Anxiety Treatment
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress and is an expected part of life. Anxiety represents important emotional data that tells us when we are potentially in danger or at risk. A degree of anxiety is necessary for healthy functioning. It is normal to occasionally worry about finances, career, relationships, etc. However, anxiety that involves more than temporary worry or fear, that gets worse over time, can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, interpersonal relationships, and overall health.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). More than 40 million adults in the U.S experience anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders manifest as a result of complex risk factors including genetics, personality, brain chemistry, and life events. Even though anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only 37% of individuals with anxiety disorders seek treatment (ADAA).
What are the signs of anxiety?
Two of the most common anxiety disorders that I treat are generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
-
Feeling restless, keyed-up or on edge
-
Feeling easily fatigued
-
Being irritable
-
Difficulty concentrating or experiencing the sensation of your mind going blank
-
Struggling with controlling feelings of worry
-
Having sleep problems, such as trouble with falling or staying asleep or experiencing restless sleep
-
Having muscle tension
Signs of Panic Disorder:
-
Accelerated heart rate or feeling as if your heart is pounding
-
Sweating
-
Trembling or shaking
-
Tingling sensations
-
Shortness of breath or feeling like you’re choking
-
Feeling out of control
-
Abdominal distress
-
Chest pain
-
Fear of dying
-
Persistent worry about having another panic attack
-
Avoidance of certain people, places, or things for fear of it triggering a panic attack
Anxiety Treatment
My approach to anxiety combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Our automatic thoughts tend to be critical and judgmental. When left unexamined, these automatic thoughts become our sense of reality even when those thoughts do not have any evidence to indicate their validity. If we tell ourselves repeatedly that we are unlovable, stupid, or annoying, over time we start to automatically assume this to be true. Through therapy, you start to identify that the automatic thoughts misrepresent reality. By increasing insight, we learn to disconnect from these automatic thoughts and start examining them from a more rational lens.
When you can relate to your thoughts differently, let go of trying to control everything around you, and do the things that are most important to you, you experience more psychological freedom.
Contact me today if you want to learn more.