Does Anxiety Run Your Life?
Does your lifestyle and the expectations you place on yourself contribute to your anxiety?
Do you feel guilty prioritizing your own needs and yet, unless you make a change, you fear you cannot go on this way?
Is trying to ignore your anxiety no longer working for you?
Anxiety is the ultimate saboteur of happiness. Even though you’ve worked hard to achieve your success, you may be consumed with intrusive thoughts and overthinking. Perhaps your inner critic keeps you stuck in a negative loop of self-doubt and indecision as you second-guess whether your life is headed in the right direction.
You Might Put Others’ Needs Ahead Of Your Own
If worst-case scenarios play out in your mind, you live in a perpetual state of panic. Maybe you imagine all the potentially negative outcomes you may face, like losing your job or relationship. All this catastrophizing can derail you from being your best self and prioritizing what’s important to you.
What’s more, you might avoid socializing as a way to protect yourself from the discomfort that being around others causes. Or, conversely, people-pleasing may be your default mode to ensure you’re accepted by others. Perhaps you don’t set healthy boundaries for yourself at work or home and often feel drained and emotionally exhausted by the end of the day.
If only you knew how to silence your inner critic and not worry so much. The good news is that anxiety therapy can equip you with the tools to address the symptoms that rob you of joy and contentment.
One In Four US Adults Suffer From Anxiety[1]
According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), "Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults age 18 and older."[2] Even though these statistics attest to how common anxiety is, sadly, many of us suffer in silence and fear we must be going crazy when intrusive thoughts or panic attacks begin to disrupt our lives.
As humans, anxiety is part of our physiological wiring and how we naturally respond to external threats. While our normal “fight, flight, or freeze” response can serve us well in risky situations, an excess of fear and worry can become debilitating. In addition to the emotional toll, “an estimated 4.7 percent of U.S. adults experience panic disorder at some time in their lives.”[3]
The Disconnect Between What We Were Promised And Reality
Many of us were raised to believe we should shoot for the moon to achieve our dreams. However, as we become adults, we’re faced with the stark contrast of reality. In today’s grind culture, it seems like productivity is valued over everything else. Suddenly, the hopes and dreams that guided us are exchanged for the demands placed on us to achieve results at all costs.
If we’ve always been high-achievers and perfectionists, we may jump through hoops trying to please everyone and, in the process, find our anxiety has grown out of control. Unfortunately, we may not feel supported or safe discussing our symptoms with others, leading us to struggle alone rather than seek the help we need.
However, the truth is that if you’re anxious, you’re not to blame. Anxiety therapy allows you to take a step back and identify what is amiss in your life, whether it’s people-pleasing, not setting healthy boundaries, or letting others’ expectations of you drain your energy.
Anxiety Therapy Can Help Alleviate Your Symptoms
As much as you’d like to enjoy the fruits of your labor, worry and self-doubt could be holding you back from true tranquility and satisfaction. Therapy for anxiety will give you a chance to feel safe in body and mind and finally quiet your harsh inner critic.
In anxiety counseling, you’ll learn skills from HeartMath, a breathwork technique that helps regulate your fight, flight, or freeze response. And by understanding what cognitive distortions are and how to challenge them, you’ll gain insight into the root causes of your anxiety as well as develop effective coping strategies.
What To Expect In Sessions
I aim to provide you with a safe, accepting space where you will feel comfortable sharing what’s been going on without shame or embarrassment. Before we dig deeper into the issues that have brought you into therapy, I like to conduct a structured interview to get a better understanding of who you are as an individual.
In treatment, I will help you understand your symptoms and how they impact you—such as social anxiety, excessive worry, sleeplessness, or panic attacks—as well as dive into the core issues that fuel your anxiety. Once we identify what triggers you, we can discuss modifications you can make to alleviate unnecessary stress. My goal for each session is to give you something tangible to practice, such as a coping skill you can use until your next session.
HeartMath Is Anxiety Therapy That Incorporates Breathwork
“Coherence is a harmonious state where our hearts, minds, and bodies are united in cooperation and flow.”[4] By tapping into the innate intelligence, the heart possesses, HeartMath, an evidenced-based treatment for anxiety, helps you find flow and reduce anxiety along the way.[5] By working through a series of HeartMath breathwork exercises that are based on Polyvagal theory, you will be able to gain coherence and achieve relaxation in body and mind.
Additionally, we will identify any false beliefs you may have that contribute to anxiety. By learning how to challenge these negative thoughts, you can intercept them before they lead to anxious feelings and behaviors. And for times when anxiety makes situations seem insurmountable, using positive psychology, we will focus on finding the good in situations. By the time we conclude therapy, I will ensure that you have a varied toolbox of practical actions you can use to cope with stress and reduce your overall anxiety in life.
Anxiety isn't an end-all-be-all state of being—it's something that can be understood and managed. With therapy, you can look forward to a time when anxiety no longer threatens your happiness or prevents you from enjoying your achievements.
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Anxiety Therapy Is Right For You…
Does having to attend counseling for an anxiety disorder mean I’m crazy?
Everyone experiences anxiety at one time or another. And even if your anxiety is more severe and requires treatment, it doesn’t mean you’re crazy. One thing anxiety is good at is making a problem seem bigger than it really is. When you’re in the throes of worry and panic, it feels like a lot is going on all at once and that no solutions exist. But once you learn helpful coping strategies to reduce “What If” thinking, you’ll realize you can manage your symptoms before they spin out of control.
I’m concerned that anxiety treatment won’t work for me.
If you’ve lived with anxiety for a long time, you may have convinced yourself that your symptoms are irreparable and that therapy will be wasted on you. Fortunately, I have a lot of different modalities to draw from so we can tailor your treatment to what works best for you. And although some of your symptoms may be more severe than others, there is hope that by developing skills that suit your personality, you'll be able to find some relief.
What if I can’t afford anxiety therapy?
Understandably, the expense of receiving anxiety treatment may be a concern. However, you can rest assured that throughout our work together, I will be mindful of the financial costs of anxiety counseling. What’s more, by providing you with effective coping tools as well as assigning helpful homework you can work on in between sessions, I aim to make anxiety therapy as short-term as possible. If you actively participate and put in the work, you’ll see results sooner than later.
Experience The Peace Of Mind You’ve Been Missing
There’s never been a better time than now to find the solutions you seek. If you would like to find out more about anxiety therapy with me, you may visit my contact page to schedule a free 15-minute call where we can determine if you are a good fit for telehealth. I now offer virtual therapy sessions to clients who reside in Florida, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho.
Have Questions?
Don’t hesitate to use the form below to send me a message, and I’ll get back to you!
[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
[2] https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
[3] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/panic-disorder
[4] https://www.heartmath.org/heart-coherence/personal/
[5] https://www.heartmath.org/resources/solutions-for-stress/overcoming-anxiety/