Anxiety Therapy

Are you noticing yourself worrying more than usual? Or perhaps you describe yourself as a “ lifelong worrier“ and don’t know what it’s like not to worry. Constantly thinking about the worst case scenario and the “what if.“ Anxiety is best defined as anticipation of a future threat and at mild levels, it is actually very adaptive and necessary. However, too much anxiety can interfere with our quality of life.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can look very different across people. Our culture or how our caregivers modeled anxiety may influence which symptoms you do and do not experience. Below are some common symptoms of anxiety:

  • Excessive worry that is difficult to control - You often worry about things going wrong.. we rarely worry about things going right.

  • Tension - Are you grinding your teeth? Are your upper back and neck muscles constantly giving you strain? Muscle tension is a common symptom of anxiety.

  • Being easily fatigued - You find yourself tiring easily because your mind is constantly on overdrive.

  • Difficulty concentrating - Your mind goes blank often or you find yourself having to re-read the same sentence a couple times in a row.

  • Feeling on edge, restless, or irritable - You feel this way out of nowhere at times.

  • Sleep difficulties - You can’t get your mind to shut off, you toss and turn at night, or you wake up feeling just as tired in the morning.

  • Physical sensations - Increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, trembling, and feeling weak in specific situations or spontaneously.

Common Types of Anxiety

  • Generalized Anxiety: Worrying about various different aspects of your life on a daily basis. This can look like worrying about your family, work, finances, relationships, community events, and other situations.

  • Social Anxiety: Fear or anxiety in social situations where you believe you are being judged. This could be giving presentations, meeting new people, talking to superiors, or eating in public places.

  • Phobias: Extreme fear or anxiety about specific objects or situations. Examples of phobias are heights, elevators, driving, animals, flying in airplanes, or bridges.

  • Illness / Health Anxiety: Worrying that you may have a serious illness currently or in the future. Being easily alarmed about your health status which may cause you to check your body for symptoms, call your doctor frequently, or google search your symptoms.

  • Panic: Experiencing panic attacks either out of the blue or when in specific situations. A panic attack is an experience marked by an intense fear and discomfort that can involve many physiological symptoms all at once including pounding heart, sweating, difficulty breathing, shaking, feelings of choking, nausea, dizziness, chills, heat sensations, numbness or tingling, fear of dying or losing control.

Therapy Can Help.

Anxiety becomes problematic when it begins to get in the way of enjoying your life and staying in the present moment. Whatever type of anxiety you are facing, you don’t have to do it alone.