Anxiety Therapy

Has Anxiety Taken Over Your Life?

Do you feel stressed over your job, relationships, or other responsibilities? Do you find yourself constantly worrying about failure or not living up to your own expectations? Maybe you find yourself concerned about projects or events that you—logically—know should turn out fine.

Perhaps you have had trouble sleeping due to racing thoughts, or you wake up in a panic. You may spend all night thinking about how you could have handled certain conversations better. Maybe you dread getting up in the morning because you worry about the stressors that will follow you during the day.

Conversely, feelings of stress and worry may make it difficult for you to see family and friends. Do you feel a sense of anxiety when trying to call them? Maybe you cancel plans at the last minute because you feel “not up to it,” or maybe you forgo informing them and simply do not show up. You want to socialize, but you find it too overwhelming having to deal with people, even if these are people that you care about. 

Due to all the stress and worries, you may feel like you have started to lose control of your life. There are a lot of things you would probably like to do, but anxiety may make that difficult. You probably just want to be able to relax and enjoy life the way others do, but you don’t know how. 

Anxiety Disorders Are Extremely Common

Anxiety is a natural phenomenon that most people will face at some point during their lifetime. Beyond that, though, about 40 million Americans struggle with some sort of anxiety disorder, from OCD to generalized anxiety disorder. This means you are certainly not alone.

While a lot of people struggle with anxiety, many prefer not to talk about it. In some ways, this can be traced back to the anxiety itself, as it can cause people to worry that they will look weak or that others will judge them because of their struggles. Sadly, due to this many people will choose to suffer in silence rather than reach out.

Additionally, many family and friends do not entirely understand how to support loved ones dealing with anxiety disorders. Even with the best of intentions, they can sometimes accidentally say the wrong thing or cause an individual to be more uncertain about explaining their problem.

It can be even more difficult for high functioning individuals with anxiety. High functioning people with anxiety are often misunderstood, as they seem to function just fine and are able to keep up the appearance of everything being okay. Inside, however, they may be struggling with anxiety just as intense as others.

It may be frightening for sufferers to reach out because of several reasons. However, many individuals struggling with anxiety have found it incredibly helpful to have someone to talk to that understands them, knowing that they will not be judged based on the worries and concerns they may express.

Anxiety Therapy Can Provide A Safe Space To Heal

Therapy is an effective tool in treating anxiety because it allows you to talk to someone. Many people who deal with anxiety are reluctant to speak about their issues, and so they bottle their worries up inside. However, this only causes stress to continue building up, and can make the anxiety worse. Talking to a therapist provides clarity in your head by speaking about your problems and helps you find ways to rationalize irrational thoughts that often are the root cause of anxiety. This can be cathartic and a huge relief on your stress and worries. 

I offer a warm, non-judgmental space for you to speak about your anxiety. I will help you explore your situation and get clarity in your head so that you can learn more about how to handle your anxiety.

Since every person is different, my sessions are tailored directly to you. Some individuals simply need someone to talk to and have their experiences validated. Others would prefer to have guidance on how to normalize their thought process.

I use a diverse form of therapy for a similar reason. Some of the modalities I offer include:

●      Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
●      Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
●      Solution Focused Therapy (SFT)
●      Mindfulness Therapy
●      Positive Psychology

We may also engage in a number of exercises—such as meditation or deep breathing techniques—to help you learn how to control your anxiety in everyday life.

Regardless of the type of therapy you prefer, I will always try to offer coping techniques to help you manage anxiety in your daily life. For example, I may suggest you create a schedule to help you focus on tasks, or I may teach you how to normalize irrational thoughts and look at them more objectively. I will also encourage you to practice self-care, such as getting exercise, doing things you enjoy, or getting out of the house with friends and family.

I also specialize in working with highly sensitive individuals who often suffer from depression and anxiety. If you are such an individual, then you know that you are mostly misunderstood as being oversensitive. However, you are likely just more receptive to your surroundings and respond according to your feelings. Let me help you live a more enjoyable life by learning coping techniques to manage your symptoms.

Through my many years of experience working with people who have to deal with anxiety, I have become very familiar with anxiety triggers and know how best to avoid them. Additionally, I am an individual with high-functioning anxiety myself, so it is very easy for me to relate to the struggles you may be going through.

Anxiety can be a debilitating issue, and it is not something that will go away overnight. However, once you are able to speak about your problems, put proper coping mechanisms into place, and understand how to avoid triggers, the condition is very manageable. With the help of therapy, you can enjoy life without having worries constantly hanging over your head.

You may still have reservations about anxiety therapy…

I feel like going to therapy means I have failed.

Seeking therapy for an issue you are struggling with does not make you weak or a failure. In fact, it takes incredible strength to be able to understand when you need help and then seek it. Additionally, pursuing therapy means that you want to do what is best for yourself, which is incredibly admirable.

I am not convinced therapy will really be helpful.

When a therapist is willing to listen without judgment, therapy can be incredibly effective because you don’t feel you are in this alone. It puts someone in your corner that really knows how to manage anxiety. However, this is a two-way street—you must also put in the necessary work for healing to start. When both these things are achieved, anxiety is very manageable.

Does this mean I have to talk to others about my anxiety?

No one has to know about your problems if you do not want them to know. Therapy is entirely confidential; nothing you say to me in sessions will leave the room. I will also never pressure you into doing anything you are uncomfortable with; you can move at whatever pace feels best to you.

Learn More About Anxiety Therapy

If you still have questions about anxiety counseling, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation at 972-677-9210 or scheudle through my contact page. I am happy to address any concerns you might have and to help you start overcoming anxiety.