Are You Feeling Restless All The Time?
Is your sleep being disrupted by anxious thoughts? Are the demands of juggling work and home causing you distress? Despite the pressure you put on yourself, do you feel like you never measure up?
When your daily activities are filled with anxious thoughts, everything can feel overwhelming. When the stress you’re under is affecting your sleep and causing insomnia, you might feel worn out most days. Perhaps you’re experiencing gastrointestinal issues or chronic headaches, both common physical symptoms of anxiety. It’s possible you’ve accepted them as the normal state of your body, not realizing what their root cause actually is.
Even though you may have accomplished a lot in your life, it could be you don’t recognize your talents and, instead, are suffering from imposter syndrome. Or it could be you continually compare yourself to others and, in doing so, feel inferior.
Maybe you realize now that the goals you set out to achieve haven’t delivered the fulfillment you expected they would. It may seem as though you have lost your passion, or never found it to begin with. Feelings of insecurity, fear, self-doubt, or regret may be creeping into your thoughts, prompting you to retreat from the world.
Perhaps the lines between work and personal time have blurred to the point where you feel like you’re never not at work. Because of self-imposed pressure, you might feel like you’re always falling behind and never able to catch up. As a result, you may avoid connecting with others or not engage in any activities outside of work.
Fortunately, anxiety therapy is an effective treatment to help release you from the thoughts and feelings that hold you back from enjoying the things in your life you’ve worked hard to achieve.
Anxiety Permeates Our Non-Stop Culture
Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults. Despite the fact, anxiety disorders are highly treatable; only 36.9% of sufferers receive treatment.
While anxiety is a fact of our lives, it shouldn’t be perceived as something to strive for. And yet our culture seems to thrive on it, always demanding more of us. We are expected to constantly do better, do more, and smile while we do it. We’ve normalized anxiety to the extent that if we are not stressed out, we must be doing something wrong.
Many of us were raised in families that placed high expectations on personal achievement. The emphasis may have been on academic or athletic accomplishments at the expense of emotional connection. Or if our parents weren’t emotionally attuned to our needs as kids, we may now feel less secure as adults or lack the understanding that we don’t have to be perfect. We may not even realize the emotional neglect we have experienced is now fueling our anxious feelings.
It’s common for us to not take the time to recognize the impact anxiety is having on our minds and bodies. We often use quick fixes—like substances, social media, video games, TV, or food—to help us get through the day, rather than attend to our emotions and needs. We disconnect from ourselves, which perpetuates our anxiety. Similarly, if we have a history of trauma, we often don’t understand how dissociating from those painful emotions can significantly impact our ability to connect to ourselves.
The good news is that the symptoms of anxiety no longer have to dominate your life. By understanding your emotions and choosing a different way to respond to difficult circumstances, you can gain self-confidence and a positive perspective. You can develop your sense of worth and feel secure in knowing who you are and what you do and don’t want.
Anxiety Treatment Is An Effective Way For You To Find Peace And Restore Calm
As an interactive, solution-based therapist, my approach to therapy for anxiety is largely dependent upon your readiness to understand the core of a problem. I can help you identify the root causes of your anxiety at a comfortable pace, attuned to where you are and what you can handle at points along our journey. If a defense mechanism you have developed presents an obstacle in this journey, I will proceed very gently with delving deeper so we can make a breakthrough and get beyond what’s been keeping you stuck.
Therapy should be an example of a healthy relationship; one that permits you to uncover the source of your anxiety, learn and test out new skills, and grow confidence in seeing things from a different perspective. To accomplish this, our sessions together will provide you with a safe space to share your vulnerabilities.
During our first session, I’ll invite you to share some of your background, discuss what brought you to therapy, and identify your goals. If it is your first therapy experience, I am quite sensitive to gently guiding you through the process while also attending to your anxiety. I want you to be comfortable and to know that this is your time to use how you wish. And if your symptoms have escalated into anxiety or panic attacks, we can formulate an immediate treatment plan.
In subsequent sessions, we will explore your history—family of origin, prior relationships or trauma, self-perception, emotional identification, etc.—identifying the core issues perpetuating your anxiety and influencing your behavior. By understanding these factors, you will gain new insight into yourself and learn how to better regulate your emotions. In time, you will get better at responding vs. reacting—identifying what the emotion is and why you’re experiencing it.
The modality I use is dependent upon your needs. I often start with some psychoeducation about anxiety, emotions, and the nervous system. You’ll learn different coping and emotional-regulation behaviors, and—if you’re suitable for and open to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—I will recommend it as a treatment for your anxiety.
According to the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), “EMDR is an extensively researched therapy that does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process.”
With help and support, I absolutely 100 percent believe total healing from anxiety is possible. While life will never be anxiety-free, our work together can lift the weight and burden of trauma, significantly reduce anxiety symptoms, and let you live life more fully and freely.
Overcoming anxiety restores a level of equilibrium in your body and peace of mind—you can let go of what anyone else is expecting of you.
But you may still be wondering whether anxiety treatment is right for you…
The idea of baring my soul to an anxiety counselor frightens me.
I understand the idea of seeking treatment for your anxiety can be incredibly scary. Initially, it’s not easy to acknowledge our feelings, needs, and desires in front of a stranger. When we get to know ourselves and voice that to others, we open ourselves up to the possibility of rejection and dismissal.
However, being vulnerable enough to admit you want to be loved, adored, and wholly accepted is where the healing begins. Connecting with yourself and others releases you from the isolation of anxiety.
I’ve always been an anxious person—aren’t some people just born this way?
While we do inherit certain levels of anxiety from our parents, it doesn’t mean we have to remain this way. Allowing yourself the opportunity to examine the root causes of anxiety in a safe, accepting space through therapy offers you the chance to escape the negative behaviors that have become ingrained over time. And it makes it possible to choose a different way to respond to difficult circumstances, allowing the anxious state to be replaced with confidence and clarity.
Will I have to do all the talking? I have nightmares about those scenes in TV/movies where the therapist doesn’t speak.
Awkward silences are not my style. I am interactive. If you prefer me to direct the session, I will do so in line with your identified goals. And if you would like to direct the session topics, that’s fine, too. I will jump in as needed to keep us focused on your healing and to not get lost down rabbit holes.
It’s Time To Live The Life You Deserve
Building your sense of self and improving confidence go hand in hand with knowing how you feel. Seeking treatment for anxiety gets you in touch with what’s been getting in the way of true contentment. For a free, 15-minute consultation, please feel free to contact me.