What could be wrong?
The following three are the more common problem areas:
Anxiety is a ‘normal’ emotion in certain circumstances. However, when it becomes overwhelming, it can stop your life; extreme (unhealthy) anxiety will keep you indoors or avoiding certain places or people.
Clients describe their depression as ‘a fog’, ‘cotton wool around my head’ or anything that gives rise to their feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. Depression can be life stopping as you struggle to get out of bed in the morning and can feel very isolating.
Everyone gets angry. Like all other emotions, there are shades of anger ranging from annoyance to physical/verbal violence. Anger has its roots in needing control – of a person or a situation. Whilst it can be difficult to watch someone with anger, it can also be intensely uncomfortable to live with.
Or you may recognise these symptoms:
Do you deliberately not eat meals frequently? Do you exercise excessively? Do you make yourself sick if you feel too full? Anorexia and bulimia are well-known eating disorders, which can lead to anxiety and depression.
Have you had a traumatic experience which has left you with nightmares or flashbacks? Trauma can lead to intense feelings of anxiety, which, if not dealt with, can alter the way you live your life.
Do you need to check the doors and windows many times before you go out? Do you have fears of being contaminated or feel that you have to do certain rituals to protect yourself or loved ones? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be described as intense anxiety; and this anxiety grows the more the OCD kicks in.