Tampa Depression & Anxiety Treatment
Sometimes we imagine that depression and anxiety only affect children who are severely unadjusted or struggling deeply in school. In fact, depression and anxiety can affect anyone, up to and including the busiest overachiever.
Whatever the situation, I have worked with children, adolescents, teens, and young adults from all backgrounds to help process their emotions and work through whatever challenges they may be facing.
What is depression?
Depression is a life-inhibiting mood disorder that prevents the individual from making progress or sometimes even in engaging in daily life. Though symptoms can be similar, depression can be a significantly greater risk to the individual’s safety depending on its severity.
Key changes in behavior linked to depression:
- Sad mood, irritable
- Decreased social interaction with peers or family
- Decreased engagement in activities they enjoyed prior
- Sudden decrease or increase weight or appetite
- Decreased academic and overall school performance
- Negative thoughts and reflections
- Suicidal ideation; thoughts of death and dying
- Self harm; cutting, burning, etc.
When a client reports suicidal thinking, we perform a full risk assessment.
If there is significant risk and the client is actively suicidal with a plan and intent, a higher of level of care may be indicated. I am experienced in facilitating this process should it arise during therapy.
If a client is not actively suicidal, ongoing monitoring, the development of coping skills, and a strong safety plan are the keys to the prevention of reoccurring suicidal ideation.
Are you actively experiencing suicidal thoughts? Call the National Suicide Prevention
Hotline @ 1-800-273-8255. Tampa residents should call The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay @ 211.
What is Anxiety?
A basic definition of anxiety is ongoing worry present more days than not, that interferes with daily functioning.
Potential signs of clinical anxiety in adolescents:
- Excessive, racing thoughts that are often irrational
- School avoidance (grades dropping) and social isolation
- Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
- Somatic complaints; stomach pains, GI problems, headaches, etc.
- Panic attacks, Nightmares
While it may be common for teenagers to “drag their feet” getting out of bed in the morning, a strong avoidance to getting out of bed on a daily basis could be cause for counseling.
If any of these symptoms prevent you or a loved one from functioning in a specific area, such as school, sports, or social settings, this may be clinical anxiety.
My approach is not to place a heavy emphasis on DSM-style diagnoses, but rather to shift the emphasis to the patient’s strengths and areas of improvement. However, the following definitions can be useful for identifying common issues to work through in counseling:
- Generalized anxiety disorder— the most common diagnosis of anxiety.
- Panic disorders—anxiety that manifests in debilitating panic attacks.
- Phobias—anxiety associated with specific things or activities such as flying, spiders, etc.
- Social anxiety—anxiety that is tightly coupled with social interaction.