Mood Disorder Treatment

Anxiety treatment for Brisbane residents

Anxiety is the mind and body’s reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It’s the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread you feel before a significant event. Whilst often viewed as negative, this ‘alarm system’ is essential to our survival. A complete lack of anxiety, for example, could cause someone to engage in potentially life-threatening and dangerous situations and not even be aware that they are dangerous.

The word ‘disorder’ is used in the context of universal emotional states such as anxiety and depression when the duration and intensity of these states is such that our capacity to function in life is significantly compromised.

Although highly related, fear and anxiety are different from each other in a number of ways . Fear is a response to a real danger and directed at a present threat, usually accompanied by escape behaviours, physiological arousal, and thoughts about the imminent threat. It also tends to be a highly biologically adaptive response, allowing us to avoid potential dangers. Anxiety, on the other hand, is usually more future-oriented with preoccupation with uncertainty or ambiguity. Anxiety is often accompanied by avoidant behaviours, tension, and thoughts about a future threat.

Symptoms of anxiety include: elevated heart rate (which can reach levels that feel like pounding), excessive sweating, shaking, flushes, feeling weak or tired, tension, feeling on edge, short breaths, excess worrying or fear, stomach pains, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, and feelings of impending doom.

Should you get anxiety therapy?

There are various kinds of anxiety disorders. Social anxiety, for example, is tied to social interactions and experiences and can make life challenging when it comes to studying, work and socialising. Agoraphobia, another type of anxiety disorder is results from a fear of becoming trapped. Panic disorder is the most common anxiety ….. involve extreme anxiety attacks and then a constant fear of those panic attacks returning.

4life Psychology, in Brisbane, is here to help. We can assist you to work through the events that preceded the anxiety and develop strategies to help reclaim your life. Our experienced therapists will develop ways to work with you to help reduce distress and support recovery.

Access treatment for depression in Brisbane

Around 1 in 16 Australians are currently experiencing depression, according to statistics released by non-profit depression, suicide, anxiety and mental illness organisation Beyond Blue.

It is a real condition that many Australian battles are impacted by through friends and family that have depression. One in seven Australians will experience depression at some point in their lives.

Fortunately, there is assistance available. And more and more people are seeking support for depression with around half of all Australians seeking treatment. You don’t have to suffer in silence, there is discrete and effective treatment options available through Positive Psychology.

Depression treatments and categories

Major Depressive Disorder

Do you find yourself in a low mood most of the time? Do you feel like you are lacking energy, losing passion for the things you love to do and withdrawing from daily life? Clinical depression can lead to severe impairment on a person’s ability to be able to live their life and it often doesn’t go away without proper treatment.

Persistent depressive disorder

There doesn’t always have to be deep levels of sadness involved in this mental illness. This form of depression, also known as dysthymia, tends to be more long term and involves a lack of interest in life and productivity. It can extend for years without proper treatment and lead to low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, poor sleep patterns and more.

Bipolar disorder

Not all forms of this illness involve just feelings of sadness. This is when you may experience dramatic mood swings that include extremely depressive lows and manic, ecstatic highs as well. Treatment can help you stabilise and centre your moods for greater control over your life.

Postnatal depression

Childbirth is an extremely challenging time for any woman and feelings of sadness shortly after giving birth are common. But when this sadness extends past the early days it can be a sign of postnatal depression that can lead to feelings of inadequacy, an inability to engage or connect with your child, tears, sleepless nights, anxiety and more. There is support available.

Situational depression

Often, these cases can be triggered by a significant life event like the loss of a loved one, serious illness, separation from a partner, abusive relationships, an inability to find employment and other events. This form is not something that will just go away by itself in time, we can provide the right support and depression treatment to ensure you can get back to a fulfilling life.

over estimation of threat and underestimation of capacity to cope

Important discriminations that support positive change in mood disorders

Control

Responsibility

Our treatments are delivered by clinical psychologists in Brisbane who have specialist, postgraduate university training in psychological assessment and therapy. Mood disorders include include both anxiety – a future oriented problem, and depression – a past oriented problem. Anxiety and depression are common and have been proven to respond well to evidence-based therapies including CBT, ACT, and IPT.