Do Constant Worry, Fear, And Panic Impact Your Quality Of Life?
From feeling the pre-presentation jitters to getting butterflies before a big date, anxiety is something that all of us will experience from time to time.
But when anxiety levels escalate to the point of panic or begin adversely impacting your daily functioning, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and confused.
And as anxiety takes more and more of a grip on your life, you may start to feel that a sense of peace and relaxation are too far out of your reach.
When you can’t relax, feelings of irritability and agitation can quickly take over. Perhaps you are constantly worried, or maybe you ruminate on small details that you know are inconsequential on a rational level. You may be unable to concentrate on what’s in front of you or feel like you’re on constant alert.
Anxiety manifests in physical symptoms, too.
Maybe you can never get a full night’s sleep because you’re hyper-focused on the day ahead, or perhaps you struggle with stomach aches, headaches, and symptoms of panic that include excessive sweating, heart palpitations, and shakiness.
Feeling this way makes you want to escape or find some means of relief.
That’s why people who struggle with anxiety often throw themselves into their work, abuse substances, or develop avoidant tendencies. If this is the case for you, it’s likely that anxiety has impacted your relationships and caused you to feel generally out of control in your life.
However, anxiety can be managed.
With anxiety therapy at Heights Family Counseling, you can learn practical tools and coping skills to reduce worrisome thinking and help you regain the control that anxiety has taken away from you.
Anxiety Can Create An Unhealthy Competition With Ourselves
As humans, we are prone to anxious thinking.
After all, anxiety can be a motivating factor that allows us to assess risk, accomplish tasks, and clarify priorities. And for those who are high achieving, it’s likely that we developed anxious thinking patterns from an early age to stay on the path to success.
But when we fail to meet certain standards or expectations that were meant to motivate us, it can result in feelings of defeat, eventually impacting our self-esteem and self-worth. At a certain point, this competition with ourselves can become unhealthy, and though anxiety may help us reach our short-term goals, it ultimately hinders our progress in the long run.
Moreover, our world is full of stressors that can heighten a sense of panic.
Between the daily demands of life and the ever-present global threats, fear and worry can start to feel like a daily routine. And for some of us, anxiety has become so chronic and normalized that we may begin to believe there is no point in seeking relief or treatment.
In therapy, you can trace your anxiety back to its roots so that you can understand where it has helped you and where it has hurt you.
At Heights Family Counseling, you will gain the knowledge and coping skills needed to begin the process of overcoming anxiety.
Therapy Allows You To Locate The Source Of Your Stress So That Anxiety Doesn’t Have So Much Control Over You
The world already requires so much of you, but in counseling, you can have a chance to breathe, relax, and reflect on the ways that anxiety has adversely impacted your life. Our clinicians offer unconditional acceptance of who you are, wherever you are in life, so that you can feel safe to explore your emotions without stress or expectation.
Before you begin counseling, we invite you to set up a consultation with our intake specialist to match you with a therapist that best suits your needs. After you have completed the client paperwork and scheduled an initial session, you will begin anxiety therapy with a compassionate, person-centered clinician committed to making you feel safe and seen in therapy.
At Heights Family Counseling, we believe that you are more than a diagnosis or set of symptoms. That’s why we use evidence-based methods meant to clarify your unique values and improve the relationship you have with your thoughts and feelings. Certain scientific approaches—such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and polyvagal theory—are particularly useful in addressing automatic thinking patterns. In addition, we may also use existential and narrative methods to challenge certain beliefs you hold about yourself.
And though we tailor our treatment approach to meet the needs of each individual client, we find that mindfulness practices are especially helpful to clients who struggle with anxiety. Because these practices focus on the mind-body connection and remaining in a state of presence rather than fear, any clinician you work with at Heights Family Counseling will likely include some elements of mindfulness in therapy for anxiety.
You can develop a customized tool kit to help you navigate worries both big and small. Working with our therapists in counseling, you can heal in the process of overcoming anxiety so that life can feel happier, more peaceful, and in your control.
Overthinking and constant worry do not have to be your default any longer.
With therapy, you can turn that lingering sense of fear and self-doubt into joy and self-confidence.
Maybe it’s time to see a counselor for anxiety, but you have some questions…
Can’t I just take medication to help with my anxiety symptoms?
Medication can certainly alleviate symptoms of anxiety. However, research shows that anxiety medication is most effective when used in conjunction with therapy. And because therapeutic treatment works to target underlying trauma and negative self-beliefs, working with a counselor is likely to create a longer-term and more substantial impact--whereas anxiety medication only works while you’re taking it.
How long does anxiety tHERAPY take?
When it comes to therapy at Heights Family Counseling, there is no one “right” way to do things. Our treatments are designed to meet each client’s unique needs, so you can wrap up therapy sessions whenever you feel like your goals for anxiety therapy have been met—which could take anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. Some of our clients experience relief from anxiety symptoms relatively quickly, while others may take their time exploring underlying causes. Nonetheless, we are committed to helping each client heal in the way that works best for them.
How do I know that what I say in anxiety Therapy will be kept confidential?
Our practice is entirely HIPAA-compliant, meaning that anything shared during your therapy sessions will not be shared unless we have your explicit permission. The same applies to our online therapy platforms and practices, which are also in accordance with patient confidentiality through HIPAA.
A Newfound Sense Of Peace Is Possible
You can learn to manage your anxiety and take control of your emotions with therapy at Heights Family Counseling. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please use our contact page.
