Counseling for Anxiety

Struggling

with Anxiety?

You want help, but you keep putting it off.

Anxiety can look like…

Nervous

You’re no stranger to that feeling of dread. You find yourself irritable, with a pit in your stomach, and you can’t shake those negative thoughts.

Self-doubt

You’re questioning your every move. Did you say the right thing? Did you look like an idiot? Was that the best decision to make?

Fear of judgment

You find yourself worrying about what other people will think of you. Friends, strangers, coworkers - are they judging me?

Trouble sleeping

Despite every attempt, you struggle to sleep. You have a hard time falling asleep and/or find yourself waking at night for no reason.

Irritability

Small things seem to make you angry or frustrated, because you’re already on edge from anxiety.

Compulsive Behaviors

You find yourself doing the same things in response to your anxiety. This might include: double checking, reassurance seeking, list making, etc.

Difficulty Concentrating

You have 100 things running through your mind. It’s incredibly hard to slow down and focus on one task for extended periods of time.

Excessive Worry

You notice that you worry a lot more than other people. Maybe it’s a phobia, germs, the possibility that someone could get hurt, etc.

  • Worry about “everyday things” that feels excessive and is getting in the way

  • Fear of judgment by others, afraid to talk to people, difficulty with social interactions due to anxiety

  • Something big or little can cause worry of serious illness

  • Persistent obsessive thoughts followed by compulsions or rituals in an attempt to lower the anxiety

  • History of a traumatic event can shift views of the world and cause increased anxiety

  • A specific cause of fear which often leads to avoidance

  • Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors due to perception that body is flawed

Types of Anxiety

If you’re struggling with anxiety, you’re not alone.  Almost 20% of US adults have had an anxiety disorder in the last year alone.  For some it starts because of an incident, like a traumatic event.  This could be something like abuse, choking on food, a car crash, a natural disaster, etc.  For others, it is a lifelong battle, something that showed up in childhood and stuck around.  And for some women, it can come after the birth or adoption of a child. The way anxiety shows up can be unique to each person, but there are some common signs that what you’re experiencing may be an anxiety disorder.

Common signs of anxiety disorders

  • Hard to relax

  • Unable to “turn off” your brain

  • Thinking ahead a lot

  • Worst case scenario thoughts

  • Irritability

  • Difficulty falling asleep

  • Expecting yourself to be perfect, even if you don’t expect that of others

  • Caretaker/Fixer: you’re the one people call for help or to talk through things, but they don’t always check up on you

  • Compulsive, repetitive behaviors that may temporarily reduce anxiety

  • Difficulty focusing

  • Muscle tension

Everyone has some level of anxiety.  But people with an anxiety disorder experience anxiety that is relentless.  No matter how hard you try it might feel like nothing is working!  A quick Google search will bring up numerous “tips” for managing anxiety.  You may have even tried a few of them and found temporary relief.  These include deep breathing, journaling, exercise, healthy eating, and less screen time. Often, these coping skills do not give lasting relief for anxiety disorders.  But therapy can.

So, if you’ve tried what feels like everything, don’t lose hope. I can tell you that there is so much more than coping skills to living a life that isn’t full of anxiety.  The work I do in my counseling sessions, surprisingly, doesn’t often include these “coping skills”.  The work we will do is not to just manage anxiety, but to overcome it. I help clients see things in a new way, strengthen their courage, and increase their confidence again.

If you’re ready to overcome anxiety, I’d encourage you to schedule an appointment or a free 15 minute phone consultation.  Or you can check out my About Me page to learn more about me and see if I’d be a good fit for you!

Get relief now