Anxiety Therapy
Are you consumed with worry and fear about so many things that it’s difficult to just get through the day?
Have you noticed feeling restless or on edge for no specific reason you can figure out?
Is it challenging to focus on tasks because your mind feels scattered and all over the place?
Do you have nervous habits you feel embarrassed about and can’t seem to control?
Have others mentioned you seem irritable recently and quick to annoy?
Are you often filled with dread as your mind constantly plays out worst-case scenarios?
Anxiety Has Become the New Norm
According to the World Health Organization, following the pandemic, there was a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 31.1% of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.
For many of us, having an anxiety disorder is not just a possibility; it’s an inevitability. Given the significant stresses many of us have endured globally, nationally, and personally in the past several years, it’s no surprise anxiety is a top concern for so many.
It’s important to keep in mind that some anxiety is normal. In some situations, anxiety is a natural emotional response to stress and while it is common to experience occasional anxiety in certain situations, such as before an important presentation, job interview, or new social situation, anxiety becomes a concern when it becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily functioning.
At times anxiety can be helpful as it can motivate us to be more alert or focused and challenge us to do our best. Unfortunately, though, anxiety can also swing in the other direction and we can feel immobilized, paralyzed, or trapped by it so much so our lives can become very small as a result.
Anxiety Has Many Faces
Anxiety feels like fear on steroids and makes you worry about things that haven’t happened but could happen. Anxiety convinces you not only the worst could happen but also, it’s bound to happen.
Like an uninvited and unwelcome guest, anxiety shows up when you least expect it. And even when you do expect it, it really doesn’t make it much better. Anxiety rears its head in every part of our lives including work, home, and our relationships. Anxiety not only shows up in our present day to day lives but also in thoughts of our future.
Anxiety comes in all shapes and sizes. It can show up as negative thoughts or insecurities about yourself when you’re spending time with either people you know very well or completely new people (social anxiety). Anxiety can appear unexpectedly as a tsunami of symptoms taking over your body such as deep fear, racing heart, and shortness of breath (panic attack). Anxiety can look like being afraid to drive or fly (phobias) or sometimes for no particular reason at all (generalized anxiety).
Then there’s the cherry on top: when anxiety becomes such a way of living, that even when you’re lucky enough to experience a respite from the anxiety, you have to deal with getting anxious about getting anxious.
Let's Discuss How To Manage Your Anxiety
Anxiety Isn’t A Choice
It can be difficult for people around you to understand what you’re going through and it doesn’t help that you are also secretly judging yourself. You may get messages from people in your life that you’re overthinking things and worrying over nothing. A part of you really wants to believe them but, no matter how much you try, you can’t seem to turn off your racing thoughts.
Everyone keeps telling you you just need to relax and you wish it were that easy. When you struggle with anxiety, you’re caught in a labyrinth of overwhelming emotions, uncomfortable body sensations, and negative thoughts. When anxiety has you in its grip, it’s all you can do to try and stay focused on the things that matter.
As an anxiety therapist, I’ve seen how debilitating anxiety can be. I’ve also seen how much relief can be had with the care and supportive environment that therapy can provide. If you are struggling with any of the above, know that therapy for anxiety can help you find a path forward.
Anxiety Therapy Helps You Cultivate A Sense of Safety And Inner Peace
Therapy is highly beneficial in treating anxiety. During our work together, we will explore any past experiences, thought patterns, or environmental factors which contribute to your anxiety. Additionally, understanding and addressing anxiety triggers will empower you to develop effective coping strategies.
Therapy can also help identify and challenge negative thoughts which fuel your anxiety. By replacing irrational or negative thoughts with more realistic and balanced ones, you can reduce anxiety levels.
There are also other techniques you will learn to help you manage anxiety symptoms. These techniques may include deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, tapping on acupressure points, or mindfulness meditation. Learning and practicing these techniques can help calm your mind and body during anxious moments.
Anxiety Therapy Will Help You Recover Hope and Freedom
Anxiety has a way of making you feel trapped and powerless in your life. When this occurs, you may feel too stressed to keep up with daily responsibilities let alone come to therapy. It’s crucial to recognize that these feelings are part of the complex nature of anxiety, and seeking support with an anxiety therapist can be instrumental in breaking free.
Whether online or in person, I provide a space where you can express yourself at your own pace without fear of judgment. Together we can conquer your anxiety.
You May Still Have Questions About Anxiety Therapy:
Won’t talking about anxiety just make me more anxious?
It’s quite common and completely understandable to believe that talking about anxiety will intensify your feelings. Unfortunately, many people spend years of wasted time avoiding confronting their anxiety because of this belief. However, many individuals find that talking about their anxiety in a therapeutic setting can be very valuable.
Here are a few reasons why discussing anxiety in therapy can help:
Therapy is a safe and supportive environment which allows you to explore your thoughts and experiences without fear of judgment. Therapy is not just about discussing or talking about the problem. It’s also about developing strategies and practical solutions to the problems you’re experiencing as a result of the anxiety. Sharing your experiences with a therapist can help break the isolation that often accompanies anxiety. Knowing that someone understands and is there to support you can be comforting, validating, and empowering.
How long does it take for anxiety therapy to help me feel better?
The timeline for experiencing improvement in anxiety varies from person to person. It’s important to approach the therapy process with realistic expectations and recognize it’s a gradual journey towards positive change. Several factors can influence the duration of therapy and when you might start feeling better including severity and duration of your symptoms, your consistency and commitment to therapy sessions and therapy work, quality of support systems in place as well as stressors in your life.
Can therapy get to the root causes of my anxiety or is it primarily focused on symptom management?
Many individuals come to therapy because they’ve tried medication to treat their anxiety and have found it insufficient. This is because medication generally serves to help you manage symptoms but it doesn’t address what’s causing them. This is where anxiety therapy comes in.
In anxiety therapy, you will have the opportunity to explore past experiences, thought patterns, and emotional dynamics which may have contributed to the development and maintenance of your anxiety. Getting to the heart of this issue is the true path for change.
Ultimately, you will discover that obtaining help from an anxiety therapist is a transformative process which goes beyond symptom management. Anxiety therapy will help you gain insight into the root causes of your anxiety and provide tools for long-term emotional well-being.
Anxiety Therapy Can Help You Find the Relief You Are Looking For
If you’re ready to find freedom from the ceaseless fear and worry you’ve been experiencing, please reach out. I look forward to working with you. I offer on-line and in person counseling in San Antonio.
