If you’ve ever felt like you might have anxiety, depression, or body image issues, a reliable Roswell GA therapist can tell you that these feelings often go hand in hand. There are things that connect self-esteem and mental health conditions, links between how we feel about ourselves and our overall psychological well-being. Let’s talk about anxiety, depression, and body image and how they connect.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression can be normal emotional states that everyone experiences at different times in their lives. It becomes a concern when it disproportionately affects you, impacting your life, health, relationships, work, and interests. There is a level of danger when a person moves from a manageable amount of emotions that involve anxiety and depression to a degree that is causing a significant impact on their daily life. This mental health condition can be moderate or debilitating but is treatable with appropriate therapy.
Body Image and Mental Health Conditions
Body image, or one’s concern regarding physical appearance, is not in and of itself a mental health disorder. It is, however, a common symptom and/or cause of both anxiety and depression. Individuals with poor body image are significantly more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than their peers who are not markedly dissatisfied with their appearance.
Why It Matters
Body image issues are more than just a nuisance or something to gloss over with self-talk and encouraging words from family and friends. The feelings of inadequacy often run deep. The emphasis on looks and appearance in today’s society validates these for some people. If left untreated, body image issues can become more severe and can lead to issues such as body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders. These are both anxiety disorders related to an obsession with one’s appearance.
Anxiety can indicate severe depression as well as trigger it. They are separate disorders, but they often occur together. It’s hard to know which came first, and they can create a vicious cycle. Someone that has an anxiety disorder can experience depression as a result of the feelings of isolation, irritability, and loss of sleep that goes along with it. If a person has depression, it can result in symptoms of anxiety disorder including difficulty concentrating, inconsistent sleep cycles, excessive worrying, avoidance, and a sense of impending danger or doom.
Get Help with a Roswell GA Therapist
If you have any symptoms of anxiety, depression, or body image disorder, no matter which came first or in what combination, there is help available. Treatment for all of these issues is similar and can happen simultaneously.
You can find relief and live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life. Dr. Keown of Positive Living Psychotherapy specializes in positive psychotherapy to help you regain your sense of self, rid yourself of negative thoughts and feelings, and find the tools to help you work through feelings of anxiety and depression. Even better, you can go through this entire process while finding a newfound sense of satisfaction in your self-esteem and body image.
Contact Positive Living online or call 770-552-0333 today to schedule your first session with our caring Roswell GA therapist.