One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to learn about your own anxiety: your symptoms, what triggers it, and what coping mechanisms have been effective in the past. When you learn what your anxiety is tied to, it can help you be mindful of what’s really happening as well as prevent and mitigate symptoms by processing and working through the issue in therapy. Other strategies that have been shown to help manage anxiety are meditation, challenging anxious thoughts, exercising, and journaling.
If you struggle with anxiety, working with a mental health professional can help. Call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Cornelius, NC to get started with one of our counselors or therapists. You can schedule online or give us a call at (980) 217-8678.
Anxiety: Symptoms and Types
Anxiety is a common mental disorder that can look different for everyone. There are many different forms of anxiety that present themselves in different ways.
Some of the most common types of anxiety are:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): This is a disorder that involves excessive and persistent worry about activities or events –– even normal, everyday issues. The level of fear is often out of proportion with the reality of the event. Symptoms of GAD include excessive worry, restlessness, exhaustion, irritability, sweating, and trembling.
- Panic disorder: Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks, which are intense surges of fear and anxiety that can peak quickly. These attacks can be scary, so someone with a panic disorder might spend a lot of time and energy avoiding situations that can cause an attack. Symptoms associated with panic attacks include racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, trembling, lightheadedness, and chest tightness.
- Phobias: Phobias are marked by an intense fear response to a specific stimulus. Someone with a phobia disorder could be terrified of a certain animal, heights, the dark, thunderstorms, or something else. People with a phobia disorder often spend an unnecessary amount of time and effort avoiding the source of their fear.
Anxiety symptoms can overwhelm everything else in your life but treatment can help you feel better and chart a healthier future. Call our office today at Thriveworks Counseling in Cornelius, NC to start working with a therapist or counselor.
How Can a Therapist or Counselor Help Me?
Therapists and counselors are trained in treating anxiety. They’re able to create a space for you to discuss your worries and fears in order to move past them. A provider can guide you through psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, to reduce anxiety and make it easier to manage.
There are many different types of therapy that can be used depending on your specific disorder and presentation of symptoms. One commonly used therapeutic technique is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is used to treat a wide variety of mental disorders, including anxiety. CBT targets unhealthy thought patterns and cognitive distortions. Your anxiety therapist or counselor will work with you to see how your thoughts impact your life and work with you to change them.
Other forms of therapy include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure therapy, and psychoanalysis. Regardless, of the therapeutic method chosen, your counselor or therapist will first spend time getting to know you and your situation. From there, they’ll create an individualized treatment plan that targets your specific issues and symptoms. You’ll work together over the course of future therapy sessions to learn coping skills and relaxation techniques to help manage your anxiety in the long run and reduce stress in your life.
No matter what your anxiety may look like, a professional from Thriveworks Counseling in Cornelius, NC can help you manage it to live a happier life. Call our office today to get started.
Schedule Your First Session at Thriveworks in Cornelius, NC
Working with a therapist or counselor from Thriveworks Counseling in Cornelius, NC can help you manage stress and reduce anxiety in your life.
We offer flexible cancellations and rescheduling to accommodate your busy schedule. We also accept many major health insurance plans to help make treatment more affordable.
Call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Cornelius, NC today to get started. Our scheduling team will help—book online or reach out at (980) 217-8678 to begin.
