Does COVID-19 have you on edge or expecting the worst?
If you are experiencing more anxious thoughts or feelings than usual right now, you’re not alone. Even if you haven’t been personally affected by the virus, you may feel overwhelmed with worry, fear, and frustration.
You might have a hard time concentrating at work or at home, especially with so much uncertainty about how the current crisis will affect you and your family’s health and finances. How can you stay connected with the important people in your life when you feel too worried or unsafe to attend activities or maintain relationships? What can you do to stay productive when distressing physical symptoms have left you feeling bogged down and too exhausted to function? And how can you take down the walls that you’ve put up when it seems like no one understands what you’re going through?
Even if you and your family are safe, you might be stuck at home together all day every day, and that has introduced more stress and anxiety than you’re used to dealing with.
With Online Therapy, I can help you manage anxiety so you can find relief and begin enjoying life again.
Reach out if you would like to chat with me to see if working together makes sense
Are You Overwhelmed With Worry, Doubt And Fear?
Are you constantly on edge or anticipating worst-case scenarios? Do you often feel irritable, fearful or so bogged down with worry that you struggle to concentrate or connect in relationships? Perhaps you are plagued by negative, racing or even illogical thoughts that you can’t shut off. Or maybe your anxiety is manifesting physically through a racing heartbeat, excessive sweating or noticeable changes in eating and sleeping patterns. Have you begun to avoid activities that you once enjoyed for fear that panic will set in and you’ll be unsafe? Do you wish you could find a way to calm your mind and body and breathe – if even for just a moment?
Living with anxiety can be a frustrating, confining and even frightening experience. It can affect relationships and productivity at work and even make daily tasks feel unmanageable. Your family members and friends may struggle to understand your experience, which can further stress relationships and lead to feelings of isolation. The constant catastrophic or perfectionistic thinking, heightened emotions and uncomfortable body sensations that accompany anxiety can keep you in a painful cycle. Because anxiety is so difficult to shut off and get away from, it can significantly impact all aspects of your life and make you wonder if you can ever let go of fear, experience relief and enjoy life again.
Anxiety Is Extremely Common in Our Culture
Anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed mental health issue in the U.S., affecting nearly 40 million adults. It presents on a wide-spectrum, and symptoms can vary from low-level, persistent worry to becoming so consumed with fear that it becomes impossible to leave the house. While some people are prone to anxiety because of genetics or a highly anxious parent or spouse, anxiety can also develop following a trauma, loss or a major life transition. Almost everyone dealing with anxiety could benefit from counseling, but, for some people, getting help may be critical to current and future wellbeing. If you’re struggling with racing thoughts, physical symptoms and incessant worries that are keeping you from living the life you want to, anxiety treatment can provide you with the support, relief and tools you need to heal.
Anxiety Treatment Can Help You Let Go of Worries and Fear
The good news is that while anxiety is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions, with the help of an experienced and supportive therapist, it’s also one of the most easily and commonly treated.
I will provide you with a safe, nonjudgmental and supportive space as we identify and address the source or sources of your anxiety. We can explore how anxiety entered your life and when excessive worry and fear started to dominate your thoughts and create uncomfortable feelings and body sensations. Through this exploration, you can better understand your anxiety and begin to address and manage it.
Anxiety is usually fueled by persistent negative, worrisome and oftentimes irrational thoughts. In sessions, you can begin to develop a more positive and practical self-talk practice. Often, simply developing an increased self-awareness through using mindfulness techniques can provide immediate relief. Once thoughts are reframed, feelings and behaviors often shift as well. In anxiety treatment, you can also learn tools to help yourself in the moments when heightened anxiety sets in. Through breathing practices and other relaxation techniques, you can calm yourself before the anxious thoughts turn to feelings and become body sensations. In a sense, you can learn how to stop the looping pattern of thoughts, feelings and physical discomforts at the onset of anxiety.
Anxiety treatment is a process, but with a willingness to do the work, it’s possible to experience relief and long-lasting results. Anxiety is manageable and can be overcome. With help, you can feel better, build self-confidence and live a life free of fear.
Although you may recognize that you need help, you still may have questions or concerns about anxiety treatment…
I think that I’m ready for help, but I’m worried about how long therapy will take and how much it will cost.
I encourage you to look at anxiety treatment as an investment in your current and future wellbeing – as well as the wellbeing of your friends and family. Anxiety can often be contagious and negatively impact the people you love. Furthermore, when you’re anxious, it’s hard to concentrate and be present, which can affect productivity at work and put further strain on relationships. Beyond just the emotional and relationship costs, untreated anxiety can lead to medical expenses and lost time at work. All the time that you now spend worrying could be used to do something productive. And, therapy doesn’t have to take forever. Sometimes, simply gaining a better understanding of your experience and learning tools to help mitigate anxiety symptoms can lead to relief.
I’ve felt bad for so long. I’m not sure that anything – even anxiety treatment – can help me.
Anxiety truly is one of the most treatable mental health issues, and therapy has worked for so many people before you. Over the last decade, I’ve seen countless clients successfully overcome anxiety and move forward to enjoy calm, peaceful and functional lives. And, anxiety treatment can work for you, too. In therapy, you can begin to think about your experience in a more rational and productive way. You can improve your self-esteem and performance in many areas of your life. You can find relief.
How do I know if these uncomfortable thoughts and feeling will pass or if I really have anxiety and need help?
If the above message resonates with you, you likely are experiencing anxiety and could benefit from help. That said, your discomfort may pass on its own, but in therapy, you can learn to better understand the sources of your anxiety, manage your triggers and feel better sooner. If you’re suffering and anxiety is impacting your ability to live the life you want to, I encourage you to be proactive and seek help.
I invite you to call me for a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your specific needs and to answer any questions you may have about anxiety treatment and my practice.
