What We Treat
Anxiety
Anxiety is a broad term that covers a spectrum of stressors.
Many factors can contribute to anxiety, including chronic stress, major life events, certain medical conditions, past trauma, or genetics.
Our therapists are trained to help you understand when your “worry” thoughts are intrusive or unhelpful, identify skills to cope with situations that you fear, and increase your mindfulness and acceptance of anxiety.
The Root Causes of Anxiety
The causes are not fully known, but many factors can contribute to anxiety, including chronic stress, major life events, certain medical conditions (such as diabetes or depression), past trauma, social situations, or genetics.
Tell-tale Signs
- Feel panicked, fearful, uneasy
- Frequently feeling worried, unable to control worry
- Feeling restless, on edge
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Cold or sweaty hands or feet, tightness in chest, and/or shortness of breath
- Thinking about a problem from the past over and over again (ruminating)
- Constantly worrying about the future or things going wrong.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders encompass numerous forms, each with specific characteristics:
- Panic Disorder: Repeated episodes of sudden, intense fear that come on quickly and peak within minutes.
- Phobias: Intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as spiders or flying.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Extreme fear of being scrutinized and judged by others in social or performance situations.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Characterized by chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life.
- Agoraphobia: Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: Fear of being away from home or loved ones.
- Selective Mutism: A consistent failure to speak in certain situations, like school, even when they can speak in other situations.
Each of these disorders can significantly impact a person’s daily functioning and well-being, making treatment crucial.
The Impact of Anxiety
Anxiety can deeply affect mental and physical health, as well as daily life and relationships. Mentally, it can lead to constant worry, difficulty concentrating, and feeling overwhelmed. Physically, anxiety might manifest as insomnia, fatigue, headaches, or digestive problems. In daily life, anxiety can decrease productivity and enjoyment of activities, and in relationships, it can cause tension or withdrawal due to fears and insecurities. Recognizing these impacts is crucial, as therapy for anxiety disorders can be highly effective. Therapy helps individuals understand their anxiety, develop coping strategies, and regain a sense of control and enjoyment in their lives. Thus, seeking professional help is a vital step towards improving one’s quality of life.
Anxiety FAQS
Various therapeutic techniques are used to treat anxiety disorders, each tailored to address specific symptoms and underlying causes:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposes patients to anxiety-producing situations to lessen sensitivity over time.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Employs mindfulness meditation to help individuals remain present and reduce overall anxiety.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Helps patients accept their thoughts without judgment and commit to behavior changes aligned with their values.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices, focusing on emotional and cognitive regulation.
These approaches can be combined or customized depending on individual needs.
CBT effectively treats Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) by addressing both cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviors associated with anxiety. CBT involves identifying and challenging negative thoughts, teaching coping strategies like relaxation techniques and problem-solving skills, conducting behavioral experiments to test anxious beliefs, and gradually exposing individuals to feared situations through exposure therapy. By providing individuals with practical skills and strategies to manage anxiety, CBT helps them develop more adaptive ways of thinking and behaving, ultimately enabling them to cope with stress and uncertainty more effectively in the long term.
Contact us today to schedule a session with our CBT therapists.
Yes, both Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are classified as anxiety disorders. While they each have unique characteristics, they share common features with other anxiety disorders, such as excessive worrying, distress, and impaired functioning due to anxiety-related symptoms.
At the Counseling Center Group we offer sessions in-person and via teletherapy, providing flexibility to accommodate different circumstances. Reach out to us today to learn more about our therapy options.
The Counseling Center Group is considered an out-of-network provider. It is recommended you contact your insurance provider directly to discuss any out-of-network benefits you may have through your provider. Reach out to our team today to help answer any insurance and payment questions you may have.
We Can Help.
We use a variety of therapeutic techniques to combat anxiety disorders, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and ACT. Safe exposure work to situations that activate anxious responses may be part of your therapeutic journey to expand your emotional tolerance and change your relationship with anxiety.
