Thursday, October 1, 2026
Anxiety, depression and stress touch nearly everyone at some point in life, and recognizing the warning signs early can make a critical difference. That was the message neuropsychologist Gonzalo Vazquez-Casals told attendees Tuesday evening at the Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club of Locust Valley.
The presentation, titled “A Conversation on Anxiety, Depression and Stress,” was part of the club’s Community Cares Conversation series, held in partnership with Glen Cove Hospital.
Melissa Rhodes, the club’s executive director, opened the event by welcoming residents and thanking Vazqeuz-Casals for continuing the community health initiative.
“He is addressing a very important topic that I think we all have some kind of connection to; stress, anxiety and depression,” Rhodes said. “We're using the acronym SAD, but I am glad that you are here with us, and we're going to have hopefully a very engaging conversation.”
Vazquez-Casals, a neuropsychologist in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Glen Cove Hospital, said the discussion is to help people better understand conditions that are often misunderstood.
“All of us… have had any relationship with any of these things; stress, anxiety or depression,” he said. “That’s part of the human experience.”
He pointed to the importance of distinguishing between healthy emotions and clinical disorders. Vazquez-Casals noted that temporary sadness or nervousness does not necessarily indicate a mental health disorder.
During the presentation, he outlined the major components of anxiety, including emotional, cognitive, behavioral and physical symptoms.
“There’s an emotional component that is about the nervousness, the apprehension, in some cases, a sense of impending doom,” he said. “There’s a cognitive component that is worrying about the future, catastrophizing, thinking about the worst happening.”
He added that avoidance of situations and physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations and dizziness are also common features. Vazquez-Casals described anxiety as “a fact of life,” explaining that it has evolutionary roots and was essential for our distant ancestors’ survival.
Despite this, he noted that anxiety disorders are widespread in modern life, citing national and global statistics. About one in five adults in the United States experiences some form of anxiety disorder.
He also pointed to the lasting mental health effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, saying rates of anxiety and depression rose significantly in the years following 2020.
The discussion then turned to depression, which he described as more severe and persistent than ordinary sadness. He explained that a major depressive episode is marked by at least a week, and more commonly two weeks, of persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, and in some cases thoughts of death.
Throughout the evening, attendees asked questions ranging from panic attacks to how loved ones can intervene when someone is struggling, including what families should do if a person is in crisis but cannot get a prompt doctor’s appointment.
“If it’s really, really bad, for example, someone that has suicidal ideation, that person has to go to the emergency room immediately,” Vazquez-Casals replied. “Without any hesitation, the recommendation is go to the emergency room.”
He gave similar advice for severe panic attacks, noting that physical causes such as cardiac issues should first be ruled out.
Judith Rivera of Sea Cliff also asked about alternative coping methods, including meditation and yoga.
“Meditation and relaxation are excellent tools and things that are going to help you to be in the present moment,” Vazquez-Casals responded.
He added that simple actions such as taking a walk, visiting a park, spending time with a pet or calling a close friend can also help reduce anxiety.
A significant portion of the talk focused on warning signs families and friends should watch for, including persistent worry, social withdrawal, irritability, sleep disruption and physical complaints without a clear medical cause.
For depression, he pointed to “persistent sadness, emptiness and hopelessness,” as well as loss of interest in hobbies, fatigue, appetite changes and negative self-talk.
“When the person is engaging in negative talk, like talking about feeling of being of low value with low self-worth or expressing frequent guilt or self-blame,” he said, “all those things are important signs.”
Vazquez-Casals emphasized that loved ones are often the first line of support, through practices like “active listening.” He described active listening as being fully present, reflecting back what a person is expressing and responding without judgment.
He also encouraged family members to help with practical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accompanying loved ones to therapy and assisting with day-to-day responsibilities when symptoms become overwhelming.
He said community organizations, support groups and local health providers all play an important role in creating connection and reducing isolation.
“We are not meant to be alone,” he said. “One of the biggest elements to remain sane is having company.”
To learn more about the Community Cares Conversation series, visit GBBGC.org.
