The absence of mental illness alone is not a significant indicator of good mental health. People often equate the two. Good mental health takes into account a person’s overall well-being, including emotional, psychological, and social. It has an impact on how individuals think, feel, and behave. It affects, to a great extent, their capability of responding to the stress and making the right choices.
And, sometimes, all of this sounds too much to handle. Even the easiest tasks seem like a burden for which you require professional help. So, this blog highlights the role of a mental health specialist in helping you manage the symptoms and causes of anxiety and depression. You can live a stress-free life with their assistance.
The Importance Of Mental & Emotional Well-Being
Mental and emotional health are intertwined. Mental health deals with our cognitive processing and functioning of the mind, while emotional health is about our ability to manage and express emotions. Both are deeply interconnected. Our emotions affect the thought process and vice versa. While persistent negative thoughts would lead to depression and anxiety, the intense emotions, on the other hand, would haze your judgment and decision-making ability. Likewise, physical and mental health are also interconnected.
- For quality of life & satisfaction.
- To maintain physical health.
- To foster good relationships in life.
Anxiety & Depression: The Difference Between The Two
Anxiety & Depression: the two very common mental health conditions people suffer from nowadays differ from each other. How? Let’s understand.
The two conditions can sometimes occur together, hence, people often get confused between the two.
Simply put, anxiety primarily involves excessive fear, worry, and nervousness difficult to control. Persistent sadness, hopelessness, disinterest in activities, and low energy are all signs of depression. To seek help from a psychologist for mental health, it’s important to identify the differences between the two.
Symptoms of Depression:
- Sadness, hopelessness, or anxiousness.
- Loss of interest in activities.
- Fatigue/lack of energy.
- Eating more or less than usual.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Trouble thinking or concentrating.
Symptoms of Anxiety:
- Overwhelmed by worry.
- Sweaty or shaky.
- Cranky or on edge.
- Feeling out of control.
Well, there are further types of both anxiety as well as depression, each of which has its own symptoms. A professional may help you identify one.
How a Mental Health Specialist Helps Manage Anxiety & Depression
No approach fits all. If you are seeking professional help, you must understand that it will take some time for the specialist to identify which approach suits you best. Here’s how a mental health specialist can help with the management of your anxiety and depression.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The most common and effective therapy used for managing both anxiety and depression. CBT helps you identify and restructure your negative thoughts and behavior patterns, which you’ve become used to. Such thoughts contribute to heavy emotional distress. CBT helps you challenge your irrational belief system, manage emotional responses, and develop a healthier thinking pattern.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT was actually developed to treat borderline personality disorder, but the therapy proves effective for anxiety and depression as well. It combines the CBT techniques with mindfulness practices. This helps you in many ways, leading to stress tolerance, emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, etc. The therapy is especially helpful for those experiencing intense emotions and self-destructive behaviors.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): IPT focuses on enhancing communication skills and addressing interpersonal issues that might be fueling your anxiety and depression. This includes navigating grief, major life transitions, relationship conflicts, and social isolation. Even your plan manager in NDIS considers working collaboratively with a mental health expert to help you as a participant of the disability services.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: This is a powerful approach that focuses on unveiling your unconscious patterns and unresolved conflicts from the past that might be contributing to your mental health issues. Childhood experiences and the emotional wounds of the past can lead to mental health issues later.
- Supportive Counseling: Sometimes, participants just want a safe space to vent out. Someone who listens to them patiently, understands their difficulties, and provides reassurance. In supportive counseling, you are provided with guidance to help manage your mental health issues without delving deep into the past. This is helpful in the initial stages of starting therapy.
Remember, in case your symptoms are more exaggerated and out of control, a mental health professional can guide you in choosing the right medicines or connect you with a reliable psychiatrist.
Benefits Of Opting For a Professional To Manage Mental Health Issues
If you are struggling with anxiety and depression, hiring an expert for such issues offers you great help. Here is how you benefit from the professional help.
- Ability to deal with challenging emotions.
- Stress management and improved coping skills.
- Deep understanding of your emotional triggers.
- Improved self-esteem and self-awareness.
- A safe, understanding, and non-judgmental space to vent.
- Overall, improved quality of life with reduced symptoms.
How To Choose The Right Mental Health Professional?
Choosing the right professional is as important as it is to seek help to manage your symptoms and the cause of anxiety & depression. What to look for in a therapist is as follows:
- Check for relevant qualifications and experience.
- Ask for their area of expertise.
- Research their approach to counseling.
- Look for the kind of tools & techniques they use.
- Costs and insurance coverage are a must.
Mental health counseling is also a crucial part of your plan management service in NDIS.
Key Takeaways
Mental health significantly impacts overall well-being, affecting how individuals think, feel, and behave. Anxiety and depression are common conditions that often require professional assistance for effective management. Mental health specialists offer various therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), tailored to individual needs. These therapies help in restructuring negative thoughts, improving emotional regulation, and enhancing communication skills. Seeking professional help is crucial for those struggling with mental health, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Liberty Disability Services has a team of trained psychologists who help you with such conditions to enhance your overall quality of life. To know more about how we work, do visit our Facebook page.