Anxiety and depression are often linked, and very common, so finding help for these issues isn’t as hard as you may think. If you’re interested in group counseling for anxiety and depression, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more and schedule a consultation.

What to Know About Anxiety and Depression Counseling

Anxiety and Depression in Brief

While most people are familiar with anxiety and depression, it never hurts to review the two conditions. Anxiety is a general feeling of unease, fear, and worry that can be triggered by a variety of things. An anxiety disorder occurs when this anxiety is felt persistently, not just when common anxiety triggers are in play. It’s normal to feel anxious when interviewing for a job or going on a first date. It’s normal to feel a little nervous doing a lot of things. But when anxiety becomes excessive and disruptive, that’s when you know it’s a more serious problem. Anxiety can cause all kinds of physical symptoms, too, including rapid breathing and/or heart rate, sweating, and fatigue. In extreme cases of anxiety, hives can develop on the skin. This is a very general overview of anxiety, and it’s important to note that everyone is unique.

The same can be said for depression. Depression manifests in many different ways, and there’s no single symptom that everyone shares. Depression is an umbrella term that has many, much more specific types of depression under it. Depression can impact a person’s everyday life in many different ways. It can disrupt normal habits like eating and sleeping and cause intense feelings of sadness and despair for no apparent reason. There are many different types of depression, ranging from the more mild cases of seasonal affective disorder to psychotic depression. All forms of depression require a proper diagnosis, and each one should be regarded as seriously as the next in order to properly treat them.

Group Counseling for Anxiety and Depression

Group counseling is a type of counseling that is conducted in, well, groups. People in group counseling usually have similar goals in terms of addressing their own behavioral health, though their conditions will, of course, vary from your own. A group counseling setting is unique for a number of reasons, and while it’s not right for everyone, group counseling can be very helpful in treating anxiety and depression.

Let’s look at anxiety first. Group counseling can be a uniquely intense way to treat social anxiety, which is a common form of anxiety. Social anxiety is a condition in which the sufferer fears social situations. Even exchanging pleasantries with a neighbor is a worrying prospect for many with social anxiety. Exploring this fear in a group of others with a similar condition can be helpful for a number of reasons. The first is that you’re socializing. There is reduced pressure in these scenarios for many people, as they recognize that the other people they’re talking to feel similarly about social interaction. Your counselor will use this to guide you and your counseling group through low-stress activities and scenarios that can give you the tools you need to cope with anxiety.

Perspective is very important for treating depression. In a group counseling environment, you and your group will discuss everything that you feel comfortable with as it relates to your depression. Psychotherapy or talk therapy in a group setting can provide you with new coping methods and perspectives on treating your depression. Learning how others experience depression can offer you insights that individual therapy may not uncover. While our therapists are incredibly experienced, sometimes the feeling of community with others suffering from depression can drive even more progress.

Counseling Services for Depression and Anxiety at The Collective

So, where can you find group counseling for anxiety and depression? Right here with The Collective. We’re available for you and others like you and can get you started with the right group therapy for your specific needs.