Depression: Do You See It in a Family Member or Friend?

Beth Sertell — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 09:04:44 +0000

Have you ever wondered if a friend or family member is depressed? Thanks to Helpguide.org, here are 10 signs to look for to see if someone is depressed:

Feeling helpless or hopeless; this can sometimes lead to suicidal ideations.
Loss of interest in daily activities. This can include showering, brushing teeth, washing hair and going to work or school.
Appetite or weight changes. People who are depressed can each too much or too little. They can lose or gain weight.
Sleep disturbances. People who are depressed can sleep all the time or not at all.
Anger or irritability – this is a key sign in men who are depressed.
Loss of energy and feeling lethargic.
Self-loathing or self-hatred; poor self-esteem.
Reckless behavior, substance abuse, gambling, reckless driving, dangerous sports and taking risks that are outside the norm.
Concentration problems at work or school.
Unexplained aches and pains.

There is also a biological link between depression and anxiety. It is important to assess for anxiety while also assessing for depression. Oftentimes the two go hand in hand. The coping skills for depression can also be excellent coping skills for anxiety.

If you or a family member or friend have these or any other signs of depression or anxiety, please feel free to contact Holistic Consultation. We have many therapists who are trained to work with persons coping with anxiety, depression and many other mental health concerns.

Remember, your mental and physical health are very important! Holistic Consultations is here to help you understand your mental and emotional health so that you can continue to be growing in every way possible. Be safe, be well and be fully you.

– Renee Ahern, PhD, MS, MDiv, LPCC-S

Want to schedule a 10-minute call with our Intake Coordinator? Check out our scheduling link here.

The post Depression: Do You See It in a Family Member or Friend? appeared first on Holistic Consultation.

Ways to Cope With the Stress of COVID-19

Beth Sertell — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 05:45:22 +0000

Welcome to our new, albeit temporary, normal: life in the US during the coronavirus pandemic. With the spread of COVID-19 around the country in the last few weeks, it seems like day to day life has completely changed for all of us, and we’re not really sure how long life will be like this.

If you feel isolated, confused or overwhelmed, you’re not the only one. We’re all adjusting to our new normal, and even though we don’t know how long it will last, this is a temporary situation and we are all trying to cope the best we can.

If you’re struggling, here are 5 ideas we think may help:

Journaling

A lot of us are in survival mode right now, so you may not have even had a chance think about your feelings yet, and journal can be a safe space to do that. Remember, when you journal you don’t have to write anything deep or fancy – just write whatever comes to mind and do your best to not judge yourself. Journaling is a great way to intentionally check in with your emotional and mental self.

Spending time outside

There’s nothing like fresh air and nature. Even though it’s important to keep your distance from others to help slow the spread of the virus, we are still able to enjoy the outdoors. Try to get outside for a little bit every day. You can even use the time you spend outside to meditate or turn off your devices so you can spend some time firmly anchored in the physical world instead of the digital one.

Moving your body

Moving your body doesn’t have to mean punishing physical exercise. In fact, taking the time to move your body is an act of self-care. The idea of moving your body can be a wonderful tool to help manage loneliness, overwhelm or anxiety.

Allowing yourself to rest

If you want to dive into new projects or skills, by all means do so, but you’re under no obligation to right now. If you feel like you don’t have the bandwidth to try to be productive during this time, that is okay. You don’t have to be productive all the time, and many of us are in survival mode right now.

Doing something kind

If you’re in a position to help others right now, try to come up with some ways you can do so while still following social distancing guidelines. Can you pick up groceries for a neighbor and leave them on their porch? Can you sew masks and donate them to a facility that needs them? Can you donate to some fundraisers of folks out of work by this crisis? There are lots of creative ways to help.