Therapy for Anxiety
- Do you experience feelings of nervousness, sometimes for no apparent reason?
- Do you experience physical symptoms like an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, and an overall feeling of dread?
- Do you have repetitive thoughts that are sometimes disturbing and difficult to stop?
- Do you feel compelled to repeatedly engage in certain behaviors and feel anxious if you do not?
- Are you avoidant?
- Do you often have a sense of restlessness?
- Do you have difficulty sleeping?
- Are you forgetful?
- Do you experience gastrointestinal problems?
- Do you feel uncomfortable in new situations or around new people?
- Have you experienced a trauma, the memory of which continues to negatively impact you and your functioning?
Feeling anxious is not an uncommon experience. In fact, feeling uneasy when encountering a new situation or threatening situation can actually be adaptive and self-protective. However, a persistent sense of being nervous can feel extremely unpleasant and include negative side effects, like an increased heart rate, agitation and irritability, a feeling of panic, and avoidant behavior. Finding ways to understand and manage our feelings of anxiety can be a great relief and help us be more functional.
What is therapy for anxiety like?
Therapy for anxiety can help you understand what has historically contributed to your anxiety. You may work with the therapist to further understand the root causes and contributors to your anxiety. Additionally, you may work on increasing your awareness so you can notice what you may inadvertently be doing to perpetuate your anxiety. With therapy you can learn specific coping techniques to help you manage your anxiety effectively. Such techniques may include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness exercises, and methods that help you think differently. Anxiety is a highly treatable condition that when reduced can help you return to a happier life.
Benefits of therapy for anxiety
- Understand the root causes/contributors of your anxiety
- Learn to identify your anxiety by gaining awareness of what you experience physically, emotionally, and mentally when anxious
- Identify triggers to your anxiety
- Develop coping skills to manage your anxiety
- Enjoy decreased anxiety and greater comfort and functioning
Types of anxiety that I treat include:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder/Panic Attacks
- Phobias
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)