Anxiety
Some parts of anxiety can help to motivate and propel us out of a slump into a creative burst of activity. Other parts of anxiety can help to cover up more intolerable feelings such as anger and sadness. However, anxiety doesn't have to compel us into obsessive or stressful activity at the expense of our sleep and life balance.
My work as a therapist involves supporting the individual to identify and negotiate with his/her internal emotional, physical and environmental triggers that ignite and support the anxiety. You may be influenced by certain core belief patterns such as the "fear of failure" or "fear of not being good enough" and an array of other belief patterns. These triggers can be the cause of interfering behaviors such as working excessively, insomnia, uncontrollable angry outbursts, irritability, procrastinating and /or obsessive behaviors.
You don't have to be controlled by your anxiety. It takes courage to follow through with your intention of changing your thought and behavioral patterns.Feeling safe, heard and seen in a confidential setting, maybe a way for you to start this process of integration.
Depression
A very natural instinct when we feel sad is to withdraw.We may feel alone or that others just don't understand us. However, we are not "sadness", it is not who we are. "Sadness "can be a vehicle for some painful core beliefs such as " I'm not good enough", or " I'm stupid" and or "I'm unlovable."
It is often thought that "sadness or depression" is "anger turned inward.” This isn't who you are, by allowing your feelings to be expressed; this can help you to rediscover your truth.
As a therapist, I facilitate the exploration of feelings and thoughts to help to identify old patterns, and explore other choices. Sometimes, the very basic needs like sleep, food, nutrition and exercise can become neglected and a daily routine plan is important.
Sometimes sadness can offer us a way to realign our values and needs.It can be our bodies' way of telling us to to pay attention to "self care". Some artists take advantage of this time to delve deep into their hearts and souls expressing the range of emotions that we humans are capable of. Again, like with anxiety, its important that we treat sadness with a gentle and respectful force. It often has something to teach us and learning to listen to our needs and desires can really help us to grow.
Clodagh O' Herlihy, MFT,CCHT
Phone number : 503-327-6440
Office Location: 2279 NW Irving street
Portland, Oregon 97210