Anxiety

We are fortunate. We live in a time where we have access to effective drug-free treatments for anxiety. Although talk therapy is an essential healing approach for many, it may not always be the right choice for treating anxiety. This can leave those who struggle with anxiety wondering what to do. It's especially true if they are in search of drug-free treatments for anxiety. If this applies to you, be assured, there are effective, drug-free methods available to treat anxiety. These modalities take anxiety treatment a step further by going beyond talk therapy to utilize other resources that you might not have [...]

Every day can feel like a battle when dealing with symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Doing things that most take for granted, such as going to work or attending class can become utterly overwhelming. Plus, there are social engagements that you are expected to attend. Whether it’s a team meeting at work or friends wanting to get together for a few drinks on Friday, the result is the same. As soon as you walk through the door, you begin to feel anxious and stressed. What can you do? You know that hiding in your room isn’t possible (although you’d really like to). Instead, consider [...]

Sometimes, the search for getting help with chronic or severe anxiety can be as nerve-wracking as the anxiety itself. So many questions and doubts can exist. Will therapy really work for me? Which treatment options will be the most effective? How will this be any different than my previous treatment experiences? After all, it’s very discouraging if you have already been to anxiety treatment before, and it didn’t work. However, that doesn’t mean that therapy, in the long run, can't be beneficial. Maybe you just haven’t found what works yet. Consider these potential treatment options for anxiety and whether they may [...]

"I'm so OCD".  Joking about our own personal peccadillos, we sometimes toss this phrase around lightly. But for the 1 in 4o Americans who actually suffer from it, living with OCD, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, can be pretty unfunny. Recovery from OCD is possible, though for many, it's not so easy. As a practicing therapist, I've been fortunate to help clients overcome OCD symptoms. And I also seen some people stay stuck. Living With OCD? Here Are Some Tips.   First, Lean Into Anxiety. When we feel anxious or scared, a natural response is to do what we can to get [...]

Medical issues can be complicated. And when health problems are chronic, there are often many strands to unravel. A common contributing factor in poor health is stress. How can you know when stress makes you ill? Stress Is Everywhere, And It's Increasing A little stress can be a good thing. If you want to strengthen your muscles. you do it by working out. You intentionally stress your body in order to build it up. But if you overdo your workouts, you harm yourself. Like a person who is overtraining, many of us are harming ourselves with stress levels that are too [...]

When you're living with anxiety, you need multiple tools in your toolbox to deal with a panic attack. You can’t just rely on one trick. It's a good thing to have an idea of what to do when you feel panicky. After all, a panic attack could happen when you least expect it. It’s a lot harder to go for a walk to work off the anxiety when you’re stuck in your car during the morning commute! If you’ve dealt with panic attacks your whole life but are still struggling, you need a variety of strategies to fall back on, depending [...]

Coping with panic attacks; it's easier said than done. Panic attacks can be a very scary and debilitating experience. And if you have had one, you might be constantly on alert, dreading the possibility of the next attack. When you are stuck in the middle of an attack, you often feel powerless to do anything about it. Many client have the told me of the terror they felt when they wondered if they were having a heart attack. This very sense of feeling powerless over your own body and mind actually adds to the fearful negative mix of feelings that you [...]

It can be hard to understand why you have chronic anxiety or even trauma-induced anxiety. After all, you’ve felt this way for such a long time, as far back as you can remember. And this makes it difficult to understand and gain perspective on not only the source of your problem but also what to do about it. The key may be exploring early life trauma experiences. By studying your past, it’s possible to connect those early experiences to why you struggle with anxiety now as an adult. Although this may not be an easy thing to do, it does hold the [...]

Anxiety Symptoms in Teens Can Be Different It's common enough for adults to have trouble recognizing their own struggle with anxiety. And it can be even more difficult to see when your teen is suffering. Anxiety symptoms in teens can be hard to read. How can you tell whether what you are seeing is just "typical teen behavior", or is a problem that needs some attention. Recently, "Karen" talked with me about her dilemma.  She confided that she doesn't want to be "a worry wart". But she also doesn't want to neglect her son if he is suffering. Some Teens Suffer [...]

You thought you knew everything about anxiety. After all, you have to face it every single day of your life, right? There’s the constant worrying that’s always in the back of your head. Or the stress that you face when you experience a trigger. Sure, you've noticed that anxiety can make your heart beat faster or your breathing to be more labored. And that when you get stressed you usually begin to sweat a little. However, did you know the effects of anxiety on the body can actually much more severe than that? We are discovering more about the body-mind connection all the [...]