Has Anxiety Taken Control of Your Life?
Is there a persistent feeling of dread looming over you that makes it difficult to face the day? Are you paralyzed by constant worry about every aspect of your life? Do you wish you could somehow turn off these anxious feelings and not be overwhelmed anymore?
With anxiety, it can seem like you’re always worrying about something—relationships, finances, career, health, your appearance. You may recognize that the thoughts churning incessantly through your mind are irrational, yet it feels like you have no control over them. You might even experience panic attacks or anxiety attacks that cause physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, and shallow breathing. Maybe you’ve found yourself in the emergency room as a result of these symptoms.
You might feel especially frustrated with the situation because you’ve worked hard to attain a level of success that you thought would finally make you happy, only to see that your distress has intensified. Instead of feeling satisfied with what you’ve accomplished, you feel restless and overwhelmed. Because you are so desperate to turn off these anxious feelings, you may try to find relief with alcohol or drugs, but self-medicating isn’t working for you.
Fortunately, therapy can help you break free from the symptoms of anxiety, so that you can breathe easier and start enjoying all the great things life has to offer.
Anxiety Is A Common and Natural Byproduct Of The Demanding World We Live In
Anxiety is one of the most frequently diagnosed mental health disorders in the US, affecting roughly 40 million adults. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive effective treatment.
What’s more, we live in a culture that is a breeding ground for stressors that fuel anxiety. Stress is a normal part of everyday life, but when we experience stress that is heightened and prolonged, the result can be psychologically, emotionally, and even physically damaging. Anxiety manifests in many ways—through genetics, loss, trauma, major life transitions and extended periods of stress at work or home—all of these factors can impact the level of anxiety we experience.
In addition, the prevalence of social media, fast-paced lifestyles, and high-pressure work environments places unrealistic standards upon us. When we fail to meet these standards, it can leave us feeling angry, guilty, and ashamed. There are times when you may feel that satisfaction hasn’t followed the achievement in your life. Despite working hard to accomplish our culture’s perception of “success,” you remain feeling stressed out and anxious.
You may have put off seeking anxiety treatment because you have concluded that this is how our brains are wired and that nothing will change. You might feel ashamed for needing therapy because it means admitting you need help. Or perhaps you figure out your own ways to handle anxious thoughts and behaviors. Although they may work for a while, eventually these coping mechanisms usually wane in their effectiveness and only serve to reinforce avoidant and anxious behaviors.
The good news is that, with the help of an experienced, supportive therapist, you can take control of your anxiety and find long-lasting relief from the symptoms of anxiety affecting you.
Treatment For Anxiety Will Help You Build A Calm, Strong Mind
When we want to get our bodies in shape, we hire a professional trainer. In much the same way, you can think of an anxiety counselor as a personal trainer for your mind. When you can no longer get your anxiety under control on your own, it’s time to seek help.
Anxiety therapy is an opportunity to examine and address the patterns of negative self-talk, self-limiting behaviors, and irrational thoughts that underlie your symptoms. Through supportive self-exploration, we can begin to change the thoughts and behaviors that have kept you stuck in the cycle of anxiety and replace them with new, more positive ones.
At our initial session, we will discuss your chief concerns and establish your treatment goals and objectives. As we begin our work together, I aim to be warm, relational and non-judgmental—you can rest assured that you have a safe space to talk confidentially about whatever is going on. I will be there to guide you through every step of your journey.
In ongoing sessions, we will work together to identify the potential root causes of your anxiety—when and how it started, the impact it has on you today, and the potential for future outcomes. From there, you will gradually recognize how your negative patterns of thinking present themselves and learn different techniques for managing them.
In our work together, you will learn how to effectively calm yourself and stay present and mindful when stress hits and be able to cope with symptoms when heightened anxiety sets in. Over time, your brain will create new neurological pathways, which in turn will result in long-lasting reductions in your anxiety levels.
I utilize various evidence-based modalities to treat anxiety, including Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). With MI, I will ask you questions about your anxiety so that you get to verbalize it and repeat your thoughts back to me and, in so doing, be able to hear and process how anxiety has been affecting you. By asking you the right questions, we will be able to pinpoint the root causes of your anxiety and determine the best methods for you to find relief.
CBT is a leading treatment for anxiety that explores how thoughts, feelings, and actions are interconnected. Once you identify the negative thought patterns that foster your anxious behavior, you will learn coping skills to diminish these negative patterns and prevent the cycle of anxiety from starting.
With therapy, you can experience relief, cultivate better relationships, and enjoy greater satisfaction in your life.
But you may still be wondering whether anxiety treatment is right for you…
I doubt anxiety therapy will help me.
I would ask you to consider how long anxiety has been negatively affecting your life. Long-term anxiety can be a very powerful force that is unlikely to go away by itself. Evidence-based practice has demonstrated that certain therapeutic interventions can be highly effective in treating anxiety symptoms. We can work together to identify how anxiety impacts you and establish a personalized plan for treatment so that you can experience relief.
I’ve always felt this way—how can I possibly change?
It’s never too late to make profound changes in the way we feel and react to the world. In fact, our brains have the ability to form new neural pathways throughout our lives. Through brain neuroplasticity, we can change how we react to stressful situations and experience relief from anxiety symptoms. With treatment, it is possible for you to function in your daily life with more harmony and ease, free from the stress and discomfort that you may have grown accustomed to.
I can’t afford anxiety counseling.
Treatment is an investment, but the results can be priceless. I have helped numerous people learn how to navigate and overcome their anxiety. My job as your therapist is to be there with you every step of the way as you work to conquer your anxiety and start living the life you always wanted.
You Can Break The Cycle Of Anxiety In Your Life
When you break the cycle of anxiety, a whole new way of living awaits you. For a free, 15-minute consultation, please visit the contact page.
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