Signs of Anxiety and Depression

EMDR For Dummies

Everyone worries and experiences sadness but when these feelings consume you and affect how you relate to people and situations, you could be dealing with anxiety and depression. Go through this list of possible indicators of emotional distress and check all that apply to you (the more you check, the more serious the possible problem):

I worry all the time.
I feel like a total loser.
My appetite isn’t what it should be.
I feel like I can’t catch my breath.
I don’t look forward to anything.
I’m a very nervous person.
I can’t think as well as I should.
I feel a lot of guilt.
I’m not interested in doing anything.
I feel hopeless.
I have a lot of fears.
My sleep is disturbed.
I’ve been having thoughts about death lately.
I avoid friends and social situations.
I can’t make decisions about anything.
I don’t have any energy lately.
My mood has been really low.
Sometimes I feel panicky.
My heart races for no reason at all.

If you think you may have a problem with serious depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide, please seek a professional consultation promptly.

About This Article

About the book author:

Charles H. Elliott, Ph.D. (Corrales, New Mexico) is a clinical psychologist and a Founding Fellow in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. He is also a member of the faculty at Fielding Graduate University. He specializes in the treatment of adolescents and adults with obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, anger, depression, and personality disorders. He presents nationally and internationally on new developments in the assessment and therapy of emotional disorders.

Laura L. Smith, Ph.D. (Corrales, New Mexico) is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment and treatment of adults and children with obsessive compulsive disorder, as well as personality disorders, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and learning disorders. She is often asked to provide consultations to attorneys, school districts, and governmental agencies. She presents workshops on cognitive therapy and mental health issues to national and international audiences.

Aaron T. Beck, MD, is an American psychiatrist who is professor emeritus in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. He is regarded as the father of both cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.