Rochelle McCray-Anderson
LPC, SAC-IT
Fax: 414-501-5895
Emphasis in Stress & Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, & Crisis Management
Anxiety
Most people experience feelings of stress and/or anxiety before an important event such as a big exam, business presentation or first date. Anxiety disorders, however, are illnesses that cause people to feel frightened, distressed and uneasy for no apparent reason. Left untreated, these disorders can dramatically reduce productivity and significantly diminish an individual's quality of life
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months; almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it. Accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.
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Panic Disorder: Characterized by panic attacks, sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.
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I provide highly personalized psychotherapy for those struggling with Anxiety conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Whether you’re dealing with loss, divorce, a family member struggling with addiction, or a sudden life or career change, I can assist you in resolving uncomfortable emotions in a way that feels light and empowering.
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Symptoms of anxiety:
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Feeling restless
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Feeling tired
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Difficulty concentrating or losing their train of thought
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Irritability
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Muscle pain, tightness, or soreness
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Difficulty sleeping – both falling asleep/staying asleep or being rested
Depression
Depressive Disorders are a category of mood disorders that involve extended periods of feeling extremely low and disrupt a person’s ability to enjoy life. Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Many things can contribute to clinical depression. For some people, a number of factors seem to be involved, while for others a single factor can cause the illness. Oftentimes, people become depressed for no apparent reason.
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Depression is very treatable, with the overwhelming majority of those who seek treatment showing improvement. The most commonly used treatments are antidepressant medication, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. The choice of treatment depends on the pattern, severity, persistence of depressive symptoms and the history of the illness. As with many illnesses, early treatment is more effective and helps prevent the likelihood of serious recurrences. I provide highly personalized psychotherapy for those struggling with depression disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder and Persistent Depressive Disorder. I can help you find more calm and positivity, and start living life to the full.
Symptoms of depression:
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Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
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Sleeping too much or too little
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Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
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Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed
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Restlessness, irritability
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Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment
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Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
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Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless
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Thoughts of suicide or death
Trauma
Trauma
Anything that is highly stressful to you can be traumatic. Trauma is different for everyone—what seems normal to someone else might be traumatic for you. A traumatic experience can be a threat to your physical safety, like a car accident. It could be something more emotional or social. Trauma can be a onetime event, like a violent attack. Or it can be ongoing, like childhood neglect. Things like abuse, natural disasters, sudden death, bullying, poverty, and discrimination can all induce a trauma response. Most people feel anxious and afraid during and after a traumatic event. Some develop long-term symptoms that impact their day-to-day functioning.
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Common Emotional & Physical Symptoms:
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Fear, anxiety, feeling on edge
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Shock, disbelief
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Confusion, difficulty focusing
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Anger
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Guilt, shame
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Sadness, hopelessness, disconnected or numb
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Feeling like everything is out of your control
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Trouble sleeping, nightmares, fatigue, exhaustion
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Dizziness, shakiness, racing heart, fast breathing
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Body aches/pains, muscle tension
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Increased substance use
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
A psychological disorder. It develops in response to a traumatic event. The body responds to trauma by releasing adrenaline, the stress hormone that triggers “fight or flight” mode. It is common for people to deal with fear and anxiety during and immediately after a traumatic event, while some people will naturally recover with time, others may continue to experience trauma and stress-related symptoms.
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Signs of PTSD:
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Repeatedly thinking about the trauma. You may find that thoughts about the trauma come to mind even when you don’t want them to. You might also have nightmares or flashbacks about the event.
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Being constantly alert or on guard. You may be easily startled or angered, irritable or anxious and preoccupied with staying safe. You might become hyper-aware of your surroundings and see danger everywhere.
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Avoiding reminders of the trauma. You may not want to talk about the event or be around people or places that remind you of the event. You may even forget details about the event or suppress your memories.
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Intense negative emotions and beliefs. You may feel depressed, anxious, guilty, or angry. You might blame yourself for the trauma, or believe that no one can be trusted.
Crisis Management/Other
Crisis can be unpredictable and challenging to process in the moment. If you are receiving counseling services and experiencing a crisis make the attempts to utilize your coping skills, contact your therapist for an emergency session or seek support from natural resources, seek support from a crisis line or psychiatric hospital. I am here to help you get through crisis that may come unexpectedly.
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My practice also includes working with clients experiencing difficult life transitions, feeling “stuck” or seeking a higher quality of life, crisis management, and addiction and sobriety maintenance.