Do you find yourself ruminating about things out of your control?
- Do you not feel like yourself?
- Are you plagued with excessive worry?
- Are you having trouble sleeping?
- Are you isolating yourself from friends and family?
- Are you experiencing physical symptoms with no medical explanation?
- Has your life gotten smaller for fear of panic attacks in public?
If so, you may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety is a mood disorder that can permeate every aspect of your life. It can affect your work, school, home life, relationships with others, and your relationship with yourself. Often, with anxiety, you cannot get a good night’s sleep because you have so many thoughts racing through your head. This makes it so difficult to function throughout the day. You may have noticed that you are losing ground at work and your relationships are suffering.
Your nervous system is trying to get your attention
Panic attacks, phobias, and obsessive, compulsive disorder are all forms of anxiety. I have experience treating all of these. People who experience panic attacks often feel as if they are going to die and are often overly concerned with physical symptoms. The pain and fear are very real.
There is a need for control, and often the anxiety is covering up the fear of really truly living. With phobias and obsessive, compulsive disorder, people limit their lives in order to feel a false sense of safety or security. Through therapy for your anxiety, we can together address the fear and help create a real form of safety and security.
We live in a culture that feeds on fear, uncertainty, and anxiety
In our modern society, we are wired to always be connected and always on. Comparison is just a click away. The speed of technology may lead us to feel as if we are constantly falling behind, never doing enough, and unable to rest. It may be difficult to turn our minds off at night and get deep restorative sleep.
Anxiety may show up as imposter syndrome
The fear of being “found out” and exposed as a fraud may plague you with constant self-doubt despite academic and career success. Despite demonstrating competence, you may attribute achievements to luck rather than ability. It is estimated that 70% of people are plagued by imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. So, if this is you, you have plenty of company despite feelings to the contrary.
Social anxiety can contribute to isolation and feelings of intense loneliness
You may be plagued by an intense and persistent fear of being judged, watched, or embarrassed in social situations. Performance anxiety can be a subset of social anxiety as well. This can lead to rumination before an event, physical symptoms such as heart racing, nausea, excessive sweating or even a panic attack during the event, and overanalyzing after the event. You may often find it truly impossible to be fully present with those you love.
If you feel like your life is getting smaller and the walls of your home are closing in on you, it may be time to reach out for help. Treatment for anxiety can help regulate your nervous system and give you the ability to differentiate between every day stressors and true threats. Your mind can stop working in overdrive and resume a more calm collected pace.
Anxiety therapy can help you reclaim control
A safe place to talk about your overwhelming feelings is very important, and I have experience in dealing with anxiety. Through our work together, we can talk about your fears and concerns. I can help share the burden and listen nonjudgmentally while we develop strategies to deal with your worry, brooding, ruminating, racing thoughts, panic, and generalized anxiety.
Fear often keeps us silent. Therapy helps intercept this dynamic. It provides an environment where you finally get a chance to slow down, pay attention to what you are experiencing in your body, and find words to describe your worries.
We proceed at your own pace. I provide a warm, safe, compassionate therapeutic environment. I listen deeply, validate your feelings, and provide a container for them.
What to expect in counseling for anxiety
My hope is that you will leave each session a bit lighter after pouring your heart out. The week between will not feel as frantic. You won’t feel guilty for not being able to do it all. You can put aside your shame in needing help. We can help you find your village and learn to manage your life again.
My hope is for you to learn to be gentle with yourself. Slow down, be caring, be nurturing. Let go of the guilt and shame you may be feeling. There are usually perfectly rational explanations for your irrational fears. Once you understand that, it can create a whole new perspective. It’s time to put down the what ifs. We cannot control everything in this life. Rest in knowing you are doing all you can. It is difficult being fully alive.
My experience in treating anxiety
I’ve worked extensively with children, teens, adults, and families who are dealing with anxiety for over 25 years. When you work with a therapist who truly understands your fears, it becomes easier to work through and identify the root cause of your anxiety. Trauma, grief, or loss may be contributing to your perfectionism, phobias, or rumination.
I work from a psychodynamic depth oriented approach which helps my clients gain insight into their behaviors to resolve their current emotional distress. In addition, I utilize CBT for specific phobias and exposure therapy for OCD. I am also Certified in DBT and use specific skills training such as distress tolerance and mindfulness in treating anxiety.
My clients find the techniques of opposite action, chain analysis, and four quadrant pros and cons lists to be especially helpful. Throughout my career, I have helped clients tackle their fear of flying, health anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, and perfectionism. We proceed at your own pace. I provide a warm, safe, compassionate therapeutic environment. I listen deeply, validate your feelings, and provide a container for them.
Common Questions about Therapy for Anxiety...
Worry doesn’t have to be in the driver’s seat
If anxiety is impacting your daily life, it may be time to start your healing journey with a therapist.
If you find yourself unable to manage and you need someone to share your fears, I am here to help.
Contact me to schedule a free, 15 minute consultation and find out more about services offered.
