“Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Almost all of us experience anxiety sometimes. We may feel it when we try new things, when we are evaluated on our performance, or when we are having financial difficulties. The difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder is not always clear. So how do you know if you have an anxiety disorder? The distinction has to do with the level of distress you feel, how often your symptoms occur, and how much the symptoms interfere with your ability to live your life.
There are several different anxiety disorders. Each one includes symptoms that are similar to, yet different from, the other anxiety disorders. Each anxiety disorder has physical symptoms (such as racing heartbeat, flushed face, nausea, headache, sense of dread, inability to fall asleep, muscle tension), cognitive symptoms (such as distorted thinking, difficulty concentrating, or difficulty making decisions), and behavioral symptoms (such as avoiding places or situations that trigger increased anxiety).
Anxiety disorders are quite treatable. I have experience providing treatment for clients struggling with the following types of anxiety:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Characterized by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about multiple areas of life (such as finances, health, relationships, work). The worry continues even when there is no cause for concern, and even when the person is aware there is literally “nothing to worry about.” The worry feels uncontrollable and overwhelming.
Panic Disorder
Characterized by “panic attacks” that come on suddenly, often in public places. A panic attack involves a sudden and intense sense of terror or dread along with physical symptoms (such as racing heartbeat, chest pain, sweatiness, chills or hot flashes, feeling like you’re going to die, shortness of breath, choking sensations, nausea, dizziness, feeling like you are “going crazy”). After a few panic attacks, people with this disorder tend to stop going to the places where they had a panic attack, due to the fear of having another panic attack there.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Involves overwhelming worry about social situations. People with this disorder feel unsure of themselves and self-conscious when in the company of others. They may worry about being judged, being ridiculed, looking foolish, or behaving in an embarrassing way. People with this disorder may limit their social activities or look for a job where they can work alone in order to avoid situations that trigger these fears.
Phobias
Are intense fears of a specific object or activity, which leads the person to avoid everyday situations where they may encounter the object or activity. Some common phobias are fear of spiders, fear of snakes, fear of heights, fear of flying, fear of crowds, fear of small enclosed spaces, fear of needles, and fear of public speaking.
I have helped many clients manage, reduce, or even eliminate their anxiety symptoms, and I am available to help you, too. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is known to be an effective form of psychotherapy for treating anxiety disorders, and this is the approach I prefer to use. If you choose to work with me to treat your anxiety symptoms, I will likely start by answering any questions you have so that you know what to expect and can feel more at ease in our sessions. I will teach you some basics about anxiety and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. We will talk about how your thoughts, your behaviors, and life events can influence anxiety, making anxiety symptoms worse or better, and we will work together to help you identify your own unique anxiety triggers. I can teach you skills you can use at home or in public places to keep your anxiety level low and reduce your anxiety symptoms on the spot when you get triggered. Some of the relaxation skills I teach clients include mindfulness, breathing exercises, mediation techniques, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation. We will work together to figure out which techniques work best for you, with the hope that you become an expert in reducing or eliminating your symptoms, so that you can lead the life you want to live, no longer held back by anxiety.