Depression commonly refers to feelings of sadness, loss of interest or motivation, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, and withdrawal. Brief sadness or mild depressive symptoms are normal — but if symptoms become more severe and frequent, professional assistance can be beneficial. With severe depression, worry about suicide is a concern. What is most important is to take any thoughts or verbalizations of wanting to die or take one’s life seriously. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek professional assistance immediately. If the circumstances are urgent, and a PsyCare clinic is not open, call 211 (Help Hotline)

Anxiety refers to the experience of fear, tension, worry and stress. Symptoms can include panic, obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, phobias and negative physiological reactions. Excessive anxiety often is associated with avoidance of social activities or specific situations that can later result in a depression. Anxiety is often a normal life experience, and can even be a warning to promote an adaptive response to threat. However, if anxiety becomes persistent and intense it could reflect some underlying disturbance that may call for professional assistance. If you feel like your anxiety is becoming debilitating your daily life, contact us to see how we can help.