Strengthening Your Relationship Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

, , , , ,

Our relationships with our significant others are among the most important in our lives. They give us satisfaction few other things or people in life can. Our relationships with our significant others provide the richest parts of our lives. However, few couples begin their relationships equipped for addressing anxiety disorder with anxiety counseling. Here at Parker Counseling Services of Parker, Colorado, we’re able to help couples build on their strengths and develop new strengths as well by addressing anxiety with anxiety counseling known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. 


What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?  

The American Psychological Association explains Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

“CBT is based on several core principles, including:

  1. Psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking.
  2. Psychological problems are based, in part, on learned patterns of unhelpful behavior.
  3. People suffering from psychological problems can learn better ways of coping with them, thereby relieving their symptoms and becoming more effective in their lives.

CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns” 

Engaging consistently in this practice decreases, or brings to a normal level an individual’s episodes of anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is practical, and places tools in the hands of the client that he/she can use against anxiety, whether at work, out with their significant other, or home alone.

Self-care Tips When Living With Anxiety

Here are five self-care tips when living with anxiety:

1. Decrease or eliminate caffeine from your diet. Caffeine stays in the body’s system for up to six hours. When attempting to de-escalate from an episode of anxiety, that caffeine is resisting your efforts.

2. Get plenty of sleep. Sleep has been shown to be vital in having the energy needed to face the challenges of the day.

3. Socialize with family and friends daily. Even if it’s just a phone call, make that call.

4. Structure your day reasonably. We tend to put too much on ourselves, and it causes us to rush. This can cause heart rates to increase. Our brain responds which can cause anxiety. Make a list of all you want to get done. Cut half of that list out. 

5. Recreation is important for our daily routine and is often overlooked. Schedule recreation on your list whether it’s sports, reading a book, or crafts. Getting into the ‘zone’ is often relaxing and therapeutic.

Contact Us

Counseling Services of Parker is currently serving the Parker, Colorado area and is available with just one phone call. Call Counseling Services of Parker today for a stronger, better relationship experience when Cognitive Behavioral therapy is involved building strength upon strength. Contact us at Counseling Services of Parker. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

/by

How Can You Tell if You Have Anxiety?

, , , ,

Many people believe that if they have never suffered a panic attack, then they don’t suffer from anxiety. However, you need to know that isn’t the case and anxiety treatment is available. Anxiety sufferers can experience a multitude of symptoms at various degrees of severity and never know that their internal struggle isn’t healthy.

Signs You May Have Anxiety

Anxiety attack symptoms may not be what you thought. Think about the following questions, and ask yourself if they apply to you. If you answer yes to more than two or three, it’s very likely you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder:

  • Are you constantly worried or tense?
  • Do you find that your worries interfere with work, school, or home responsibilities?
  • Are you ever afraid of something that you know is irrational, but you can’t control it?
  • Maybe you believe something bad is going to happen if something isn’t done a certain way?
  • Or do you avoid normal, everyday things because they make you feel nervous or frightened?
  • How about, do you have sudden, out-of-the-blue bouts of heart-pounding panic?
  • Okay, the last one, do you think there is always some danger nearby?

If yes, it is highly probable that you suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder.

How Are You Emotionally and Physically?

Your emotional and physical state are an important aspect of anxiety disorders. If you often feel apprehension, dread, or constantly on the lookout for danger, you are likely experiencing anxiety. You may feel restless, have a hard time concentrating, jumpy, and irritable. These are all normal, and treatment is available.

Physically, you may experience a pounding heart, sweating, headaches, upset stomach, nausea, muscle tension, fatigue, or insomnia.

Contact Us for Anxiety Treatment in Parker Colorado

If you think these symptoms apply to you, come see us at Counseling Services of Parker Colorado. We can teach you how to work through these symptoms and see a real improvement in your quality of life. Call now to learn more.

/0 Comments/by

How to Help Someone with Depression

, ,

Whether it’s your roommate coming home each day and refusing to leave their bed until the next day, or if it’s your significant other who can’t seem to motivate themselves to perform even the simplest of tasks, you may be dealing with someone who is suffering greatly from depression. As a counselor in Parker, Colorado, I understand the pain that you are witnessing, as well as the struggles you may be going through by trying to help this person. Here are a few things you can do to help a loved one who is suffering from depression:

Listen

Do your best to be a compassionate listener, and don’t focus so much on giving advice. Depression is a serious condition that can often make advice sound patronizing or even cruel. Giving small bits of advice, such as suggesting that the two of you go for a walk or do some other small bit of physical activity together, can be beneficial. However, telling your loved one that they need to “just focus on the good and snap out of it” may cause them to isolate you further as time goes on. Just be a listening ear for a while.

Understand

Keep in mind that the symptoms of depression are not personal. The person who is suffering is not angry at you, and they likely don’t even know that they are upsetting you. Depression makes connecting to others difficult, even to those they love the most. Depressed people are also likely to be less careful with their words when they are suffering, which can cause some insults to be thrown your way. This is the depression talking, so do your best not to take the hurtful words to heart.

Talk

If your loved one isn’t seeking help, they may need you to be a gentle push towards help. It’s hard to talk to someone you care about concerning depression, but finding them help may make it worth it in the long run. Don’t expect the first conversation you have about depression to be the last one you have, either. Depression makes it easy for loved ones to isolate themselves, so you may need to bring it up periodically to check in and see if they have sought out any treatment.

Encourage

While some pieces of advice won’t be very helpful to your loved one, others will be. Expressing that you are there for them and that they are not alone may be encouraging, as well as reminding them that the way they are feeling won’t last forever. You may not be able to understand exactly how your loved one feels, but admitting that and saying that you want to do your best to help will let them know that they can trust you with how they are feeling. Remind them that they are important to you! Even if they don’t respond, they certainly are listening and will keep your words in mind when they are feeling low.

Calling Counseling Services of Parker Colorado

Encouraging your loved one to get help may be one of the best things you are able to do for them. It can be hard to motivate a depressed person to get treatment, but encourage them to make an appointment and offer to go with them for the first visit. You can help them create a list of symptoms and things that trouble them on a daily basis so that they know what to talk about. Working with your loved one and encouraging them to contact a professional is one of the most caring things you can do. Please feel free to call us today to set up your appointment.

/0 Comments/by

The Right Way to Treat Anxiety

, , , , ,

Anxiety attacks need not be taken lightly by those affected or their families. The condition can lead to further complications if not attended to properly. Anxiety is a natural human reaction to stress which is generally helpful for a number of purposes. Usually, it helps enhance our concentration. Not only that, it also helps us devise better problem-solving strategies. In excess anxiety can become a threat to a person’s psychological well-being. Anxiety can manifest in any number of forms. It’s not difficult to treat anxiety disorder of virtually any type. Although, it requires early diagnosis and professional care.

General Anxiety Disorder

Of the various forms, generalized anxiety disorder is the most common. Which can easily be identified with the help of a variety of anxiety-related symptoms. Usually, a person who suffers a high-level of anxiety taking on the shape of an anxiety disorder. The person is prone to a feeling of emotional irritability. This typically happens if placed in the slightest of uncomfortable situations. Numbness in hands and feet, nausea, shortness of breath and an inexplicable feeling of apprehension. This typically happens when facing routine stressful situations can indicate the existence of an anxiety disorder. A number of factors are responsible for the development of this class of psychological disorders. Consequently, one must keep in mind that it is very much possible to treat anxiety disorder effectively.

Anxiety Factors

Some of these factors involve a number of psychological traits. Additionally, it involves a family history of anxiety and depression-related conditions apart from genetic factors. If adequate treatment is not received to treat an anxiety disorder, the situation can grow worse with the passage of time. At its height, accumulated anxiety can result in panic attacks which are very disturbing in nature. Although, it can be helpful if in case of panic attacks help in the form of medication is available at hand.

Usually, a panic or anxiety attack lasts anywhere between ten minutes to more than half an hour. Symptoms may include strong feelings of panic gripping the individual. The individual may experience heavy sweating, cold hands, and feet, heart palpitation, a sensation of choking, dizziness, chills and hot flashes. The experience can be very traumatic for the victim. However, if effective medication is administered in the middle of a panic attack, the person can be relieved of the symptoms quickly. Emotionally, it can be a very disturbing experience. This might bring a rude jolt to the usual feelings of physical and emotional security.

Recurring Panic Attacks

If a panic attack should recur, it can be one of the worst possible developments possible leading to panic disorder, which is treatable yet holds the potential to wreck major psychological damage. Some patients with anxiety-related conditions are best referred to a specialized anxiety treatment center. They are developed to create a professional treatment and support system for those affected. Here, the patient might be subjected to different approaches to treatment. The treatment will likely have a rather large component of behavioral therapy to complement the medication successfully.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy broadly covers the field of psychotherapeutics associated with the treatment of anxiety. It involves Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) among other approaches to treat any anxiety disorder effectively. ERP helps an individual manage his fears and slowly but steadily desensitize them to uncomfortable feelings associated with anxiety and fear. The approach gradually encourages the person to face stressful situations squarely. And use his inherent psychological strength to fight the fear of the unknown. To remedy panic disorder, usually, the treatment centers use a combination of psychotherapeutics and suitable medication.

Antidepressants and benzodiazepines

Antidepressants and benzodiazepines are usually the kind of medicines usually prescribed as an integral part of panic attacks help mechanism. The stress, however, is laid on cognitive-behavior therapy instead of heavily relying on medication. This is due to some of the long-term benefits associated with the former. For instant relief, of course, medication is found very helpful. It is best to nip the threat of panic attacks in the bud. Although, don’t let it develop into panic disorder to avoid any possible complications. Panic disorder, problematic enough by itself, may well be accompanied by Agoraphobia, the fear of panic attacks recurring almost anywhere.

Self Help Strategies

Self-help strategies and family support form effective defenses to fend off the threat of continually growing anxiety. Any type of anxiety disorder can be treated successfully. This requires the condition is diagnosed in its initial stages and subjected to professional care. In cases with worsening symptoms, it is highly recommended to seek an anxiety treatment center for systematic treatment and proper medical support. No condition associated with anxiety is untreatable. Although, the affected and his near and dear ones must not hesitate to seek professional medical help.

Colorado Anxiety Counseling & Anxiety Treatment

Counseling Services of Parker Colorado specializes in anxiety counseling and anxiety treatment. If you have questions, or you would like to book a meeting, please contact us.

Source

/0 Comments/by

Anxiety Counseling: 5 Ways to a Happier You

, , , , , ,

5waystoahappieryou-300x233 Anxiety Counseling: 5 Ways to a Happier YouThe best way to fight anxiety is to be happy. Sounds easy, right? Maybe not? Wouldn’t it be great if happiness was something that just happened? Of course, that is what we all want. Counseling Services of Parker Colorado specializes in anxiety counseling. We know a lot about anxiety therapy, and anxiety treatment – and we found happiness takes a big part in treating anxiety. We want to wake up every morning with a smile on our face, ready to jump out of bed and see what the day has to offer. However, that isn’t reality. Too often, we get wrapped up in the everyday cycle of going through the motions. Some people may even be afraid of happiness.  Happiness is attainable! It might take some work, but you can find it. Happiness is a state-of-mind. More importantly, it is a choice. You need to work at it at it just like anything else in your life. Look at it like you are having a relationship or friendship with yourself. If you are married or in a relationship you work at loving that other person, you do things to show them you care and to see them smile, right? So why shouldn’t you do that for yourself. Show yourself that you care. By focusing on certain areas of your life that are meaningful to you, you can find happiness. Here are five ways to a happier you:

1.  Exercise Right

Exercise is a natural source of energy. Simply exercising for twenty minutes a day, three days a week will dramatically improve a person’s vitality. Exercise releases dopamine and adrenaline, which help us to feel better. Remember you have to work at it! It takes six weeks to build a habit. Challenge yourself to find twenty minutes three days a week for six weeks. This can be done in combination with breathing exercises to really maximize the impact.

2.  Enjoy Now

Many of us always think about the future or get stuck in the past. Instead of always anticipating what is going to happen or ruminating on the past, we need to take time to be in the present.  Practice the art of mindfulness. Take time to appreciate where you are and how far you have come.

3.  Make Life Fun

Too often we are caught up in the everyday life we forget what it is like to simply have fun. So what is fun for you? Take an opportunity each week to indulge in something you find fun. It simply may be going to the park and having lunch. You may want to join a recreational sports league or a book club. You can also try rewarding yourself in small ways daily. Treat yourself at the end of a long day! Whatever it is, it must be what YOU enjoy to do. If this seems challenging, you may want to think about anxiety counseling.

4.  Be Generous

Giving and making other people happy increase our own happiness. By serving others, we get our minds off of ourselves and focused on those in need. Find time to volunteer or to help friends or family. There are many articles about anxiety counseling and anxiety treatment which show that generosity leads to happiness. happiness. Random acts of kindness are always good for you and your soul!

5.  Laugh Out Loud

Humor is the best medicine. Laughter has positive effects on the body. It boosts immunity and lowers blood pressure. It takes five positive thoughts to counteract one negative thought, so surround yourself with positive energy. Far too often, people take themselves too seriously. Take time to smile and laugh at yourself.

These are just five ways to begin finding your happy state-of-mind. It takes time and a continual investment in yourself to be content. Investing in yourself is as important as investing in others. Take the time to exercise, enjoy the moment, have fun, give time to others, and laugh at yourself to begin finding YOUR happiness.

**For other resources on happiness, check out The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin as well as Shawn Achor’s TED talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M.

/0 Comments/by

Calm Down! 5 Techniques Anxiety Therapists Suggest to Reduce Anxiety

, , , , , , ,

As a mental health counselor and anxiety therapist, I often times listen to concerns which manifest feelings such as worry, fear, panic, insomnia, and fatigue. These are all common symptoms of anxiety. Other symptoms people may experience include irrational thoughts, muscle tension and nausea. While anxiety is a natural reaction and we cannot eliminate it, there are techniques you can learn to reduce the symptoms and live a less anxious life.

  1. Exercise

    Exercise is one of the best ways to manage your anxiety. Not only does it help work out the stress, but it naturally increases the levels serotonin and dopamine in our brains. Anxiety therapists suggest exercising for 30 minutes a day.

  2. Deep Breathing

    Deep breathing techniques can help reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety such as heart palpitations. It can also help slow down the racing thoughts in your brain. Try inhaling for a count of 5, holding for a count of 5, and exhaling for a count of 5. These techniques are often suggested and used by anxiety counselor and therapists.

  3. Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Meditation

    This technique helps slow your body down. You will want to find a quiet place where you can either lie down or sit comfortably. A good way to start learning this technique is through a guide either in person or through a recording. If you would like to try this Counseling Services of Colorado suggests downloading an application on your phone such as Insight Timer –https://insighttimer.com/.

  4. Limit Caffeine and Alcohol

    Both of these are mood-altering substances and can increase levels of anxiety as well as depression. Many studies have been done stating the negative impacts of caffeine and alcohol on mental health.

  5. Get Adequate Sleep

    While insomnia is common for people who have anxiety, it is important to try to get the recommended amount of sleep. Lack of sleep will also increase anxiety. Try a deep breathing or muscle relaxation exercise to help you relax before trying to go to bed.

  6. Coloring (Yes, with crayons or Markers!)

    Counseling Services of Parker Colorado often suggests breaking out the crayons or markers and buying a coloring book. Adult coloring books have been proven to reduce stress and anxiety. Give them a try and have a little fun and make something beautiful. Many of my friends who are anxiety therapists shared the following link to affordable and popular coloring books for adults –http://www.amazon.com/Adult-Coloring-Book-Relieving-Patterns/dp/1941325122/ref=zg_bs_books_9.

  7. Acceptance

    Adverse feelings such as anxiety are normal. You’re not alone. The goal is not to eliminate the feelings rather to learn how to manage them. If you need help working through your thoughts and feelings, get in touch with a local anxiety therapist or anxiety counselor. We have a lot of experience helping people through their anxiety.

These techniques done in conjunction with therapy can help you learn your best practices for coping with your anxiety. You may also want to consider talking with your doctor about medications that can help with the physical symptoms. Counseling Services of Parker Colorado is happy to discuss this further with you. Please feel free to contact us whenever you’re ready.

/0 Comments/by

How to stay “put” when anxiety rises

, , , , , , ,

How many times have you heard “just breathe” or “it will all be ok” when you are experiencing a panic attack or elevated level of anxiety? While it is nice to hear these ideas, it can also be frustrating because we know this. We know we should just breathe or tell ourselves it will all be ok, but that is not the problem.

The problem is not that we don’t know this, the problem is in how our brain processes the current situation. In these moments we may be feeling out of control or unsafe. So, we tend to move into fight or flight mode and our anxiety continues to increase.

Also, in these moments our brain and body are typically not in alignment with one another. So, how to we help our brain process what we are experiencing as it is and keep our brain and body aligned? Through coping skills, such as grounding.

As mentioned in previous blogs, anxiety is all about control. The ides behind grounding is it can help us stay present in the moment and be in control of our current situation. Also, what is great about grounding is you can use it anywhere! If you are in public, people won’t even notice what you are doing.

Grounding involves using the five senses. The next time you begin to feel out of control and your anxiety increase, try this:

  1. Stop wherever you are (If you are driving, pull over to a safe place on the side of the road)
  2. Look around
  3. Silently or aloud name five things you can see
  4. Name four things you can touch
  5. Name three things you can hear
  6. Name two things you can smell
  7. Name one thing you can taste

Again, the idea is to keep you present and in the moment. I do like to add deep breathing while completing the grounding technique. To do this, you will take a deep breathe in through your nose, hold for a short-time, and breathe out through your mouth while going through the five senses.

If you would like to learn more about grounding or other coping skills for anxiety, please contact me. I can help you find the techniques that best work for you.

/0 Comments/by

How to Raise Your Self-Esteem

How-to-Raise-Your-Self-Esteem How to Raise Your Self-Esteem

How you think about yourself sets the tone for everything you do. Every interaction with another person, every choice you make, and every opinion you hold is influenced by your self-esteem. When you have high self-esteem, life is simply easier. The little things don’t bother you as much. You can make a mistake and easily bounce back because you don’t have to beat yourself up about it. You don’t need attention or validation from others to feel worthy of love because you give yourself all the love you need. As a result, people are more drawn to you and your stability, and you will naturally find it easier to give to others.

Obviously, everyone wants high self-esteem because of this variety of benefits, but it’s easier said than done. We hear messages all the time that tell us to we can’t love ourselves. The media tells us we need X, Y, or Z or we won’t be good enough, and unfortunately, many of us were not taught self-esteem growing up or have toxic people in our lives that keep us down. Fortunately, the only person responsible for your self-esteem is yourself, and with a lot of self-work and enough determination, you can raise your self-worth. Read on for some tips for raising your self-esteem.

Challenge Your Inner Critic

Everyone has an inner critic. It’s that little voice in your head that always seems to want to put you down. Maybe it tells you that you are lazy and need to work harder, that you aren’t good at your job, or that you are ugly and unworthy of love. Whatever it says, the louder your inner critic gets, the more difficult it is to love yourself. Fighting these negative thoughts isn’t as simple as turning off a switch, but you can go a long way by simply noticing when your inner critic tends to pop up. Keep in mind that, as mean as it is, your inner critic is only trying to motivate you the only way it knows how. Unfortunately, it doesn’t realize that saying hurtful things is not helping you. That is why it needs to be challenged.

When you hear that little voice say those cruel things to you, immediately challenge them. When it starts to say that you aren’t doing a good enough job, flip the script and tell your critic everything you are doing right. If it comes back with more insults, refocus your mind on something else, like what you are eating for dinner or what you have to do today. Don’t let your inner critic dictate your thought process.

Motivate Yourself in Other Ways

Your inner critic has been a source of motivation for a long time, but as you begin to challenge it more and more, it will be less and less effective. Fortunately, there are many healthier ways to motivate yourself. If you find yourself struggling to be compelled to do something, think instead of how you benefit from doing it. Instead of beating yourself up for not wanting to go to the gym, write out a list of reasons to go. Keep these benefits in mind any time you find yourself wavering in motivation; you could even put them somewhere you see often, like your refrigerator or next to your mirror. Over time, your inner critic will quiet more and more, you will be able to motivate yourself in healthier ways.

Appreciate Yourself Every Day

Each day, take a minute or two to just appreciate the things you like about yourself. Take a beat and write down three qualities you embody that you can appreciate. Be as specific as you can. You may write, “I made my friend laugh when they had a bad day,” or “I care very deeply about my partner.” This helps you think of yourself more positively over time and can lift your mood, even if it is only for a brief amount of time each day.

Let Go of Perfectionism

Perfectionism is a disease. It tells us that everything we do has to perfect, and if it can’t be, it’s not even worth trying. The key here is to learn to be okay with being “good enough.” If you listen to the perfectionism, nothing will ever get done, but if you can accept that finished is better than perfect, you are able to accomplish much more.

Raising self-esteem is easier said than done, and sometimes, you need help. If that’s the case, contact Counseling Services of Parker. Our kind counselor in Parker may be able to help you find your own self-worth.

/0 Comments/by

Types of Anxiety Disorders, Part 2

In our previous blog, we began going over the different types of anxiety disorders. In this blog, we will continue our list.

Phobias

Phobias are intense fears about specific things, such as objects, animals, or certain scenarios. For example, one common phobia is arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. For people with this type of anxiety, even thinking about spiders can bring on a sense of impending doom. While phobias qualify as anxiety disorders, it is typical for people to live their entire lives with a phobia without seeking treatment. This is generally because they have a specific phobia that is easy for them to avoid; for example, if you have a phobia of alligators, but live here in Parker, your phobia is likely not an issue. It is when a phobia starts to disrupt your life that it’s time to seek professional help. If your phobia is having an important on the quality of your life, contact Counseling Services in Parker for treatment.

Common symptoms of a phobia include:

  • Constant fear about this specific subject
  • Inability to control these fears despite knowing they are illogical
  • Altering or restricting your routine to avoid the subject of your phobia
  • Stress or anxiety about even the thought of this subject

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

As the name suggests, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that is caused by a traumatic event. People with PTSD often cope with symptoms that are disruptive to their lives for years after the trauma, sometimes for the rest of their lives. In most cases, the person with PTSD is the one who actually experienced the traumatic event, but sometimes, even witnessing traumatic events can cause PTSD.

Symptoms of PTSD include:

  • Reliving the event—people with PTSD experience their trauma again and again, physically, mentally, and emotionally
  • Being triggered—certain triggers, often related to the event, cause people with PTSD severe stress and fear
  • Severe anxiety about this trauma happening again
  • Emotional issues such as feeling numb, distant from loved ones, and feeling hopeless and worthless
  • Avoidance behaviors

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a commonly misunderstood anxiety disorder that is characterized by two sets of symptoms: obsessions and compulsions.

  • Obsessions: Obsessions are preoccupying thoughts, often negative or fearful, that cannot be escaped despite great effort.
  • Compulsions: Compulsions are behaviors that they cannot stop themselves from doing. There is a “need” to do a certain action a certain way at a certain time.

For example, an obsession might be an inescapable worry that your mother will fall ill, while a compulsion would be being unable to touch a doorknob for fear of germs. Obsessions and compulsions can be connected; for example, it may feel as though if you touch a doorknob, your mother will get sick. Sometimes, people with OCD have compulsions with no obsessions, though most of the time, this individual will experience severe anxiety if they cannot comply with their compulsion. It’s also possible to have obsessions without compulsions, though an obsession (such as fear of getting sick) may lead to a compulsion (obsessive hand washing). This becomes a vicious cycle. You start to obsess over one particular worry, and a certain action temporarily will shake those feelings. However, the obsessions always come back in full force later. Therefore, the obsessions and compulsions feed into each other.

Anxiety of any kind can be crippling, but there is hope. If you need anxiety treatment in Parker, we can help. Contact Counseling Services of Parker for therapy today!

/0 Comments/by

How to Talk to a Loved One About Seeking Counseling

When it comes to diagnosing mental health issues, we understand that some people may be reluctant to seek the help that they need. However, seeking help is just the way to heal and keep yourself feeling balanced and happy. Studies have shown that people who suffer from depression are “actually about 50 percent more disabled than someone with angina, arthritis, asthma, or diabetes.” While treatments for mental illness are very effective, only about one in three people who suffer from mental illness actually seeks professional help.

Warning Signs

If you have a loved one who exhibits one of the following warning signs, it is time to seek professional counseling:

  • Behavior that frightens you, such as a quick or violent temper
  • Problems with basic hygiene, regulating behavior, acting recklessly, or drinking/abusing substances excessively
  • Issues with becoming disoriented, seeing or hearing things others cannot, or forgetting important facts
  • Intense anxiety about doing small activities, such as leaving the house
  • Problems interacting with others or withdrawing from loved ones
  • Difficulty working, holding down a job, or declining grades in school
  • Recent trauma, such as the death of a child or an instance of abuse

The most important thing to look for is a change in the way your loved one used to behave. Also, keep an eye out for changes in the events in their life. If something has changed significantly, it can lead to needing more help.

How to Approach Your Loved One

It can be challenging to tell someone that you believe they need help, but there are ways to do so that may make it easier for them to hear. For example, let them know that you need to have an important conversation with them. This can help them focus and really pay attention to what you have to say. However, make sure to choose a good time and a place. You don’t want to say that you think they need help while the two of you are fighting or in front of family members; instead, make sure that you have the privacy and the time you need. As with any sensitive topic, do your best to bring it up with empathy. You could say something along the lines of, “I know this may be difficult for you, but I’m only bringing this up because I love you. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be having this talk with you.”

Be ready for your loved one to get upset at you, but do your best not to get defensive. You can ask them to arrange a meeting with a counseling professional as a favor to you or another loved one. You can even help control the process by scheduling an appointment for your loved one. Even if they refuse to attend the session, you can go to the session instead and explain the situation for further advice and suggestions. One of the most common reasons for a loved one to turn down the suggestion is because of the cost; if this is the case, you can offer to pay for the appointment, if possible.

Counseling Services of Parker

When your loved one needs help, we know how challenging it can be. However, we know that those who love us most will respond to our concern, even if it takes time and stronger measures. Together, we can support your loved one and help them on their path to wellness. You can be the resource your loved one needs and do your part to ensure that they get the help that they need.  Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We are here to help you!

/0 Comments/by