When Do Anxiety and Depression Require Professional Help?

Nearly one in five adults in the United States lives with anxiety, depression, or both. And while everyone experiences anxious or low moods on occasion, they’re more severe and potentially debilitating when you have an anxiety or depressive disorder. Depression and anxiety also affect your life well beyond your moods.

You don’t need to attempt to grin and bear your anxiety or depression symptoms. Doing so can make matters worse. Embracing appropriate treatment, on the other hand, can shift your mental health in a much more positive direction. 

At her practice in Chicago at One Magnificent Mile, board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Amanda S. Kleinman diagnoses and treats anxiety and depression using proven methods to help you live more peacefully and fully.

If anxiety and depression are interfering with your well-being, read on to learn when it’s time to seek professional help.

Anxiety and depression symptoms

Both anxiety and depression can worsen over time. In the beginning, anxiety may cause shakiness, increased heart rate, and racing thoughts. Early depression signs may include self-isolation, recurrent sadness, and frequent negative thoughts. 

If anxiety goes unaddressed, you can experience more advanced symptoms, like excessive worry, muscle tension, and restlessness. Unmanaged depression can lead to a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, concentration difficulties, and recurrent thoughts about death. 

Both anxiety and depression can fuel sleep problems, appetite changes, and impairment or distress in social situations over time. And all of this can seem like a Catch-22, given that one symptom may exacerbate others. Sleep problems, for example, make positive moods and energy levels less likely. When you’re exhausted, your concentration abilities take a hit, too.

When to seek help for your anxiety or depression

Any time you’re struggling with your mental health, seeking support is wise and commendable. Importantly, there’s no such thing as having symptoms that “aren’t bad enough” to seek professional help. That said, seeking care for severe symptoms is especially crucial, particularly if you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts or difficulty functioning.

Additional reasons to seek professional help include:

• Developing physical symptoms, such as chronic pain
• Feeling held back in life due to sadness or fear
• Not being able to accomplish what you need or wish to 
• Symptoms that linger on no matter what you try to cope
• Wishing to thrive versus merely survive

No matter your motivation, Dr. Kleinman is here to help. Through an assessment, she can pinpoint underlying factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and recommend ideal treatment, such as psychotherapy, emotional regulation support, or medication.

To learn more about anxiety and depression or get started with the care you need, call our office or request an appointment with Dr. Kleinman through our website today.