Is Anxiety Interfering With Your Life?

• Are you experiencing illogical, racing or obsessive thoughts?
• Are you easily triggered, constantly wired or unable to relax?
• Have you developed a pattern of avoidance or procrastination?
• Do you often feel a sense of panic or an impending sense of doom?
• Do you wish you could find a way to turn off your frantic thoughts, feel more comfortable in your body and breathe – even if just for a few minutes?

Living with heightened anxiety can be a painful, frustrating and, for some, a frightening experience. Anxiety is often accompanied by excessive worry, sometimes over seemingly small issues, which can create both an emotional and physical sense of tension and dread.

Chronic stress or dread can make it difficult to concentrate and complete tasks. These feelings can also alter your sleeping and eating patterns. Many people facing ongoing anxiety try alleviating their discomfort by avoiding situations or people that trigger their distress. Unfortunately, avoidance tactics can make things worse and develop into a pattern of chronic procrastination that can negatively impact productivity, relationships and one’s sense of self worth.

Your Anxiety May Be Trying To Tell You Something

While most people experience mild anxiety now and then, heightened anxiety can be an indication that something is wrong or out of balance within your life. There are many causes for adult anxiety, including trauma, illness, major life transitions, acute stress or a sensitive temperament, which may predispose you to worry. At times, there is a clear explanation for what is triggering your worries (speaking to a large group, taking the bar exam or meeting your new in-laws for the first time).  However, at other times, the cause of anxiety isn’t as apparent, which may leave you feeling confused and even more unsettled. Thankfully, adult anxiety counseling can help clarify the source(s) of your anxiety and offer you effective methods for alleviating your pain.

Anxiety Treatment and Counseling Can Help You Reclaim Your Life

Your intense anxiety or worrying may be an indication that you are feeling out-of-control in your life or do not feel that you have the ability to handle difficult or pressing issues well. These feelings can significantly impact self-confidence, increase physical and emotional stress and can sometimes paralyze you from acting at all.

Your Orenstein Solutions therapist can help you identify and address the thoughts and situations that are contributing to your anxiety. In a safe, supportive and nonjudgmental environment, you can work through difficult emotions and learn ways to gain more control over your thoughts and your life. In your counseling sessions, you can also develop more self-awareness, breathing techniques and other mindfulness-based stress reduction strategies to reduce anxiety and tension. As you develop more mindfulness, you can also begin to identify, examine and address any self-limiting behaviors or negative self-beliefs that keep you from coping effectively. With help, it is possible to shift your perception of yourself and your life situation and to feel more positive and empowered.

Even if you’re feeling hopeless right now, it is possible to better understand yourself and your anxiety and to begin feeling better. With help, you can learn practical, attainable skills to help you better manage your painful symptoms and work through the issues that are getting in your way. It is possible to gain more control over your anxious thoughts and feelings, as well as let go of the thoughts and emotions that are keeping you from living a peaceful and pleasurable life.

But, you still may have questions or concerns…

Anxiety treatment can take a lot of time and it isn’t cheap. I’m not sure it’s worthwhile.

Anxiety counseling is an investment in yourself and in your family. Anxiety can impact your productivity at work, as well as your relationship with friends and family. By investing in yourself now, you are not only creating the opportunity to feel better sooner, but you are also protecting other areas in your life that can suffer when you’re not feeling well.

I’m worried that if I pursue anxiety treatment I might learn that something is really wrong with me and that I’ll lose control of my life.

You may discover something is wrong in your life, but that can be a very good thing.   Your anxiety may be your inner wisdom crying out for attention or a sign that something in your life is out of balance. We need to be attuned to our feelings and seek to understand what they are telling us. And, addressing heavy and difficult emotions with a professional therapist will make it less likely that you’ll lose control. When you better understand your anxiety and gain self-awareness and healthy coping skills, you can become more effective at handling difficult emotions and situations. So, when you reach out for anxiety counseling, you are making steps to feel and function better and to regain control of your life.

I’m afraid that anxiety counseling will shine a light on all that is making me feel bad and make me feel even worse.

Anxiety treatment will not make anything worse. What it will do, however, is make you more aware of what’s not working in your life. This awareness can sometimes be painful, but sifting and sorting through that pain is a necessary step for learning about yourself and moving forward.

Your Orenstein Solutions therapist can help you identify self-limiting beliefs, offer practical and thoughtful feedback, and gently push you in ways that you may not be able to push yourself. Your therapist can help you discover new perspectives, creative solutions, highlight your progress and remind you to breathe. Working through your issues now can bring relief to your life sooner, as well as help to improve your confidence and ability to handle stress and conflict.

It takes courage to face anxiety and related issues, and although it may feel more comfortable (in the short run) to hide, it is much more rewarding to face your challenges and overcome them. Your Orenstein Solutions therapist will be there to coach you through trials and push you in ways that you cannot push yourself. Your therapist can also highlight and celebrate your successes.

With healthy coping skills under your belt, you will not only be equipped to cope with your current stressors, but also other challenges that may arise in the future.