Anxiety

 

Anxiety vs Normal Stress/Worrying

Everyone worries sometimes. It is normal and adaptive to worry in stressful situations. Worry helps us identify danger, keeps us safe, and can act as a motivator to take action.

Anxiety is different. Anxiety is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worrying that causes significant distress and interferes with a person’s social, vocational, academic or daily functioning.

 

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from anxiety:

• Persistent worrying or anxiety about a number of areas that are out of proportion to the impact of the events

• Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case outcomes

• Perceiving situations and events as threatening, even when they aren't

• Difficulty handling uncertainty

• Indecisiveness and fear of making the wrong decision

• Inability to set aside or let go of a worry

• Inability to relax, feeling restless, and feeling keyed up or on edge

• Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind "goes blank"

 

You may also experience some of these physical signs and symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Trouble sleeping

• Muscle tension or muscle aches

• Trembling, feeling twitchy

• Nervousness or being easily startled

• Sweating

• Nausea, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome

• Irritability

 

How therapy can help

Psychotherapy (talk therapy) can help you manage your anxiety in a number of ways.

Therapy can help you:

• Gain insight into the patterns of thinking that result in anxious feelings

• Learn to look at situations in new, less frightening ways

• Learn to identify the thoughts that trigger anxious feelings

• Learn to be more mindful and present in the moment instead of focused on future what-ifs

• Teach you more effective coping skills

• Teach you how to take control of your anxiety

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Corona Virus

It’s normal to be anxious when there are new threats in your world. Many people are able to cope with these anxieties, even as stresses mount. But, for some people, the anxiety continues to build. If you’re feeling this, you’ve come to the right place.

 

The coronavirus pandemic that the world is now experiencing is a scary thing. Local and national governments are making hard choices to decrease the likelihood of the spread of the virus. People are taking their own measures as well. The way people talk about the virus betrays varying degrees of fear and anxiety. It makes you think about how it could affect yourself and the people you love. Panic driven behavior, such as purchasing large quantities of hand sanitizer, can make you think about your response. Is it enough? Should I be more worried. An ever growing spiral may develop.

 

BUT, you can learn how to manage your anxiety effectively. I know this because I have helped dozens of people transform their experience of their lives from one of inhibiting worry, anxiety, and nervousness to one of open possibilities. The new modality of online therapy provides the perfect solution to the conflict between protecting yourself and your loved ones from the virus and seeking help for your emotional distress. Together, we can develop your coping skills to help you make it through this crisis.

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Crucially, in these crazy times, Head and Heart Therapy offers Teletherapy to allow you to get the help you need wherever you are!