If everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, how do I know if I need help? 

It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time. Perhaps you get a bit nervous speaking in front of people or going on a job interview. But for some people, anxiety becomes a frequent and forceful occurrence that completely takes over their lives.

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Since anxiety comes in many forms, like panic attacks, phobias, and social anxiety, it can be difficult to tell if what you’re experiencing is “normal” or has crossed the line into a mood disorder.

 

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may want to speak with a therapist like me who can help you cope with your anxiety.

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• Excessive Worry. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the broadest type of anxiety, is characterized by excessive worry. People with GAD worry too much about everyday things, both big and small. But what constitutes “too much worry?” With GAD, people are plagued with persistent, anxious thoughts most days of the week. This anxiety can become so overwhelming it interferes with their daily life. If you are worrying to the degree that you have trouble concentrating or doing daily tasks and are suffering with your emotions, it may be time to speak with a therapist.

• Trouble Sleeping. Sleep issues such as falling asleep or staying asleep have been associated with a myriad of health conditions, both physical and psychological. It’s normal for people to have trouble sleeping from time to time. Perhaps you find yourself tossing and turning before a big job interview or giving a presentation. However, if you find yourself night after night lying awake, anxious about specific problems (such as relationship problems, financial difficulties, or current events), or even about nothing in particular, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

• Muscle Tension. Anxiety disorders can often be accompanied by persistent muscle tension. Do you find yourself clenching your jaw or balling your fists throughout the day? Do you notice your shoulders are tense or your neck feels stiff? You may have lived with this chronic muscular tension for so long you don’t even realize it anymore. While exercise can help relax muscles, therapy will get to the root cause of the anxiety.

• Digestive Problems. While anxiety lives in the mind, it often manifests in the body through chronic digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Our guts are very sensitive to emotional and psychological stress. Unfortunately, digestive upset can often make a person feel even more anxious.

• Panic Attacks. Panic attacks can be a frightening experience. You are suddenly gripped with an overwhelming feeling of dread and fear. These are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, racing heart, dizziness, and profuse sweating. Not everyone who has anxiety will experience panic attacks, but those that do live in constant fear.

 

Anxiety disorders can keep you from living a joyful and fulfilling life, but luckily help is available. Therapy can help you uncover the root cause of your anxiety and offer tools to cope.

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Can therapy really help? 

 

Yes. Millions of people deal with stress and anxiety every day. Whether it’s a result of generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, depression, or post-traumatic stress, anxiety can take a toll on our mind and health. If you deal with anxiety, you've most likely looked into ways you can help calm your emotional rollercoaster. Perhaps you’ve even tried some self-help techniques on your own. While these methods can provide some relief, it’s often temporary. To rid yourself of overwhelming anxiety once and for all, you’ve got to get to the root cause of it – the underlying factors. A therapist can help you identify and eliminate these underlying factors.

 

If you are suffering from anxiety, here are 3 ways therapy can help:

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1. Uncover Root Causes. Like any other health issue, effective treatment gets to the root cause. For instance, your doctor can prescribe a medication to manage your hypertension symptoms, or she can request you clean up your diet and exercise to address the root causes of your high blood pressure. A therapist will assist you in accessing your emotional world so you can study your thoughts and feelings and uncover patterns. Often, unhealthy beliefs and thoughts lie at the root of anxiety. Once you identify what is causing you anxiety, your therapist can begin to create a plan to help you face these underlying issues calmly and confidently.

2. Therapy Helps You Change Your Behaviors. We’ve just talked a little about therapy helping you uncover the thoughts and beliefs that are causing the anxiety. Those thoughts and beliefs are not only making you feel bad, they are causing you to have certain behaviors that may result in negative consequences. For instance, your anxiety leads to insomnia or denial of intimate social connections. Therapy will help you make lifestyle and behavioral changes. You’ll learn how to cope with difficult situations in a more relaxed manner. Therapy will help you to stop avoiding certain people and situations and develop a calmer and more balanced sense of self.

3. Therapy Offers Continued Personalized Support. All change is hard, even change that’s ultimately good for you. One of the biggest benefits of therapy is that it offers continual personalized support. Your therapist wants to see you succeed and will offer encouragement and advice without judgement.

 

If you’ve been living with anxiety, know that you don’t have to deal with it alone. If you or a loved one is interested in exploring treatment, please contact me today. I would be happy to speak with you about how I may be able to help.

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I'm ready to get help for my anxiety. What should I do next?

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That's great! Deciding to start therapy is an important step toward feeling better. Click the button below to contact me or schedule your first appointment. 

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