Personal Relationships - A Christian Counseling Center

Anxiety & Depression

Anxiety and depression are the most common reasons people seek therapy and psychotropic medications. These problems are so pervasive that they affect everyone at some time. About ten percent of people can be classified as clinically anxious or depressed at any given time. And severe depression is ten times more prevalent today than it was fifty years ago.

Although people have suffered from anxiety and depression throughout human history, and Jesus Christ specifically discussed the draining and unproductive nature of worry, the incidence of these problems is growing. The main reasons for the rise in depression and anxiety may be that we are less connected to each other as a society, more driven to find answers from pop psychology and new age principles found on Oprah, and less physically active.

All our therapists at Personal Relationships are highly skilled in helping you reduce anxiety and depression through a Biblical, psychological, and behavioral approach to these pervasive problems. These are the main problems that all therapists and psychiatrists are forced to address, so you will notice that neither anxiety nor depression is listed as a specialty for any of us because we all work frequently and expertly with these problems.

One thing that few therapists and psychiatrists recognize is that typically (though not always) depression can be characterized as a severe form of anxiety and that anxiety is essentially the same thing as stress. The most compelling piece of evidence for this is that over ninety percent of the time when there is depression, there is also anxiety and the anxiety almost always precedes the depression. Further evidence is that the main medications used to treat anxiety (called SSRI’s, like Lexapro) are also the main medications used to treat anxiety, and they are equally effective for both types of problems. Similarly the best therapy for anxiety (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is also the best therapy for depression (note: all of our therapists are highly trained in cognitive-behaviora l therapy).

So how does anxiety turn into depression? The body can be in only one of two states: arousal (anxiety and anger) or relaxation. Anxiety or arousal occurs when a person feels threatened or out of control. The body goes into the fight-or-flight mode (anxiety) as the mind and body attempt to regain control over relationships or health or finances. Over time, as the anxiety and fight for control wear on, the person becomes exhausted, loses all hope and gives up- this is depression, a state of exhaustion and hopelessness, where things that were once enjoyable no longer have any appeal.

When Jesus commands you not to worry (Matthew 6:24-34), he is helping you to focus on the most important thing in life (God’s purpose for you.) He understands that worrying does not change anything, it only creates anxiety and depression and shuts you down and keeps you from fulfilling your purpose and enjoying the great gifts God has for you.

If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, call us today and let one of our therapists or our psychiatrist help you experience the freedom God wants you to enjoy.



Anxiety & Depression Anxiety and depression are the most common reasons people seek therapy and psychotropic medications. These problems are so pervasive that they affect everyone at some time. About ten percent of people can be classified as clinically anxious or depressed at any given time. And severe depression is ten times more prevalent today than it was fifty years ago. Although people have suffered from anxiety and depression throughout human history, and Jesus Christ specifically discussed the draining and unproductive nature of worry, the incidence of these problems is growing. The main reasons for the rise in depression and anxiety may be that we are less connected to each other as a society, more driven to find answers from pop psychology and new age principles found on Oprah, and less physically active. All our therapists at Personal Relationships are highly skilled in helping you reduce anxiety and depression through a Biblical, psychological, and behavioral approach to these pervasive problems. These are the main problems that all therapists and psychiatrists are forced to address, so you will notice that neither anxiety nor depression is listed as a specialty for any of us because we all work frequently and expertly with these problems. One thing that few therapists and psychiatrists recognize is that typically (though not always) depression can be characterized as a severe form of anxiety and that anxiety is essentially the same thing as stress. The most compelling piece of evidence for this is that over ninety percent of the time when there is depression, there is also anxiety and the anxiety almost always precedes the depression. Further evidence is that the main medications used to treat anxiety (called SSRI’s, like Lexapro) are also the main medications used to treat anxiety, and they are equally effective for both types of problems. Similarly the best therapy for anxiety (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is also the best therapy for depression (note: all of our therapists are highly trained in cognitive-behaviora l therapy). So how does anxiety turn into depression? The body can be in only one of two states: arousal (anxiety and anger) or relaxation. Anxiety or arousal occurs when a person feels threatened or out of control. The body goes into the fight-or-flight mode (anxiety) as the mind and body attempt to regain control over relationships or health or finances. Over time, as the anxiety and fight for control wear on, the person becomes exhausted, loses all hope and gives up- this is depression, a state of exhaustion and hopelessness, where things that were once enjoyable no longer have any appeal. When Jesus commands you not to worry (Matthew 6:24-34), he is helping you to focus on the most important thing in life (God’s purpose for you.) He understands that worrying does not change anything, it only creates anxiety and depression and shuts you down and keeps you from fulfilling your purpose and enjoying the great gifts God has for you. If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, call us today and let one of our therapists or our psychiatrist help you experience the freedom God wants you to enjoy.