IS ANXIETY CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE?

             

Are Anxiety and worry keeping you up at night?

        

Are you finding it difficult or nearly impossible to stop the anxious thoughts?

        

Do you find yourself imagining worst case scenarios?

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Has the anxiety become so intense you now have anxiety about your anxiety?

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Does a part of you know your anxious thoughts are somewhat irrational, but you still cannot stop yourself from worrying?

 

Anxiety can become extremely uncomfortable making it difficult to get through your day. It can rob you of your happiness and peace of mind. All the "what if's" flood your mind: "What if this happens?" "What if that happens?" They become and anxious loop on endless repeat in your mind making it difficult to focus on the tasks at hand. You analyze the situation over and over in order to convince yourself there is nothing to worry about. But just as you begin to feel a sense of relief, your mind comes up with yet another aspect you hadn't thought about. And the anxiety loop ramps up yet once again!

 

Maybe you've been experiencing sudden and intense Anxiety as in a panic attack. It hits you out of the clear blue! Your heart starts racing. Your breathing becomes rapid. You may feel flushed and break out in a sweat. You may even feel like you're going to lose control!                                                

 

Perhaps your anxiety and worry make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. You lay in bed watching the time go by.  Minutes turn into hours, and still sleep evades you. Just as you finally quiet your mind and are about to nod off, your alarm goes off.  Somehow you make it through the next day, barely keeping your eyes open at times. But as bedtime approaches, you start feeling anxious, wondering if you’ll be able to sleep even though you’re exhausted. And once again, you find yourself lying there, eyes wide-open!

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YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

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In a study cited by the National Institute of Mental Health that took place from 2001-2003*, it was estimated that 19.1% of U.S. adults experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year.  That’s almost 20 percent of U.S. adults! I can only imagine that number has increased in the years following, given the ever-growing complexities of our world.

 

IS REAL CHANGE POSSIBLE? CAN THINGS GET BETTER?

 

You may be wondering if you’ll have to live with anxiety for the rest of your life. You may be wondering if things can ever get better. The wonderful news is that anxiety is very treatable! Real relief is possible! Anxiety doesn’t have to interfere with your quality of life. It doesn’t have to rob you of your joy. I know this because I’ve had clients who have experienced significant improvements. I also believe this because I’ve experienced relief in my own struggle with anxiety. This is what drives my passion to help others!

 

Of course, as humans there are times where we all experience anxiety. In fact, some level of anxiety is good for you. It helps you be alert and mentally sharp during challenging tasks, like taking a test. So, our counseling goal is not to get rid of all anxiety.  Our goal is, however, to equip you with the tools you need to be able to appropriately handle the inevitable stressors that come your way, but in time, with much less fear and angst than before.

 

IF I SEEK ANXIETY COUNSELING (TREATMENT), WILL I BE PUT ON MEDICATION?

 

I understand this concern. First, I’m a therapist and not a psychiatrist, so I personally will not be writing anyone a prescription. Secondly, there are many strategies we can utilize to help reduce your level of anxiety that do not include medication. There are instances where medications such as antidepressants might be a necessary part of treatment, however. This would be true, for instance, when the experience of anxiety is so severe that it interferes with one’s ability to engage in necessary daily living skills. In all cases where medication is needed, the medication is used to take the edge off the anxiety so that the strategies learned in counseling will be more effective. Anxiety Counseling (or treatment) options are always explored together between the counselor and the client. And no treatment takes place without your informed consent.

 

 

IF I NEED ANXIETY COUNSELING DOES THIS MEAN I’M “CRAZY”?

 

Absolutely not! If that’s the case, 20 percent of the U.S. adult population fall into that category! If you think about it, that means almost two out of every ten adults are dealing with some level of anxiety.

 

I strongly dislike the term “crazy” anyway. It’s a gross mischaracterization of a challenge millions of us face. However, I needed to address this misconception because I’ve heard it voiced so many times.  Unchallenged, this belief could hold you back from the very treatment you need. It’s unfortunate that there still remains a stigma associated in having anxiety or Depression. Don’t let this keep you from seeking help. Together, we can turn things around!

 

SO HOW DOES ANXIETY COUNSELING WORK?

 

As I said above, anxiety is a very treatable condition! That’s really good news! You can retrain your brain to be less anxious! And it can happen quicker than you might think! I can teach you several strategies to utilize when you are experiencing anxiety or panic. These real-life practical tools are easy to implement and can be used anywhere.  These techniques directly counteract the physiological symptoms of anxiety and can help bring much needed relief!

 

We can also rewire your brain, over time, to be less anxious overall. Mindfulness exercises are a wonderful tool in this regard. I can explain what this means and how they are used. When used consistently, these will help you be able to respond to the inevitable stressors of life in a more calm and rational manner.

 

It is also helpful to look at the role your thoughts are playing in your anxious responses. What we tell ourselves about the challenges we are facing can have more of a negative impact upon our emotions than the actual stressful situation itself. In Anxiety Counseling (or treatment) we can identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more helpful ones to focus on.

 

As Christians, we know that the battlefield is in our mind. That is why it’s important to identify negative beliefs and refocus our mind onto the promises of God. As you become more disciplined in this area, you’ll be surprised at the positive difference this will make on your overall attitude towards life and on your general sense of well-being.

 

Again, the good news is that you don’t have to live with debilitating, or even aggravating, symptoms of anxiety that consistently rob you of the joy of being in the moment. Real change is possible!

 

I’ve been in private practice since 2005. Because I’ve suffered with anxiety myself and have found significant relief, I have a passion in working with others who are struggling with the same challenges.  

 

 

SO, WHAT’S MY FIRST STEP?

 

It is easy to get started. Simply complete this contact form on this website and/or call me and leave a voicemail.  You can reach me at 817-320-4619.  Flat rates for the sessions are $125 for a 45-50-minute session, with $150 for the initial session. That being said, I am more than happy to negotiate a discounted rate on a case-by-case basis. I do this frequently. Please do not hesitate to ask.

 

Contact me if you would like to schedule a free 15-20-minute consultation to answer any questions you might have about starting counseling services.

 

I am looking forward to partnering with you!

 

*https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml1

 

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