Many of us get depressed and/or anxious from time to time, but when these feelings threaten to take over our lives, it might be time to get some help. Dr. Jonathan Brower is a psychotherapist located in Westlake Village, California, who specializes in anxiety and depression. Here, he discusses the reasons behind our feelings and emotions, and how we can learn to change the way we feel, and thus feel better about ourselves and our relationships with others.
What is Depression?
We all feel a bit depressed now and again, but there are recognized symptoms for people who are actually suffering from clinical depression. They include marked weight gain or weight loss, daily disinterest in activities and loss of energy, poor self-esteem and recurrent thoughts of death, among others. Read on to find out more.
Causes of Depression
There are many causes of depression, but the most common one is an attachment bond rupture, when the bond we had with our primary caregiver is ruptured and never fixed. The right kind of therapy can help repair the bond, and lift the depression.
Helping Someone Who is Depressed
When we have a close friend or a family member who is depressed, it is important that we let them know that we are there for them. Don’t, however, think that you will be able to “cure” them of their depression. That’s what therapy is for, as this article points out.
Children and Depression
Like adults, children can feel depressed. This often happens when they suffer an attachment bond rupture, meaning when they have an impaired relationship with their primary caregiver, who is usually their mother. Luckily, this can be repaired.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Some new mothers get depressed due to hormonal reasons, and some are depressed before they even got pregnant. Others feel depressed because they have been unable to successfully bond with their child, a problem that can be rectified.
What is Anxiety?
People who suffer from anxiety often suffer fear symptoms. In a nutshell, they are afraid of what is inside themselves, their strong emotions and impulses and they way they are manifested towards others.
Are Stress and Anxiety Symptoms the Same?
Stress and anxiety symptoms definitely overlap, but there is still an easily discernible difference between the two. Stress can actually help us in our daily lives, at least a certain degree of healthy stress that propels us to move forward and do better…
Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
There can be many symptoms of an anxiety attack, and it is important to differentiate them from normal anxiety we feel in certain situations that can actually be helpful. This article points out how to recognize what is healthy, and what is not.
What is an Anxiety Disorder?
If you have an anxiety disorder, you are not simply experiencing the normal anxiety one would feel before giving a speech to a large group of people, or running a big race or marathon. It is important to get help from the right therapist before your anxiety starts to take over your life.
Recovering from an Anxiety Disorder
The best way that an individual can begin to recover from an anxiety order is to be in therapy. Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy is often the best way to deal expressly with this, as this article points out.
What Are Attachment Bond Ruptures?
As babies, we more often than not form a bond with the person who is designated to be our primary caregiver, which usually is our mother. If this bond fails, we suffer what is called an “attachment bond rupture.” We then feel angry towards this person, which causes conflict in our lives unless it is resolved.
Why We Use Euphemisms
Often, people don’t want to openly express what is really inside them, so they use euphemisms instead. They cover their feelings and true emotions by using words that don’t express what they really mean. And that can be a defense to hide our true feelings.
Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Often people are used to misusing alcohol and drugs as a way to either numb the feelings they have, or not allow themselves to experience them in any way whatsoever. Unfortunately, this makes us miss out on all the wonderful core emotions we can feel when we have close, honest relationships with loved ones.
Why We Are Afraid to Show Anger
Sometimes people are afraid that if they really show the full extent of their anger, they will physically hurt someone. Others are simply afraid to let it all hang out. But getting angry – in the right way – is an important part of being emotionally healthy.
How We Feel Core Emotions
We have many core emotions, such as joy and guilt, and our bodies react in specific ways when we are feeling them. We need to allow ourselves the right to fully experience them to the best of our ability to live life to the fullest.
Embracing Sexual Feelings
Even young people have sexual feelings – of a sort. They are all part of what makes us human. As a parent, we should allow our children to discuss their feelings to help them to engage in more age-appropriate sexual behavior in future.
Honesty in Relationships
It is important to be as honest as possible in a relationship with our loved ones. But in order to do that we have to feel loved, protected and, above all, safe. We have to believe that we can say what we need to say without negative repercussions, or being scared of what may follow.
How to Be Happier
In families where the parents do not allow their children to truly show their happiness, that emotion can be stifled. It’s important for us to be happy, and to show how happy we are. It’s all part of being an emotionally healthy – and happy – individual.
What is Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy?
Learning how to discard your defenses and embrace your own feelings is the goal of this type of short-term therapy. It works for many people, as this article points out, although it is not for absolutely everyone.
What is the Punitive Superego?
Self-destructive behavior, no matter what kind it is, is more often than not a way we have to punish ourselves. Usually we participate in this behavior as a way to repress the anger and/or rage we feel towards certain people who have hurt us.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
