Anxiety and Depression

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a common emotional experience, often characterised by feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease about situations with uncertain outcomes. While anxiety is a normal response to stress and can help alert us to potential dangers, it can become overwhelming when it persists or intensifies, disrupting everyday life. In such cases, anxiety can develop into a more serious condition known as an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety can present itself in various ways. Some common signs include:

  • Physical symptoms: You may experience a racing heart, excessive sweating, trembling, rapid breathing, dizziness, or digestive issues such as stomach discomfort.

  • Emotional symptoms: Many people report a constant sense of fear, restlessness, or even panic.

  • Cognitive symptoms: Racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, or unhelpful thinking can dominate your mind.

  • Behavioural symptoms: Anxiety can lead to avoiding situations that trigger worry, struggling with sleep, or becoming more irritable.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own characteristics, including:

  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Panic Disorder

  • Social Anxiety Disorder

  • Specific Phobias

Our experienced therapists at Stillness for the Heart specialise in various evidence-based approaches to help you manage and overcome anxiety. Through therapy, you can learn valuable tools and techniques, such as mindfulness, self-regulation and relaxation methods. We will also support you in unpacking deeper underlying issues that are maintaining anxiety.

The many faces of depression

Depression goes far beyond feeling sad or down for a few days — it can significantly impact your everyday life, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. Depression manifests differently from person to person, and it doesn’t always present itself in obvious ways. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, and the symptoms may develop gradually or suddenly. For some, depression may feel like a persistent low mood, while for others, it could include physical symptoms like fatigue or aches.

Depression affects both the mind and body. Here are some common signs and symptoms to look out for:

  • Emotional symptoms: Persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, excessive guilt, and irritability.

  • Cognitive symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.

  • Physical symptoms: Fatigue, changes in appetite or weight, sleep disturbances, and unexplained aches or pains.

  • Behavioural symptoms: Social withdrawal, loss of interest in hobbies or activities, and in severe cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

It’s important to remember that depression is more than just feeling “down”. If these feelings persist for more than a few weeks, seeking professional help can be a critical first step towards recovery.

At Stillness for the Heart, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care to help you manage depression. We are trained in a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-based Therapy, and Schema Therapy that has been proven to reduce symptoms of depression, uncover root causes, and equip you with coping skills. In some cases, a combination of therapy and medication is recommended as antidepressant medications can help alleviate severe symptoms, allowing therapy to be even more effective.

Taking the first step

Contact us today to learn more about our therapy services and how we can support you.