Anxiety Disorders
Constantly on edge…
A thousand racing thoughts, all colliding and competing for attention in your mind…
A never-ending list of worries that keeps growing and growing until you’re completely overwhelmed…
Worrying about everything – from the little things like forgetting to turn off the stove to big things like the state of the world…
It’s a broken record player in your head, repeating worst-case scenarios over and over.
Walking on eggshells… all the time.
Social anxiety…
In a crowded room, it feels like a spotlight is on you. You’re sure everyone is staring at you, judging you, and waiting for you to mess up.
Reviewing in your mind what you’re going to say, how you’re going to say it, how to stand, what to do with your hands…
You sweat, your heart races, and you feel like you’re going to faint or vomit.
The fear of embarrassment or humiliation is so overwhelming that you avoid social situations altogether.
Panic…
A sudden tidal wave of fear washes over you. It’s like you’re drowning.
A surge of intense physical sensations takes over: heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath… you feel like you’re having a heart attack!
It’s like being trapped in a nightmare where you can’t escape or wake up.
Paralyzing fears…
They grip you, making your heart race, palms sweat, and body tremble. Even the THOUGHT of the dreaded object or situation can trigger it.
It’s that feeling of standing on the edge of a tall building, looking down at the ground far below. Thoughts of falling, losing control, and dying flood your mind. Your heart beats faster, your body grows hotter, and you can barely catch your breath.
Disrupted sleep…
It starts before bed, as you lie down and try to relax, but your mind won’t let you. You replay every conversation from the day, worry about what you said or didn’t say, and imagine all the worst-case scenarios. Your body tenses up from head to toe.
When you finally fall asleep, you toss and turn without feeling fully comfortable. You wake up frequently throughout the night, gasping for air or drenched in sweat. And when you do wake up in the morning, you feel exhausted and groggy, like you never slept at all.
This cycle can repeat night after night, leaving you feeling like a zombie during the day: struggling to concentrate, feeling irritable and short-tempered, and struggling to cope with even minor stresses.
Self-doubt and criticism…
It can be like a bully that never lets you be at peace with yourself – a nagging voice that tells you that you’re not good enough, not smart enough, not attractive enough, not worthy enough.
Now, here you are, second-guessing everything you do, feeling like you’re always one step away from failure.
Feeling overwhelmed, you hesitate to speak up in a meeting or take on a new project. And even though you’re competent and experienced, you somehow feel like an imposter, constantly seeking validation from others.
There is a way out.
We’ll examine your relationship to anxiety and create a tailored approach that best suits your needs. This might mean learning to accept your anxious thoughts and feelings rather than fighting against them. Or we might challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts contributing to your anxiety.
Woven into each session will be opportunities to practice mindfulness skills that help you stay present in the moment and respond to your anxiety with more flexibility.
Exposure to your fears and anxieties is often necessary, but we can confront your triggers in a safe, therapeutic environment. This can help you learn that you CAN tolerate anxiety, which reduces the power it has over you. By accepting these feelings instead of pushing them away, you might even gain access to what the wisdom inside you is trying to tell you. For example, your anxiety could be a signal that you need to slow down, take a break, or re-prioritize your values.
Let’s loosen anxiety’s grip so that you can unlock the power inside you!
You can live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. Call today, and we’ll start with your free consultation: (949) 691-4099.