When worry, fear, or low mood starts running the day, support can help.
Depression and anxiety can look different from person to person. Symptoms may affect sleep, appetite, concentration, relationships, work, physical health, and the ways someone tries to cope.
Two conditions that often travel together.
Depression and anxiety are common and treatable. Depression can show up as persistent sadness, emptiness, or a loss of interest in things that used to matter. Anxiety can involve worry that is hard to control, restlessness, panic symptoms, or avoidance. Many people experience elements of both at the same time.
Neither condition is a character flaw or a failure of willpower. Both can be shaped by biology, life events, medical conditions, substances, stress, and sleep — often several at once. That is why an unhurried evaluation, rather than a quick label, is the starting point at Icare.
Reasons to consider an evaluation.
Symptoms deserve attention when they are persistent, worsening, causing distress, interfering with daily life, or leading to unhealthy coping.
- 01
Ongoing sadness or loss of interest
- 02
Excessive worry or panic symptoms
- 03
Avoiding people, places, or responsibilities
- 04
Sleep or appetite changes
- 05
Difficulty concentrating or low energy
- 06
Irritability, physical tension, or using substances to cope
What the first appointment looks like.
There is no need to arrive with the right vocabulary or a tidy explanation. The visit is a conversation, not an interrogation.
- 01
You describe what has been happening in your own words, at your own pace.
- 02
The clinician asks about mood, worry, sleep, appetite, energy, and how symptoms affect your day.
- 03
Medical history and current medications are reviewed, since some health conditions and medicines can affect mood.
- 04
Substance use, life stressors, and past treatment are discussed when relevant.
- 05
You and the clinician talk through impressions and possible options together.
- 06
You leave with a plan and a clear sense of what happens next.
Treatment can combine several approaches.
Depending on the evaluation, care may include therapy, medication, sleep and lifestyle strategies, medical evaluation, substance-use treatment, or a coordinated combination.
Therapy
Structured counseling approaches that build practical skills for managing mood and worry.
Medication
Considered when clinically appropriate, always with follow-up and plain-language explanation.
Sleep support
Because sleep and mood strongly influence each other, in both directions.
Medical evaluation
Checking for health conditions that can mimic or worsen depression and anxiety.
Substance-use support
When alcohol or other substances have become part of coping.
Care coordination
Keeping mental-health and primary-care treatment connected within one team.
Common questions about getting started.
Do I have to take medication?+
No. Medication is one option among several, and decisions are made with you, not for you. Some people do well with therapy alone, some with medication, and some with a combination — it depends on the evaluation and your preferences.
What if my symptoms might be medical rather than mental health?+
You don’t have to sort that out before calling. Because Icare offers both primary care and mental-health services, the evaluation can consider physical health, medications, and mood together — and testing may be recommended when it would clarify the picture.
What if I’m nervous about the first appointment?+
Feeling anxious about seeking help for anxiety is understandable, and clinicians expect it. You can bring notes or a support person, share only what you are ready to share, and ask questions at any point.
Can visits happen by telehealth?+
Telehealth may be an option for some visits, depending on clinical appropriateness and other requirements. See the telehealth page or call 702-988-3177 to ask.