There are lots of ways to describe depression, the physical signs are pretty clear. Extreme sadness, lethargy, self-doubt and damning thoughts, anxiety, lack of motivation and concentration, lack of enjoyment, changes in sleep patterns, appetite and libido, isolation, feeling ‘under the weather’ with a flu that will not go away, repeated Infections, pain and self-harm. The explanations are long but knowing the symptoms is a different matter to forgiving yourself or your loved one for being depressed. It is difficult to accept that you are ‘legimately ill’ and not add to the already poor view you have of yourself or others. This really impedes healing.

Quite simply, life is worth living but you won’t have evidence of that if you have a noisy mind that won’t let you thrive. To practice the quieting of your mind is difficult particularly in relaxing situations! When was the last time you tried to relax in a warm bath with soft light and a favorite scent or song? Did your mind quiet much or did it take the opportunity to become even louder and talk to you about work, about worries or self-doubts? This is why we specifically combine meditation training and yoga along with CBT.

The term OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) has become quite a popular way of describing perfectionist behaviour. People often say they are ‘a bit OCD’ about one thing or another, such as checking keys, order and symmetry, cleanliness etc. This is all within the normal functional range of behaviour. These things can indeed be useful to a degree, and many of us function quite well with and because of our ‘quirks.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older, or 18% of the population (National Institute of Mental Health) In the UK, In any one year, it is estimated that one in four people will experience a mental health problem and that of these, mixed anxiety and depression are the most common (NICE, UK). So you see, it is incredibly common. CBT for anxiety disorders teaches a person different way of thinking, behaving, and reacting to anxiety–producing and fearful situations. CBT can also help people learn and practice social skills, which is vital for treating social anxiety disorder. CBT remains the clinically recommended frontline treatment for anxiety and mood disorders.

Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder in which a person has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. Some of the most commonly reported social situations — speaking in public, eating or working in front or others, being the centre of attention, interacting with people, giving reports or asking questions in groups — can cause extreme nervousness and almost a paralysis by fear. In many cases, even though the person is conscious that the fear is unwarranted or irrational, he or she is unable to overcome it.

In addition to these psychological symptoms there are also select physical ones, including blushing, sweating, pounding heart, shaking, muscle tension, upset stomach and diarrhea. As quoted by The National Institute for Mental Health (USA), large–scale studies over the past decade have consistently shown CBT to be the only therapy that can be dependably relied upon to help people overcome clinical anxiety disorders.

Post–traumatic stress disorder, better known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Accidents, violent personal assaults, natural or human-engendered disasters, and military combat are among the traumatic ordeals that may trigger PTSD.

The National Institute for Mental Health, US, states: “Not every traumatized person develops ongoing (chronic) or even short–term (acute) PTSD. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some experiences, like the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, can also cause PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with relationships or work to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.”
Research shows that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the most effective type of counselling for PTSD and is offered in the US to veterans who are suffering with this condition (National Centre for PTSD, USA).