Coping with Anxiety and Depression

You’ve heard the saying before – we all have: When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade. If you’re like me, however, when people say that phrase, you might struggle to appreciate the sentiment. It’s understandable, especially if you struggle with anxiety and depression.

Anxiety is an interesting word. Recently, I was struck by how common that simple word has become. Twenty years ago, it seems as though people didn’t use it, or at least, it wasn’t spoken of, as often. In the post-9/11 era, however, the presence and sheer ubiquity of ‘anxiety’ has nearly tripled. Its meaning, it’s important to note, has also changed. Far from being something that people have about a particular event or fear, anxiety is a mental health concern that millions of Americans struggle with daily. That’s the topic for this blog: coping with anxiety and depression.

We at Cornerstone believe in helping you to overcome your anxiety and depression. That’s why our approach is a bit different than simply the saying, “when life gives you lemons…”

Coping with life’s lemons…

Make lemonade? How many times have you heard that, or has someone you know tried to make you feel better by saying such platitudes? The fact is that when you’re struggling with anxiety and depression, the last thing you need is trite platitudes. Just as you might struggle to cope with depression, you may also be struggling with anxiety. You might worry about how you’re going to pay the bills, if your children are safe, if you can truly forgive your spouse or loved one for possible indiscretions. These are common problems that face most modern-day Americans. But anxiety and depression, at their heart, can also be so much more than that. You may feel like you don’t belong or struggle with feelings of worthlessness; at the same time, you may worry that because you’re not feeling any better, that there’s something inherently wrong with you.

This could not be farther from the truth!

In previous blogs, we’ve discussed the many difficulties that you face when dealing with and coping with depression. We at Cornerstone recognize the many struggles you might be dealing with when it comes to anxiety and depression, and we want you to know that we’re here to help. At their root, anxiety and depression are many times co-occuring conditions. Evidence-guided research suggests that both can be treated together.

What strategies can I use to help deal with these struggles?

There are a number of effective strategies that can be used to help you cope with these co-occurring conditions:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – One of our specialities at Cornerstone Counseling is CBT. It’s often used to help with both disorders. Fears, anxieties, and depression can be managed by seeking out their root causes. Once uncovered, you can learn how to take control of your emotions and fears, and your life to its fullest.
• Antidepressant medications – Often combined with CBT, these may be prescribed in treating both your anxiety and your depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants that produce fewer side effects than their predecessors. For a lot of people, antidepressants don’t work, however. We at Cornerstone are on the leading edge of depression treatment. Our partners at Cornerstone Psychiatric Care specialize in helping you overcome your depression with state-of-the-art Ketamine Infusion Therapy. Between CBT, antidepressants, and ketamine infusions, you can overcome your anxiety and depression starting today!
• Exercise – Therapy and medication are not the only way you can start to conquer your anxiety and depression. This can be very helpful for both anxiety and depression. Physical activity causes serotonin and other chemicals to be released in your body. This aids in both relaxation and increases your overall feeling of well-being. Thus, by taking some time to exercise, as hard as it might be to get yourself out of bed some mornings, you can start the process of overcoming your anxiety and depression through getting active.

• Diet – Just as important as exercise is to your journey toward better mental health, so too is the food you eat. You’ve heard the expression, ‘you are what you eat’, and while parts of that may be a bit overused, there’s some truth to it. Broccoli, as an example, contains sulforaphane, a naturally occuring chemical that helps break through the blood-brain barrier, thus helping to increase and stabilise your mood. That’s why I like to say that perhaps the saying should be ‘When life gives you lemons, eat broccoli’. In either case, eating certain foods can help you to have more energy, feel better about yourself, and cope with depression and anxiety. Our partners at Cornerstone Psychiatric Care also do vitamin infusions, one of which is specially designed by Dr Marc Ettensohn to help you in your struggles with depression and anxiety.
• Relaxation techniques – This typically involves meditation or mindfulness. These techniques can often help you remedy both anxiety and depression and improve quality of life. Our trained therapists can help teach you those techniques, and we’re happy to do so. Our goal is to help you deal with whatever struggles you’re having. We are here for you!

No matter what you may be struggling with, we are here to help. If you recognize yourself in what you’ve just read, please know that we’re here to help you. You are not alone. Please feel free to schedule a free consultation and one of our therapists will happily help you. Our partners at Cornerstone Psychiatric Care are also specialists in helping people manage their anxiety and depression. Together, we want to help you get the help you need.