***** Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) all sessions are being held via online therapy (telehealth) *****
Anxiety Treatment
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the
person you are”
– Kurt Cobain
Does it Feel Like anxiety is running your life?
- Has the Coronavirus made it feel like your regular routine is out of control?
- Do you feel an increase in the level of anxiety you are experiencing?
- Are you finding yourself feeling as though you’re letting others down?
- Is it hard to stop endless thoughts and to do lists from running through your mind?
- Is sleep hard to come by and you can’t shut off your brain?
- Are you feeling more worried, irritated, or on edge than usual?
Does it ever feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest? Or maybe you get such bad headaches you cannot even get out of bed some days?
Perhaps, you feel as though you are the foundation for everyone in your life. And as Covid-19 has thrown a wrench into your life you find it harder and harder to stay on top of things? Perhaps, you try to pull yourself away from the latest news stories, but you just have to know what’s going on?
It’s hard feeling the need to be perfect in the eyes of your family, friends, coworkers and the world in general. I’m guessing you are EXHAUSTED? You might be exhausted from change in routines, to working from home or being expected to do more things since the Coronavirus, to the never-ending battle with those voices in your heard telling you what you’re doing is not good enough. Do you have those voices?
Is the answer Yes? If so, anxiety counseling may help.
Many people experience anxiety
you are not alone . . .
It might feel like you’re the only person you know experiencing anxiety, but you might be surprised to learn anxiety disorders are one of most common mental health concerns in the United States for adults. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), forty million adults across the United States have an anxiety disorder. Let me repeat that forty million!! That’s about nineteen percent of the adult population.
And, while having an anxiety disorder is common the experience itself is unique. In other words, the symptoms you have, the things which seem to trigger your anxiety, and areas in your life where it gets in the way are different for everyone. The symptoms of anxiety might also show up in different ways including both physically and/ or emotionally. Physical symptoms might include things such as a racing heartbeat, headaches, or sleep disturbances (“I can’t sleep” or “I’m always tired”). Other emotional symptoms of anxiety could include feeling irritated, feeling out of control, or believing something terrible might happen.
You see, through my years working with clients experiencing anxiety time and again I have seen another noticeable symptom. Perhaps, it’s the little critics in our heads that are the worst. Our own voices that say to ourselves things like “I’m not doing enough,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I’ll never get this right.” There might even be times where we don’t realize those thoughts and words keep the endless cycle of anxiety going. You can think of it like a hamster wheel no matter how many times the circle goes around and around you won’t get anywhere. The change comes when you get off the hamster wheel and bring it to a stop. Let me help you stop being your biggest critic. Let’s turn those thoughts into “I’m good enough” and “I’m doing the best I can.”
Many times, a person experiencing anxiety is looking at their life through a little lens and they are missing out on being present and enjoying their life.
Wouldn’t you like your life back. . . wouldn’t you like your joy back? . . . .
What’s In a Label?
It’s hard to believe we’re welcoming late-August already. In the busyness of summer, I realized I missed some posts meant for May. So, take a minute. . . close your eyes. . . and let’s play rewind to May… When summer was just around the corner and falling leaves were...
Anxiety Counseling can bring you calm back from the chaos.
Sometimes the issue at the heart of anxiety is the feeling of wanting to be in control. Now let’s face it life presents us with all kinds of challenges where being in control isn’t going to happen. So, what then?
Anxiety treatment can help you to recognize the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or the things that seem to be creating your anxiety.
In our work together toward creating a life without anxiety, we’ll begin by using some basic assessments. Our goals in the beginning stages will be to understand how your body and mind are connected and how your anxiety “shows up.” In other words, we will focus on where in your body you feel anxiety, what thoughts, fears, or beliefs are hiding under your anxiety, and the specific areas in your life where it pops in to say HELLO!
You might see some of these life areas include specific events such as being in social situations, presenting in front of crowds, or feeling afraid to be alone out of concern for your safety. Also, you’re not alone when you say you feel anxiety through physical symptoms in your body. Depending on how severe it is it can show up as headaches, sweating, a heaviness in your chest, heart racing, or even feeling so sick to your stomach you may vomit or feel extreme nausea. Please know it’s also always important we search and look at any underlying medical conditions which could be causing physical symptoms too.
As we continue with anxiety therapy, you will learn new skills including true self-regulation and tips to practice stress management. I do not expect perfection. I do not expect every idea I bring to the table in session to be something you feel will be easy. I build my successes on knowing what you do and don’t like so that involves asking questions about our work together and getting honest feedback from YOU!
You might be ready for anxiety treatment yet still have questions?
Will anxiety therapy really work for me because I have experienced anxiety my whole life?
The short answer is ABSOLUTELY!! The thing is just like any other work done in counseling you have to be intentional with the tools you are given. I strongly believe in using in vivo (real life practice) so you can start to see results pretty quickly. The patterns you have created from a world view of life long anxiety can be a difficult habit to break. We might find certain things just don’t work for you and that’s okay I’m ready to use a variety of things.
How do I know if it’s just normal stress or a true problem where anxiety treatment may be helpful?
Here’s the thing, we can all use some pointers and direction when it comes to relating to the stress in life. And while there’s no way around “normal stress” you can learn useful coping strategies to make it through everyday situations.
Do I have to be on medication for anxiety counseling to work and be effective?
I believe it’s important for you to make those decisions with your doctor. I have seen medication be effective and helpful for some people and I have also seen anxiety be reduced without the help of medication. No matter what you decide I can help you look at different options, however, I am not able to prescribe or give advice on the exact medication which would be most beneficial for you.
Is anxiety therapy worth it and will my insurance cover it?
Let me ask you this… what would you pay to have your life changed permanently? What would you pay to feel more relaxed in your body and mind? My guess is the answer to that question is priceless. With that being said the answer is yes insurance will cover it although each plan looks different. I am also not currently in network with all insurance companies, but please know we have options. So, let’s chat.
Let’s find your calm and peace . . . Together!
Anxiety. . . just the name of it gives it power. It’s time to trade it in. Together we will bring a sense of peace, calm, and relief to your life. I have worked with clients through all levels of anxiety including the anxiety created after living through a life-changing experience, the everyday anxiety that just gets in the way, or the situational anxiety related to social situations or speaking in front of groups. Change is possible in all of these things. Let’s create a new IMPRINT together by changing what the future looks like. The imprint where you can have a sense of peace on the inside and the outside without having to pretend, because now it’s the truth. The future where you can look obstacles head on without avoiding, worrying, or being hard on yourself you’ll never get it right.
So Where do I go from here? . . .
Interested in Anxiety Counseling and think we’d be a match? I’d love to help you in your journey!
Contact me today for a free 15 minute phone consultation. . .