If you grew up in a family or community where mental health was not discussed, you might assume that your excessive worrying and fear is part of being a human. All humans experience worry, fear, or even panic from time to time.
Sometimes situations or circumstances like losing a job or breaking up with a partner can temporarily cause an increase in anxiety symptoms. Typically, your anxiety goes away once you’ve adjusted to the changes. But outside of any recent and major changes, if you’re still constantly worried, tense, or irritable and have trouble eating properly, getting enough sleep, or concentrating, you might have anxiety. In other words, things could be going “well” but you may not be able to shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen and you won’t be able to cope.
Most of us cope with anxiety by avoiding our triggers. Unfortunately, avoidance increases anxiety. So how do you break the cycle?
In our sessions, I will teach you how to manage your anxiety. We will identify the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors so that you can learn to rewire your anxious brain. We will challenge cognitive distortions (unhelpful and unproductive thoughts) and replace them with more neutral, realistic thoughts. Over time, this leads to decreased anxiety. You will learn how various mindfulness and healthy coping skills can help to keep you living in the present rather than rehashing past mistakes or dreading future problems.
We will reduce your avoidance behaviors by planning safe exposures to your anxiety triggers. These behavioral experiments will help you test the validity of those cognitive distortions and fears. In other words, when you face your fears, and you’re able to use your coping skills, you discover that you’re capable and resilient.
