Anxiety:

Do You Find Yourself Worrying All the Time, Often Expecting the Worst?

If you answer yes to one or more  of the following questions, you might be considering anxiety therapy.

• • • Do you worry about people’s reactions to and judgments about you? Do you dread or avoid social situations because of these worries?

• • • Do you stress about your performance at work, compare yourself to others and feel inadequate in your job?

• • • Does it seem that your resources are insufficient to meet your obligations?

• • • Are you often keyed up or on edge, unable to feel calm or present in the moment?

• • • Have you experienced the symptoms of a panic attack, such as shaking, nausea, a racing heart or the sensation that you are dying?

• • • Do you wish you could enjoy a social gathering, feel confident at work and more fully engage with all aspects of your life?

IFeelings of anxiety and panic often interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control and cause prolonged distress. It might be difficult to distinguish between a perceived danger and an actual danger, especially when your body, mind, and emotions all seem to be in a state of alarm. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings, even if that means missing out on opportunities or things you enjoy.

Perhaps you think of yourself in highly negative and critical ways, and you find it unbearable to be in front of others, as it seems as though they are staring at you and judging you. You might worry about fitting in, or isolate yourself because social situations are just too painful. It may be that you want to feel calm, confident and at ease, but you don’t know how to bring yourself relief.

Many People Struggle With Anxiety

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, over 15 million Americans suffer from social anxiety. In addition, GAD, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1 percent of the U.S. population, in any given year. Women are twice as likely to be affected as men. And, one individual can struggle with a combination of different disorders and symptoms.

Anxiety, worry and stress are all parts of most people’s lives today. But simply experiencing anxiety or stress in and of itself does not mean you need to get professional help or you have an anxiety disorder. In fact, anxiety is a necessary warning signal of a dangerous or difficult situation. Without anxiety, we would have no way of anticipating difficulties ahead and preparing for them. For example, anxiety helps you pay your bills on time.

However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). These intrusive worries and distress signals can make it difficult to feel secure in yourself, trust in your potential or pursue your ideal life. With the help of a skilled anxiety counselor, you can identify the root source of stress, shift your perspective and find lasting relief with anxiety therapy.

Anxiety Therapy Can Help You Foster Calm and Confidence

In anxiety therapy sessions, we will also focus on getting to know one another. In order to best serve you, I want to hear about your personal experiences with anxiety. We can discuss situations or things that commonly trigger anxious thoughts and feelings, and you can leave the office equipped with some individualized plans to manage that distress right away.

A combination of therapies–including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), mindfulness and relaxation techniques, education about how anxiety functions and exploration of your individual cognitive or thinking patterns–can be every successful in creating long-term anxiety relief.

CBT and REBT work by helping you identify and change thoughts and behaviors that feed into anxiety. I also utilize Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). This approach utilizes feelings and body sensations rather than thoughts. The mindfulness approach to working with anxiety allows you to gently accept and feel your experience without being overwhelmed by it

Working with an anxiety therapist, you can better understand the root of your anxiety symptoms, discover new resiliency and alleviate the fears limiting your life. It is possible to discover lasting ease and relief.

You may believe that anxiety counseling can help you live with greater ease, but still have questions or concerns…

Isn’t anxiety therapy expensive? 

Are you enjoying the way you live your life now, or do you find that anxiety is really limiting you? You may find that your daily life is a constant state of worry and fear. Only you can decide how valuable your well-being and peace of mind is. You deserve to live your life with peace and calm. Anxiety treatment is an investment in your long-term well-being.

Why do I experience these problems when my friends seem so at ease?

You may be surprised to find that your friends have suffered too. People have different levels of reactivity in their central nervous systems, so your friends may have a lower stress response than you. That does not mean that you are insufficient or broken. Each person feels and reacts to stress differently. Your friends may have found successful techniques and strategies to overcome anxiety disorders. In anxiety therapy, I will help you to do the same.

I am really anxious about my upcoming appointment – change is scary.

Usually, when people decide to come to see a counselor, their lives have become distressing and unmanageable in some way. It is a brave step to seek professional help. It demonstrates a willingness to sculpt a new way of interacting with your world. The risk of change is worthwhile when you consider the profound benefits that are within your grasp. You can enter a brighter, more empowered future.

With Anxiety Treatment, You Can Find New Freedom and Peace

If you want to make some changes, get your anxiety under control and live the life you desire, I invite you to call today to set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation or an appointment at (941) 306 1235 or email me at [email protected].

I look forward to hearing from you.