Anxiety Therapy
Does Your Anxiety Cause Emotional Turmoil?
Are you a perfectionist that overthinks everything and gets stuck in the details of life? Have chronic worry and intrusive thoughts become daily occurrences that keep you awake at night and affect your physical health? Do you tend to feel insecure in your relationships, always preoccupied with what others may think of you?
When you’re anxious, it can feel like most facets of your life are plagued by uncertainty and doubt. Rather than making decisions confidently, you may procrastinate, fear even moderate risk-taking, or second-guess yourself after making a choice. Feeling out of control and imagining the worst-case scenario of any given situation may spur an impulsive need to micromanage everything you do.
You May Struggle With Social Anxiety
Perhaps social interactions are challenging for you and you become anxious at the thought of attending events or having to give a presentation at work. And with close relationships, maybe you can’t escape the pervasive sense that the other shoe will drop at any moment, leading to a sense of abandonment or loss. Your insecurity may prompt you to check in with your partner constantly, which may, in turn, cause further friction in the relationship.
You may not realize how living in this emotionally-heightened state could be taking a toll on your physical health. Perhaps you suffer from distressing symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, nervous stomach, insomnia, and panic attacks. Additionally, your high-stress level could be an underlying cause for other chronic illnesses like high blood pressure.
If only you felt confident and secure in yourself and could stop worrying about every little thing, you could finally break free from the grip of fear that holds you back. In therapy, you can acknowledge your anxiety and feel seen, heard, and recognized. Whether Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or social anxiety lays at the crux of your issues, treatment can help.
Anxiety Affects People Of All Ages
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) reports …
“Approximately 40 million adults aged 18 and older—or 18.1 percent of the population—are affected by anxiety disorders in any given year,” making it the most common mental health condition in the United States. [1] ”
And among emerging and young adults, anxiety is also prevalent.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology found
“31.9 percent of individuals aged 18 to 29 experienced at least one anxiety disorder in their lifetime. [2] ”
We Have Become A Socially Isolating Culture
Fundamentally, humans are social creatures—historically, we’ve found strength and security in community and connection. However, the American “success story” we’ve been raised to believe is that in order to prosper, we must be strong, independent, and self-sufficient. The social disconnection our “lone wolf” ethos has spawned exacerbates isolation, leaving many of us feeling like we face the threats of the world alone.
Sadly, the more alone we are, the more overwhelming the experience of anxiety can be. But ironically, anxiety can make us fear human connection. For many, anxiety quickly becomes a self-compounding problem, like a snake eating its tail.
What’s more, today’s fast-paced lifestyle and the pressure to keep up leaves many of us feeling overwhelmed. Our constant exposure to social media platforms can lead to unhealthy comparisons and feelings of inadequacy. And our reliance on technology can blur the boundaries between work and personal life, adding to our already overtaxed mental load.
Developing a trusting and empathic relationship with your counselor can help you break free from the cycle of social isolation and fear of connection that often accompanies anxiety. With therapy, you can experience what it feels like to live a day without the weight of anxiety resting on your shoulders.
Anxiety Therapy Will Be Tailored To Your Needs
Anxiety can be both paralyzing and energizing in the ways it impacts you. As a survival mechanism, anxiety can energize you to focus your attention, take action, and be productive. But on its flip side, too much anxiety can flood you with crippling fear and doubt.
Anxiety therapy provides a space where we allow things to get messy, be examined, and then be put back together in a more organized and helpful manner. Our aim in psychotherapy will be to teach you how to create safety within your relationships, regulate negative feelings, and reorganize your experiences to help you better manage and learn from your anxiety.
What To Expect In Sessions
Because anxiety can present in so many different ways, we never take a cookie-cutter approach to treatment. However, in general, we will initially focus on symptom management by developing strategies, skills, and practices to help you tackle the internal crises your anxiety creates.
Longer-term goals will be concerned with meaning-making, identity, and lifelong functioning. Having a deeper understanding of the unmet needs that lie underneath your symptoms will help you gain new insight into yourself. As this understanding develops, we will explore new and meaningful ways to address those unmet needs. We will aim to get you to a place where you will see your symptoms as a signal to pay attention to the things that matter most.
Anxiety Counseling Offers You The Skills You Need To Cope
Throughout sessions, we may draw from different strategies to address your anxiety, including:
Managing barriers to success, such as reliance on substances, overeating, or other unhealthy behaviors;
Developing a stronger risk tolerance for engaging in anxiety-inducing situations;
Supporting better social and communication skills by building up self-esteem and self-awareness;
Identifying what triggers your anxiety and exploring the underlying reasons for them;
Utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety to help challenge negative or distorted beliefs and thoughts that fuel anxious behavior;
Creating new neural pathways that lead to connection instead of isolation;
Deep breathing exercises and somatic-based interventions that acknowledge the mind-body connection and help you control nervous system regulation;
Developing more useful coping strategies, such as paying attention to your behaviors when in pain and recognizing that although the behavior is not desirable, it is a functional reflection of your unmet need.
Anxiety doesn’t have to be isolating—it is a common human experience that many individuals encounter. With the proper support and guidance provided in counseling, it is entirely possible to manage and overcome anxiety. Embracing this process can lead to newfound strengths, resilience, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Anxiety Therapy Is Right For You…
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Our goal in anxiety counseling is quite the opposite—we want you to feel seen, validated, and connected. Seeking help shows strength and courage on your part. Taking the risk to be seen is all part of the healing journey. It represents a step towards self-improvement and taking care of your well-being. As therapists, we are dedicated to supporting your journey to overcome anxiety and achieve a more balanced and positive emotional state.
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There is no magic bullet that can solve anxiety. However, therapy can greatly benefit you if you are receptive to exploring the underlying causes of your anxiety, eager to develop coping strategies, and committed to personal growth. We have witnessed our clients make significant gains in how they show up for themselves and embrace life. Anxiety does not have to hold you back from living your best life—therapy is a great tool that can help in this journey.
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We understand that reliance on medication is a complex and individualized decision. For some, taking medication for anxiety may not be a viable option, while others find it liberating. All decisions surrounding your treatment will be collaborative. Medication decisions are best made with a qualified healthcare professional who understands your unique situation and needs. It will be essential for us to discuss your concerns and preferences to determine the best approach for you.
Anxiety Doesn’t Have To Weigh You Down Anymore
Getting your anxiety in check can help you cultivate a deeper wisdom about yourself. To find out more about Anxiety Therapy with Praxis, visit our contact page or call 626-578-5803 to schedule a free 15-minute call.
[1] https://nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders
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