Rebecca Nelson
Yes, those are some very common symptoms. Other symptoms include upset stomach, muscle tightness or tension, general nervousness or jumpiness, irritability, difficulty focusing. More subtle symptoms might include difficulty relaxing, and at night difficulty with sleep: settling to sleep and maintaining sleep.

Rebecca Nelson
Possibly, but difficult to know with such little information. You might want to think about what has been on your mind lately, and if there is anything in particular that might be bothering you. If so, does it interfere in other areas (appetite, sleep, energy, work functioning, or relationships). If there is interference then you might want to get some support.

Rebecca Nelson
Thank you for reaching out. I think a lot of people will benefit from your experience and question. What will be helpful for the psychiatrist (who is physician, a M.D.) is for you to describe your symptoms, how severe you feel they are, and how long you have been experiencing them. Let the doctor know if you have any history of any previous mental or medical health challenges or disorders, including substance use or abuse, and are taking any prescription medications. If you feel this is a lot to remember or keep track of, feel free to write your history ahead of time and bring it with you. Bring medications with you if you have them. Also, note any significant events in your life that you feel contributed to your anxiety and depression, such as the loss you noted. Grief and bereavement can contribute notably. And just be yourself. Mental health clinicians are compassionate people. Let her or him know you are a little nervous. S/he will know how to make you feel more comfortable.

Rebecca Nelson
High school can be an anxious time for sure. It is good he is on the radar of his school social worker, though school staff tend to have very little time to allocate to individual students. You may want to support him by obtaining private mental health support for him outside of school. Please see my NorthShore blog post specific to kids and teens: How to Help Kids & Teens Manage Their Anxieties. It includes web resources and recommended books as well.

Rebecca Nelson
Sorry that experience happened, Michael. Know that it happens to most everyone, and though it's a hurtful experience try not to take it personally (though it feels incredibly personal). Relationship break ups commonly trigger depressive feelings and episodes. This is good time to reach out to your support groups: family, friends, school and/or work buddies, etc. Schedule regular outings and activities, and create new ones. Get a new hobby and learn a new skill or two. If you had some negative habits it's time to replace them with healthier ones. Learn to be by yourself and stay away from rebound relationships. If you find you are getting stuck or having a hard time getting over the relationship, then it's definitely okay to get some help.

Rebecca Nelson
If you are not already in psychotherapy I would suggest initiating. Specifically (CBT) cognitive-behavioral types of therapy can help you replace negative thought and behavior patterns with healthier ones. Sometimes in long-standing relationships we can get stuck in unhealthy patterns and we can benefit from professional help to get unstuck. Also, you may wish to read articles and books by psychologist Peg Streep, Ph.D. She specializes in women with difficult or unloving mothers.

Rebecca Nelson
It is possible. There is a heritable aspect to anxiety disorders. A diagnosed Panic Disorder is a pattern of reoccurring panic attacks, and this tends to be relatively rare (<3%). If this describes you, then please seek therapeutic help, as this must be distressing for you when they occur. A behavioral approach can be enormously effective in treating these attacks.

Rebecca Nelson
I'm sorry to hear about your child's distress. Sometimes it can be a matter of therapist-client fit, and the first therapist is not ideal. Also, issues around scheduling are tough, indeed. Severity also is an important point. When a mental health condition is "severe," combination treatment is generally indicated. That means a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Let me explain. Therapy addresses the problems the symptoms have caused in a confidential therapeutic setting. There are various types of evidence-based therapies that work well for anxiety (and depression) and also traditional therapies. A good working relationship with the therapist is necessary regardless of the type of therapy for treatment to be effective. Medications (by an M.D.) aim for symptom reduction. Starting/ending medications warrant gradual dosaging and close monitoring to ensure safety. Abruptly ending medications can be dangerous.

Rebecca Nelson
Great question. While I don't have enough room to answer in detail here, essentially depression interferes with your functioning at work and in relationships. You feel sad (irritable often for men ), fatigued or low energy, have difficulty making decisions or concentrating, eat and sleep too much or too little, etc. This is a change from your usual way of being. There may be physical aches and pains. There may be passive or active thoughts of self harm. There is a specific time period for Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) and for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). If you think you might be feeling some depressive symptoms, please contact your primary care physician (PCP) to connect you with a mental health clinician who can further evaluate and provide treatment as appropriate.

Rebecca Nelson
Hi Regina. First, it is advised to contact your PCP as that is your main health care connector. Also, our NorthShore Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has multiple providers that may be a good fit for your mental health needs, including some groups: 847.425.6400. I briefly described CBT in earlier response. Another popular evidence-based treatment modality is DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). While similar to CBT, it is often conducted in both individual and group formats, and emphasizes 4 areas: Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Patterns. DBT also works well for those who struggle with eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, PTSD and other related trauma histories, or have some challenging personality features that have not been amenable to traditional therapies.

Rebecca Nelson
Hi Diana, I'm sorry to hear you are in discomforting place. I don't know how coordinated your treatment care is, but sounds like you would benefit from having a talk with your treatment team to ensure everyone is communicating well: psychiatrist, ob/gyne, psychotherapists: individual and group. Also, if you have not previously had a comprehensive psychodiagnostic evaluation you may want to advocate for one given the relatively complex set of challenges you are experiencing. Diagnoses drive treatment plans, so you want to ensure accuracy. In a previous response, I described DBT treatment. This may be a therapeutic approach that might be beneficial for you if not previously tried. Lastly, ensure you regularly reach out to your support group at home: family and friends.

Rebecca Nelson
I encourage you to have a matter of fact, but calm conversation with your spouse about how their anxiety impacts you and your relationship. Often the partner is so anxious that s/he is unaware or unable to see the adverse impact. Second, encourage your spouse to seek help, and let them know you will accompany them if they would like. When anxiety or depression persists relationship expectations may need to be adjusted. Caregivers may need permission to seek and receive support themselves to prevent relational burnout. Seek care early for your partner and yourself before relationships become too stressful.