Everyone experiences anxiety at times, but for some it feels unmanageable. It might feel like the worry and panic are taking over your life and it's hard to concentrate on anything else. Maybe a lot of your energy is going into avoiding situations or you overly rely on reassurance from family, friends, or doctors. These behaviors can work to decrease anxiety in the moment, but can make it feel even more intense when you're inevitably faced with the anxiety-inducing situation again.
There are many types of anxiety that people can experience. You might be having panic attacks that interrupt your day and make you constantly worry when the next one will come. You might have social anxiety which causes you to dread meeting new people or trying new things. You might worry about specific scenarios like flying, heights, small spaces, leaving the house, and more. Maybe it feels like you worry about everything in general or you can't pinpoint what makes you anxious. You just know you're experiencing feelings of anxiety.
Symptoms of anxiety can be physical, mental, or emotional. They can include:
Counseling can help you become more comfortable with anxiety and give you the tools you need to feel confident handling it when it does arise. While anxiety is a natural part of life, counseling can safely expose you to the things that cause your anxiety until it feels less overwhelming and more manageable.
Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry by Catherine M. Pittman and Elizabeth M. Karle explains the parts of your brain that reacts to anxiety and techniques you can use to override them.
Paige Pradko is a psychotherapist that specializes in anxiety. She creates videos that explain the science of anxiety and gives you tools to manage it. Her videos include topics like:
Check out her youtube channel for more videos here.
Arbor Branch Counseling, PLLC
5750 Balcones Dr., Suite 117 Austin, TX 78731