Individual & Couples Counseling In Denison, TX
Anxiety
ANXIETY TREATMENT
Do you go throughout your day with an impending sense of doom? Does it feel like you are losing control of your life? Are you losing sleep or not functioning well at work because you worry too much? Maybe you’re feeling panic and your heart is racing. Maybe you’re feeling that more intensely as you are reading this. Perhaps you have butterflies in your stomach. Is your anxiety wearing you out to the point that you’re losing or even gaining weight?
Living with anxiety can be overwhelming; it can feel lonely, and sometimes you may feel like you are the only one who is dealing with anxiety. Whether you are worrying about something specific or you are worrying about many things, anxiety can take a toll on both your physical health and your mental well-being. Anxiety can take over your life to the point you are worrying about ALL the worst case scenarios. You may feel as if you have to run away from your problems, or maybe you lash out at your loved ones without meaning to. You may even feel like you cannot get a break or relax (something bad may happen if you do).
ANXIETY IS EXTREMELY COMMON IN OUR CULTURE
If you suffer from anxiety, you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety affects 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18 percent of the population. In today’s society, you do not have to look far to see that people are stressed out, whether it is over their job, finances, children, or something else. The list of things to worry about seems to be increasing in our culture, but this does not mean that you can’t find relief from your fears.
Anxiety can present itself in many different ways. Some people feel it more in their bodies (racing hearts, butterflies in the stomach, etc.) whereas other people show anxiety in doing things (biting their nails, yelling at others, etc.). At its most basic level, anxiety is meant to motivate us and spring us forward into action, but sometimes it can take a wrong turn and actually prevent us from accomplishing things because it paralyzes us. Sometimes anxiety can be so debilitating that it can cause us to have panic attacks, which in turn, causes us to worry about having more panic attacks, and thus a vicious, never-ending cycle of worry is born.
Everyone experiences anxiety on some level at some point in their life, but when anxiety prevents you from feeling good and functioning well, anxiety treatment through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a Mindfulness Approach can help.
ANXIETY TREATMENT CAN HELP YOU TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE AND ENJOY IT
There is more to you than just your thoughts; just because you have anxiety provoking thoughts doesn’t mean you have to listen to them. Think of it this way: do you listen to a song on a radio that you don’t like, or do you flip the channel? The same premise exists for changing your thoughts — if you don’t like them, you CAN change them. You will learn how to change your thoughts by learning different perspectives about your thoughts and dismissing the ones that aren’t helpful to you. You can learn how to recognize what triggers your anxiety and what you can do afterwards.
In our sessions, I can help you realize where you are experiencing the anxiety in your body and how to relax that area. I can help you focus on one specific thought, rather than jumping from thought to thought to thought. I can help you by focusing more on the present rather than worrying about things in your past or in your future that you have no control over. Furthermore, I can help you reframe your negative thoughts into more positive and practical thoughts, which can lead to meaningful change in your life.
With the support of a therapist, you can learn how to manage, alleviate, and overcome anxiety. You can learn skills that help calm you in the midst of an anxiety attack, and you can learn techniques to lessen the overall stress in your life.
YOU MAY STILL HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT ANXIETY
First and foremost, it can give you back the quality of life that YOU want. Anxiety treatment via CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) has proven to be one of the most effective ways to combat anxiety and regain control over your life. Many people experience a sense of relief and make meaningful changes in their life fairly quickly.
We all have anxiety in our lives. The one thing we know about life is that it is uncertain, and unfortunately, we didn’t come equipped with a crystal ball. This means that if we look hard enough and long enough, then we will find something to worry about. Looking for things to worry about is a habit, and with enough practice, habits can be changed. You can overcome your fears that are holding you back with the help of mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral techniques.
Does mindfulness mean that we have to meditate?
No, if you do not want to meditate, you do not have to; although for some people, meditation can be calming, soothing, and help promote greater awareness of the control we have over our bodies.
Does having anxiety mean I have to be on medication?
Having anxiety does not mean you need to be on a medication. If medication is something that you are interested in, I will be more than happy to give you referrals to psychiatrists where you can discuss your needs. The choice about whether or not to take medications is entirely up to you, but you should know that there are many non-medication treatments that have been proven to successfully treat anxiety.
Are you ready to take back control over your life and stop worrying? Then call me for a free consultation. I would be more than happy to discuss your unique needs and concerns about Anxiety, CBT, or Mindfulness with you.
“I worked professionally, in the same organization, as Brittainy for almost three years. In all of my experience with Brittainy, she has been friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and professional. It is my pleasure to recommend strongly that you consider her as your counselor.”
-Anthony P. Blackburn, LCSW, MBA Owner, Texoma Counseling Associates