Therapy for Anxiety, Worry, Fear, Panic
Anxiety has many names, such as worrying, being fearful, or scared. Sometimes it may come in
the form of panic or obsessive compulsive behaviors, or paranoia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Regardless of how it manifests itself, it does not get better with time, and usually becomes more troublesome as time goes on, spreading like a cancer from one situation to another. Anxiety is the most diagnosed illness in the USA, even above heart attacks or cancer.
Do you know why being “worried, scared, or anxious” serves a good purpose for us? It is there to help us prepare for something we are not knowledgeable about. For example, we all get a little worried as we start a new project or a new job or even a new relationship. We want to do well, so worrying helps us be more “on our toes” to learn as fast as possible.
However, there are times when we worry too much; do not feel in control. Our system is in “overdrive” and we cannot calm it. Sometimes we use alcohol or drugs to attempt to calm ourselves but, in the end, we are even more distressed. Sometimes we attempt to avoid the situation, but eventually we find ourselves still worrying or having to face the problem and are not prepared. Often when anxiety is repressed, it will come out in the form of panic at the least opportune time. For example a person can be shopping in a store and feel they have to rush out of it just to breathe. Others might feel they are having a heart attack. They end up in the ER where they are told it is a panic attack.
A therapist can often help the person learn new coping skills. The therapist may also need to teach the person how to relax so they can think more clearly and sleep more fully. Anxiety is very treatable and you do not have to live with fear.
I have treated numerous people with all kinds of anxiety. Is it not time for you to live without that fear in your stomach or that pain in your head or that fear of a heart attack or that fear of speaking up for yourself? Make the call to help yourself.