If you’re living in Los Angeles County and dealing with constant worry, persistent sadness, or both at the same time, you’re far from alone. Anxiety and depression are the two most common mental health conditions in the United States, and they frequently occur together—making everyday life feel significantly harder than it should be.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), roughly 31% of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, while approximately 21 million adults have had at least one major depressive episode. Research published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that nearly 60% of people with anxiety also meet criteria for depression, and vice versa.
For LA County’s more than 10 million residents, finding the right treatment can feel overwhelming. Long wait times at county facilities, the sheer geographic sprawl of the region, and uncertainty about where to start are common barriers. This guide is designed to help you understand what co-occurring anxiety and depression looks like, what treatment options are available, and how to take that critical first step toward feeling better.
Understanding Co-Occurring Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are distinct conditions, but they share overlapping neurological pathways and often feed into each other. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) notes that anxiety can develop first and gradually lead to depression as the constant state of worry becomes exhausting. Conversely, the hopelessness of depression can trigger anxiety about the future, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break without professional help.
What anxiety typically looks like:
Persistent, excessive worry that feels disproportionate to the situation. Physical symptoms like a racing heart, muscle tension, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. Avoidance of situations that trigger fear or discomfort. Difficulty concentrating because your mind is constantly anticipating the worst.
What depression typically looks like:
A persistent low mood or sadness that lasts most of the day, nearly every day. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy. Fatigue and low energy, even after adequate sleep. Changes in appetite or weight, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and in severe cases, thoughts of self-harm.
When they occur together:
The combination can be particularly debilitating. You may feel too anxious to relax but too depressed to take action. Sleep disturbances tend to worsen because anxiety keeps you awake while depression makes you want to stay in bed. Social withdrawal often accelerates because neither condition encourages connection. The American Psychological Association (APA) emphasizes that co-occurring anxiety and depression typically requires a different treatment approach than addressing either condition alone—one that targets the shared mechanisms driving both.
Signs It’s Time to Seek Professional Help
Many people in Los Angeles County live with anxiety and depression for months or even years before seeking treatment. The demanding pace of life in LA, combined with cultural stigma around mental health in some communities, often leads people to minimize their symptoms or attribute them to stress.
Consider reaching out for professional support if you’re experiencing any of the following:
Your symptoms have persisted for more than two weeks and aren’t improving on their own. You’re having difficulty performing at work, maintaining relationships, or handling daily responsibilities. You’re relying on alcohol, cannabis, or other substances to manage how you feel. You’ve withdrawn from activities and people you used to enjoy. Your sleep patterns have changed dramatically—either sleeping too much or struggling with insomnia. You feel a sense of dread or hopelessness that doesn’t match your actual circumstances. Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or chronic pain have no clear medical cause.
If you’re experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also contact the LA County Department of Mental Health ACCESS Line at (800) 854-7771 for immediate support.
Treatment Options for Anxiety and Depression in Los Angeles County
Effective treatment for co-occurring anxiety and depression usually involves a combination of therapy, and in some cases, medication management. The right approach depends on the severity of your symptoms, your daily obligations, and your personal preferences. Here’s an overview of what’s available.
Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
Therapy is the cornerstone of anxiety and depression treatment. Several evidence-based approaches have been shown to be highly effective for co-occurring conditions:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is considered the gold standard for both anxiety and depression. CBT works by helping you identify distorted thought patterns—like catastrophizing or all-or-nothing thinking—and replacing them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends CBT as a first-line treatment for both conditions. For LA County residents, CBT is available in individual, group, and telehealth formats.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally developed for borderline personality disorder but has proven highly effective for anxiety and depression, particularly when emotional dysregulation is a core challenge. DBT teaches four key skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills are especially valuable for people who feel overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) takes a different approach. Rather than trying to eliminate anxious or depressive thoughts, ACT helps you develop psychological flexibility—the ability to acknowledge difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them dictate your behavior. Research published in Behaviour Research and Therapy has shown ACT to be particularly effective for people who haven’t responded well to traditional CBT.
EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is especially relevant when anxiety and depression are rooted in past trauma. EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma-related conditions.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) combines elements of CBT with mindfulness and meditation practices. It was specifically designed to prevent depression relapse and has shown strong results for people with recurrent episodes of anxiety and depression. MBCT teaches you to observe your thoughts without getting caught up in them—a skill that’s invaluable when both conditions are present.
Outpatient Levels of Care
For most people with anxiety and depression, outpatient treatment provides the right balance of structured support and real-world integration. There are three main levels of outpatient care, each offering a different intensity:
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) provide the most intensive outpatient care, typically involving five to six hours of treatment per day, five to six days per week. PHP is appropriate for people experiencing severe symptoms that significantly impact daily functioning—for example, someone who is struggling to get through a workday or maintain basic self-care routines. PHP provides structured therapeutic programming during the day while allowing you to return home each evening.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) offer a step down from PHP while still providing substantial therapeutic support. IOP typically involves three to five sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately three hours. This level of care is well-suited for individuals who can maintain some daily responsibilities but need more support than weekly therapy alone can provide. Many programs, including those offered via telehealth, have evening sessions to accommodate work schedules.
Standard Outpatient Programs (OP) provide ongoing therapeutic support for individuals who have stabilized or whose symptoms are manageable but persistent. Outpatient care typically involves one to three sessions per week and is an excellent option for long-term maintenance and continued skill development. It’s also a common entry point for people whose anxiety and depression are interfering with life but don’t require daily treatment.
Medication Management
For moderate to severe cases of co-occurring anxiety and depression, medication can be an important part of treatment. The most commonly prescribed medications include SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), both of which are effective for treating anxiety and depression simultaneously. The American Psychiatric Association notes that combining medication with therapy typically produces better outcomes than either approach alone. Medication management should always be supervised by a qualified psychiatric professional who can monitor your response and adjust dosages as needed.
Holistic and Complementary Approaches
While not replacements for professional treatment, holistic approaches can meaningfully support recovery from anxiety and depression. Regular physical exercise has been shown in studies published by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to reduce symptoms of both conditions. Mindfulness meditation, yoga, structured sleep hygiene, and nutritional adjustments can all complement clinical treatment and improve overall well-being.
The Reality of Accessing Mental Health Care in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the United States, and the scale of mental health need is staggering. Data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) indicates that approximately one in four California adults lives with a mental health condition, and the LA County Department of Mental Health serves hundreds of thousands of individuals annually through its network of directly operated and contracted agencies.
Despite this extensive network, significant gaps remain. County-operated facilities often have multi-week wait times for intake appointments. Geographic barriers are real—a resident of Santa Clarita may face a 90-minute drive to reach a specialized program in South LA. Many county programs prioritize individuals with serious mental illness and Medi-Cal coverage, leaving those with commercial insurance or moderate symptoms in a gray area where they don’t qualify for county services but struggle to find private providers with availability.
These barriers matter because anxiety and depression are progressive conditions. Left untreated, mild symptoms can escalate into crises. What starts as occasional worry and low mood can evolve into panic attacks, inability to work, relationship breakdowns, and in some cases, substance use as a coping mechanism—which adds another layer of complexity through dual diagnosis.
The good news is that the treatment landscape has evolved significantly. Telehealth has made quality mental health care accessible regardless of where you live in LA County. Programs with flexible scheduling—including evening sessions—remove the barrier of fighting traffic to get to an appointment. And many treatment centers now offer rapid admission processes, getting people into care within days rather than weeks.
How to Choose the Right Treatment Program
With so many options in and around Los Angeles County, choosing the right program can feel like its own source of anxiety. Here are the most important factors to consider:
Clinical expertise in co-occurring conditions. Not all therapists or programs specialize in treating anxiety and depression together. Look for providers who explicitly address co-occurring conditions and use integrated treatment models rather than treating each condition separately.
Evidence-based treatment modalities. Ask what specific therapies the program uses. Programs built around CBT, DBT, ACT, and EMDR have the strongest research support for anxiety and depression. Be cautious of programs that rely primarily on unproven methods or vague descriptions of their approach.
Appropriate level of care. A good program will conduct a thorough assessment before recommending a level of care. If a provider immediately recommends their most intensive (and expensive) program without evaluating your specific needs, that’s a red flag.
Flexibility and accessibility. For LA County residents, telehealth availability is a major practical consideration. Programs that offer evening sessions, virtual participation options, and the ability to transition between levels of care as your needs change provide the most sustainable path to recovery.
Accreditation and credentials. Look for programs accredited by The Joint Commission or similar bodies. Verify that therapists are licensed (LCSW, LMFT, PsyD, or PhD) and that psychiatric providers are board-certified.
Insurance acceptance. Understand your coverage before committing. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires most insurance plans to cover mental health services at the same level as medical services. Many quality programs offer free insurance verification to help you understand your benefits before starting treatment.
Why Some LA County Residents Seek Treatment Outside the County
An emerging trend among LA County residents—particularly those in the southern parts of the county—is seeking mental health treatment in neighboring Orange County. There are several practical reasons for this:
Wait times at private outpatient programs in Orange County are often significantly shorter than comparable LA-based programs, with some facilities offering admission within 24 to 48 hours. The competitive landscape in Orange County has produced a high concentration of specialized, accredited behavioral health programs with strong clinical teams.
For residents of Long Beach, Downey, Whittier, Cerritos, Lakewood, and other South LA County communities, the drive to a facility in northern Orange County can be shorter than driving to a program on the Westside or in the San Fernando Valley. When combined with telehealth options that eliminate the commute entirely, the geographic boundary becomes less of a factor than the quality of care and speed of access.
The key is finding a program that understands the unique pressures LA County residents face—cost of living stress, industry-specific challenges, cultural diversity—and can provide flexible treatment that works around the realities of life in LA.
Taking the First Step Toward Treatment
Starting treatment for anxiety and depression can feel daunting, especially when both conditions are sapping your motivation and energy. It’s one of the cruel paradoxes of these conditions: the symptoms themselves make it harder to seek the help that would alleviate them.
Here’s what the process typically looks like:
Step 1: Reach out for an initial assessment. Most quality treatment programs begin with a free, confidential phone assessment. This conversation helps the clinical team understand your symptoms, history, and goals, and allows them to recommend the most appropriate level of care. You don’t need to have a formal diagnosis or referral to make this call.
Step 2: Verify your insurance. Before committing to any program, get a clear understanding of what your insurance covers. Reputable programs will verify your insurance benefits at no cost and explain any out-of-pocket expenses upfront.
Step 3: Begin treatment. With the right program, you can often begin treatment within days of your initial assessment—sometimes the same week. For telehealth-based programs, you may be able to start from home almost immediately.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before making that first call. You don’t need to be in crisis. You just need to be willing to start.
Mental Health Resources for Los Angeles County Residents
Regardless of where you are in your journey, these resources can provide support:
Crisis Resources:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Free, confidential support available 24/7. 988lifeline.org
LA County DMH ACCESS Line: (800) 854-7771. 24/7 crisis assessments, referrals, and access to county mental health services. dmh.lacounty.gov
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Community Support:
NAMI Greater Los Angeles: Support groups, education, and advocacy for individuals and families. Helpline: (800) 950-6264. namiglac.org
LA County 211: Dial 211 for health and human services information and referrals. 211la.org
SAMHSA National Helpline: (800) 662-4357. Free, confidential treatment referrals and information. samhsa.gov
ADAA: Find a therapist, support groups, and educational resources. adaa.org
Treatment Options:
Friendly Recovery Center offers outpatient, IOP, and PHP programs for LA County residents, with telehealth and evening sessions available. Joint Commission accredited, DHCS licensed. Call us for a free, confidential assessment or verify your insurance online.
You Deserve to Feel Better
Living with co-occurring anxiety and depression is exhausting, but it’s also treatable. The combination of evidence-based therapies, flexible program structures, and accessible telehealth options means that effective treatment is within reach for Los Angeles County residents—even if it hasn’t felt that way before.
The most important thing is to start. Whether that means calling a helpline, talking to your primary care doctor, or reaching out to a treatment program directly, every step forward counts. Anxiety and depression may have been running the show for a while, but with the right support, you can take back control.
If you’re ready to explore your options, Friendly Recovery’s mental health treatment programs for Los Angeles County are designed to meet you where you are—with compassion, clinical expertise, and the flexibility that life in LA demands.
