Anxiety Therapy
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stressful situations. It is a survival response that allows our bodies to protect ourselves. We may feel nervous before going into an interview, public speaking, or taking an exam. Other times anxiety can be caused by things such as trauma and difficult situations. Anxiety is a normal human experience, but if it persists for long periods of time and starts to interfere with your life, then you may need to seek professional help.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about 19% of U.S. adults experience anxiety each year. Anxiety among teenagers is also on the rise, and 31% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 struggle with anxiety. Types of anxiety disorders include health anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. People may also struggle with panic attacks or anxiety attacks.
anxiety disorders
Unlike ordinary anxiety, an anxiety disorder can cause a constant feeling of fear, which can sometimes be debilitating. Intrusive and obsessive thoughts can become overwhelming. They interfere with daily life and deeply impact how people function. People can exhibit anxiety symptoms in different ways. So at times anxiety can be easy to recognize, and at other times it may not be. Some people self-isolate while others do the opposite. Children and teenagers show different anxiety symptoms than adults. When dealing with anxiety management, it is important to understand the typical symptoms.
common symptoms of general anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety can feel very different depending on the person experiencing it. Below are some common symptoms:
Persistent worrying
Fatigue
Trouble sleeping
Nervousness or being easily startled
Feeling faint
Nausea and butterflies
Racing thoughts
Rapid heartbeat and breathing
Upset stomach
How anxiety therapy at Trust Mental Health can help
Sometimes lifestyle changes can help you deal with anxiety symptoms. These adjustments to your daily life may include adding more physical activity, avoiding alcohol and drug use, reducing your caffeine intake, and lowering stress. In more severe cases, treatment for anxiety can include anxiety therapy and medication. Those who suffer from anxious thoughts often have a complicated relationship with their mind. The mind can give us negative feedback and dwell on thoughts that are often not true. Believing all these negative thoughts and letting them consume you can cause a lot of anxiety.
Through anxiety therapy, you will learn tools and practices that will enable you to cope and better manage your daily life. You will learn to recognize what triggers your anxiety, and what to do when you are in the midst of an anxiety attack or episode. In time, you will build up your self-confidence and become more open to experiences in your life. Anxiety therapy and your treatment will vary depending on your specific symptoms and their severity.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Trust Mental Health therapists often use techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help treat anxiety. This allows patients to recognize negative thinking patterns, challenge them, and replace them with realistic thoughts. It is important to be able to recognize when you are having anxious thoughts to see them as just thoughts and nothing more. Getting to the root cause of your anxiety will lead to greater self-awareness.
Coping with anxiety can be daunting, but we are here for you. Treatment with a Trust Mental Health therapist will give you the assurance and confidence needed to handle stressful situations. We hope to support you through the hard moments and give you the tools you need to ease your anxiety.
Trust Mental Health can match you with a professional therapist who has experience in anxiety therapy. Our team of BIPOC therapists offers therapy in California. We hold sessions both in person and online. Contact us today for a free 15 minute consultation and we will match you with a therapist that is best suited to your needs.