Do I need therapy for anxiety?
Just like anger, sadness, and joy, anxiety is a normal human experience. In fact, we need some healthy anxiety to help us stay driven and motivated. For example, if you weren’t a bit worried about losing your job for showing up late, you might not push yourself to wake up on time.
Unfortunately, many people struggle with unhealthy anxiety, which is why it is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the U.S.
Some of the most common signs of unhealthy anxiety include:
- DIFFICULTY SLEEPING
- FEELING ON-EDGE OR TENSE
- RACING THOUGHTS
- TROUBLE CONCENTRATING
- STOMACH ACHES AND NAUSEA
- POUNDING HEART, SWEATING, SHAKING
- SOCIAL DISCOMFORT
While healthy anxiety helps us accomplish what we need, unhealthy anxiety causes problems. Left untreated, it can affect your career, your relationships, and even your physical health as people with chronic anxiety tend to be at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.
WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY?
Anxiety is an emotional response to stress; therefore, the initial root cause of an anxiety disorder be traced to a wide range of stressors, such as:
- Being bullied or harassed
- Changes in employment
- Being part of an abusive or conflictual relationship
- Discrimination and bias
- Loss of a friend, partner, family member, or pet
- Work stress
- Financial strain and debt
- Surviving a traumatic event
- Uncertain political or economic climate
- Specific fears, such as spiders, snakes, germs, etc.
- Having to perform (e.g., public speaking, athletics, dating, etc.)
Many of us try to avoid these stressors, which creates what therapists call the cycle of avoidance:
Stressors make us feel anxious, and most feelings of anxiety are uncomfortable. Humans naturally try to avoid uncomfortable things, and so we try desperately to avoid future stressors. This includes doing things like trying to problem-solve, rethinking and overthinking, and coming up with strategies to steer clear of the stressor altogether. For example, people with social anxiety will often try to come up with excuses or “act sick” to avoid going to social gatherings.
However, the more we avoid our stressors, the more intense the fear becomes, and the cycle continues. We worry more often, our body stays on high alert, and anxiety begins to consume our emotional resources. Additionally, if your parents or grandparents suffered from anxiety, your risk of getting caught in the cycle increases significantly.
Do not let anxiety continue to keep you from living your best life. Contact Ace Counseling Group today to get the help you need
HOW WILL PSYCHOTHERAPY HELP WITH MY ANXIETY?
Psychotherapy has time and time again been proven to be the gold standard treatment for anxiety. Therapy for anxiety can help you learn how to:
- Confront your fears
- Break the cycle of avoidance
- Use mind and body calming techniques
- Focus on what matters most
- Sleep better
- Enhance feelings of self-worth and empowerment
- Discover your hidden strengths
- Find lasting freedom from anxiety
Welcome to ACE Counseling Group! Our Team of Therapists has successfully helped people, just like you, overcome and manage perpetual anxiety, nervousness, panic attacks, sinking gut feelings, and ferris wheel mindsets. We give people the ability to think well and to think clearly. We commend you for looking for help, and we know reaching out is the hardest step. We are here to help and you don’t have to do this alone. We look forward to meeting you and to seeing how we can start improving your mindset and your life today. Ready to talk? Schedule below.