Do You Feel Like Stress and Anxiety Have Taken Over Your Life?
Is it difficult to control your negative thoughts? Do you have problems sleeping because you can’t stop the worries running through your head? Perhaps you’ve experienced the symptoms of a panic attack, such as a racing heart or shortness of breath. It may be that you often feel like others are judging you or you don’t fit in. You may feel distracted by a stream of intrusive anxious thoughts. Maybe work stress is making it difficult to excel in your field while social worries are holding you back from fulfilling relationships. Do you ever wish you could just relax and breathe for a while? Wouldn’t it be nice to feel more in control of your life?
Many people struggle with a condition known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). People with GAD worry all the time about their finances, health, jobs and relationships. They always expect the worst from a situation even when they realize their anxiety is far more severe than is warranted. Generalized Anxiety Disorder can make it difficult to sleep and cause irritability. Some people report feeling restless and a sense of being on edge much of the time. Others describe problems with focus and concentration.
Living with the symptoms of anxiety can be draining. For many, much of this is due to the unrelenting nature of their “inner critic.” Without prompting, the inner critic will replay events from your past again and again. This can cause you to suffer feelings of embarrassment, guilt or anger with yourself for actions the critic judges to be flawed. At other times, your critic may comment negatively on an event as you experience it, causing you to develop symptoms of social anxiety and become distracted, flustered and self-conscious with others. People with anxiety issues may also spend a great deal of time thinking about future events and anticipating the worst-case scenario. They often feel worried that they will make mistakes or face external judgments that echo the judgments they already pile on themselves. If your inner critic works overtime to hold you back from connecting with others, you may have social anxiety.
Heightened distress and anxiety can sometimes lead to a panic attack. Panic attacks are characterized by intense fear, a sense of being detached from the world and the feeling of having a heart attack. Panic attacks can come on quite suddenly – usually over the course of 10 minutes. You might notice frightening heart palpitations, sweating, chest pain, nausea, dizziness or shortness of breath. Many people with panic disorder avoid going out because they fear being overtaken with an attack while they are in public. They may fear being helpless and overwhelmed in a situation they cannot control.
We hear from media and friends that life is busy and that stress is at epidemic levels. It’s true that everyone experiences worry and discomfort from time to time. It’s normal to have “butterflies” in your stomach before a big presentation or a first date. Sometimes, the rush of anxiety can also bring a sense of excitement. However, 3-4 percent of the adult population experiences symptoms of severe anxiety or an ongoing sense of dread on a daily basis – sometimes suffering for years before getting help. Over time, fears about the future and negative self-judgments can hold you back from taking on new challenges and limit your potential at home and at work. If anxiety is limiting your life, it may be time to seek help.
I know that living with anxiety and stress is not easy. My practice is devoted to helping men overcome these obstacles so they can discover their best lives. During anxiety treatment, you and I can address the root sources of your distress and work together to tackle the self-defeating patterns that are holding you back. I utilize several treatment methods in for helping you to control Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic attacks and social anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most widely used form of anxiety treatment today. Research has shown that CBT can help you develop new ways to think, behave and react when you are confronted with anxious and fearful feelings. CBT teaches that it is our thoughts – and not the environment – that affect the way we feel. In other words, it’s not the situation, but rather our perception of the situation that determines how we feel. As we work together, I can help you shift your perception and develop new tools to manage stressful situations with greater resilience.
Mindfulness is a relaxation technique and approach to living. Drawing on my experience and training, I can help you create a mindfulness practice that will work for your unique personality and needs. With mindfulness techniques, I can help you train yourself to approach problems and anxieties differently. You’ll learn to become more of an observer to your intense feelings of anxiety so you are not simply reacting or feeling overwhelmed by the events in your life.
Psychotherapy is a collaborative experience that involves detailed discussions of your thoughts and feelings in relation to past and present events which influence your ability to cope effectively with anxiety. Anxiety therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space for you to feel supported as you work through these challenges. As an objective observer to your experience, I am able to help you identify problematic thought and behavior patterns that keep you anxious and overwhelmed by worries.
It is possible to get a handle on your anxiety problem. I’ve helped many people break through the fog and isolation of anxiety to feel more relaxed, improve their relationships and calm fearful thoughts when the world seems out of control. Clients report that anxiety treatment has helped them to sleep better and feel less overwhelmed by the day-to-day challenges of life. With help, you can feel better about yourself and move through your days with greater ease.
I can’t afford therapy for anxiety.
I can help you to utilize your insurance to reduce the cost of treatment. If you are confused about your insurance coverage, I retain a highly trained medical billing assistant who can answer questions and walk you through the steps to obtain reimbursement for treatment. At the end of the day, research has demonstrated that treatment for anxiety is an investment in your well-being. It pays for itself many times over in improved heath, increased focus and greater life satisfaction.
I’m really busy. I can’t make time for anxiety therapy.
If you’re like most people who come to my practice, you already spend an inordinate amount of time with unproductive strategies to cope with worries and anxieties. Given work and travel schedules, it can often be difficult to squeeze everything in. But if you could sleep better, stop obsessing over your perceived mistakes and focus more fully on your work and relationships, you will find that setting aside this time provides tangible benefits. I offer phone sessions when you are not able to make it to the office.
It’s time to start learning to manage your stress and get your anxiety under control. Let’s talk about how I can help you become focused on the important things in life so that you can reconnect with your dreams. Please don’t wait one more day to start feeling better. Contact me now; I’d like to help.
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