Every time Dana has to make a decision, she thinks about all the potential outcomes of her choice again and again because she is afraid of making the wrong one. She ends up spending hours ruminating about worst-case scenarios.
When Haley reads the news or watches a documentary, she thinks about horrible world-changing events lurking just beyond the corner. As she goes about her day, she wonders when the next natural disaster will strike or whether she will soon become ill. She carefully plans her day to avoid these perceived dangers because she has a feeling that something bad will happen.
Jeff wants to go out with his friends and meet new people, but he can’t bear the thought of being in those kinds of social situations. He knows his nerves will get the best of him and he’ll start overthinking everything. What if they don’t like what he’s wearing or they don’t like how he talks? Jeff doesn’t want to deal with the anxiety so he just decides to stay home.
When José tries to fall asleep at the end of a long day, he can’t stop the steady stream of worries in his head. He thinks about any mistakes he made that day and what he has to do tomorrow. Even once he falls asleep, José knows he’ll likely wake up at least once in the middle of the night and go through this whole process again.
If you feel at all like Dana, Haley, Jeff, or José, you might be experiencing the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. At Thriveworks in Normal, IL, our licensed mental health professionals can help you reduce your anxiety and bring peace and stability into your life. When you’re ready to make a change, give our team a call to schedule an appointment.
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
Simply put, anxiety disorders are mental health disorders characterized by persistent and intense worry and fear. There are several different types of anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
While there are slight variations between each of these disorders, there are some general anxiety symptoms you can look out for, including:
- Excessive worrying or fear
- An impending sense of dread and doom
- Difficulty concentrating and retaining information
- Disrupted sleep
- Irritability
- Muscle tension and headaches
- Lack of control over feelings
- Feelings of exhaustion
- Panic attacks
People with anxiety may develop symptoms due to genetics, biology, environmental factors, or a combination. Evaluating how these elements impact your mental health can be useful in developing a treatment plan to reduce anxiety.
Our licensed mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Normal, IL can work with you to address your symptoms and find a treatment plan tailored to your specific situation.
What Does Treating Anxiety Look Like?
The first step is finding a therapist or counselor that is right for you. If you’ve never attended therapy before, this can feel like an especially intimidating step but there’s really no wrong way to choose a provider.
Here are some questions you might consider as you’re picking a provider:
- How long have they been practicing?
- What types of clients do they work with?
- Do I feel a connection with them?
- Do I feel comfortable sharing personal details?
- Does their availability match my schedule?
Once you pick a provider, they’ll spend time getting to know you, your personality, your environmental stressors, and your symptoms. Anxiety counseling can look different from client to client depending on the variations in their needs and concerns.
One of the most common forms of therapy used to treat anxiety is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy is based on the idea that people’s thoughts greatly influence their mental, emotional, and behavioral health. In CBT, a therapist or counselor will help you identify and reframe these patterns for more positive and grounded thinking.
Your provider might also determine that medication could be beneficial to your treatment, in which case, they’ll refer you to a psychiatrist who can make that determination and prescribe you medication directly. They may also teach you coping skills, provide suggestions for changes to your sleeping habits, or guide you through relaxation techniques to calm you down in and outside of sessions.
To get started with anxiety treatment, give us a call today at Thriveworks in Normal, IL.
Talk to a Licensed Professional at Thriveworks in Normal, IL
If you’re ready to find control over your anxiety, we’re here to help you. Call or click to schedule an appointment and gain access to these benefits:
- Morning, evening, and weekend availability
- Same-day and next-day appointments
- A flexible cancellation policy
- Remote and in-person counseling
- Affordable rates for those paying out of pocket
- Providers who accept most major insurance plans
- Online resources, like a text support line and exclusive video content
You don’t need to wait any longer to get help. Schedule an appointment at Thriveworks in Normal, IL today to get started.
