It is not uncommon for someone to experience bouts of anxiety or depression at certain times in life. For some, these symptoms become prolonged and impacts your daily functioning and relationships, can be hard to control and can last longer than expected. Some recall these symptoms starting in childhood or adolescents and can feel like these symptoms are now an addition to who they are and how they handle stressors. I treat anxiety and depression with a speciality in religious trauma.
If you were raised in a strict religious household, church environment, or had unreasonable expectations put on you, symptoms of anxiety and depression may have begun to form without understanding where they came from. Below are the most common symptoms one may experience with anxiety and depression:
Anxiety
Excessive worries that are difficult to control
Feeling a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
Weakness or fatigue
Racing thoughts
Physical tension
Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking too early
Panic attacks
Trouble concentrating on things in the present
Having an increased heart rate
Depression
Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
Appetite or weight changes
Sleep issues
Anger or irritability
Loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
Difficulty concentrating
Somatic complains - unexplained aches and pains
Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Oftentimes, the idea of addressing spiritual trauma or questions can bring symptoms of anxiety and depression up as well, and can greatly impact one's mental health. You may have noticed that you struggle with low self-esteem, have a harsh inner critic, feel unsure of who you are and what you believe, you may have anxiety about what it means to deconstruct your faith or even question teachings you’ve been taught your whole life.
Understanding more about your mental health symptoms and how they relate to the core problem is key to learning to cope with these emotions, deal with triggers and learn to find your inner peace again.
It you want to learn more about how you can work towards improving your self-esteem, having less worries, and addressing depression, schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to connect.
