Anxiety
Anxiety is among the most common reasons our clients come through our doors for the first time. It is important to acknowledge that anxiety is completely normal and on some levels, healthy and helpful. When it is not at a problematic level, anxiety is our body and minds’ way of prompting when we need to check in with ourselves and potentially make a change.
How to know when your anxiety has become problematic:
Your thoughts spiral & cause distress
You find yourself obsessing & ruminating
Your anxiety disrupts your day-to-day functioning
Your anxiety keeps you from doing things you would like to do
You are uncomfortable with your anxiety
Anxiety and counseling:
Because anxiety is such a common struggle, there are many, many therapeutic approaches to helping treat anxiety. Some of these interventions include:
Talk therapy; processing with your therapist
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Discovering common thought patterns and beliefs, and finding new thoughts to help in coping with and adjusting the problematic beliefs
Relational therapy - Through forming trust with a therapist, one can find a decrease in anxiety due to experiencing a safe relationship
Exposure therapy - One method of treating anxiety is by directly exposing oneself to the root of their anxiety in the safety of the counseling room and with the guidance of the therapist.
Methods of Coping with Anxiety:
Weekly or frequent therapy
Spending time with friends and/or family
Talking and sharing with someone you trust
Rest and getting enough sleep
Physical activity
Engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy
Spending time outdoors
Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs
Deep breathing and participating in other calming activities
Listening to music or reading a book
Establishing routines
Next steps if you feel that your anxiety is disrupting your life…
First, know that you are not alone and relief from your anxiety is absolutely possible. If you feel that your anxiety is disrupting your life, or maybe you just feel uncomfortable with your anxious thoughts or patterns, don’t hesitate to ask for help! Asking for help is strength and the best thing you can do to advocate for yourself.
