is a repetitive process of abuse with one person dominating or controlling the other. Living with DV can have devastating effects, oftentimes leading to depression and other mental health concerns.
Bipolar
Feelings of depression and abnormally elevated mood that can last days or weeks are symptoms of bipolar depression. During the elevated mood the person may be happy, irritable, or abnormally energetic. There is a high risk of suicide, self-harm, and substance abuse. A family history, long-term stress and childhood abuse are some of the risk factors. The cause is not clearly understood, yet both genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Treatment typically consists of counseling and psychiatric medications.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is normally diagnosed in late adolescence or early adulthood. It is characterized by intense mood swings and feelings of uncertainty. People with BPD often have a pattern of unstable relationships, a distorted view of themselves, inappropriate and intense anger, and an intense fear of abandonment. People with this disorder can get better over time and can learn to live satisfying lives by engaging in counseling.
Trauma
Trauma is a person’s emotional response to a distressing experience. Trauma undermines a person’s sense of safety and can lead to hypervigilance. Feelings of shock, anger, fear, and anxiety are all normal trauma responses. There often is a disturbance in sleep, physical pain, troubled relationships, and diminished self-worth. Trauma can be treated by building resilience and developing self-efficacy.
Stress Management
Stress can wreak havoc on your emotional and physical health. Stress can limit clear thinking and lessen the ability to function effectively and enjoy life. There are many ways to lower and alleviate daily stress. Some of the most common are meditation, artistic expression, spending time in nature, prayer, listening to or playing music, and physical exercise. Speaking with a counselor can help you identify the sources of your stress and learn how to manage it.