On the subject of anxiety, Benjamin Franklin once stated, “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” But how do you keep in the sunlight when your mind keeps getting overwhelmed by irrational fears and worries? People who suffer from anxiety do more than “anticipate trouble.” In the words of writer Brene Brown, they “dress-rehearse tragedy.” Situations that might seem safe and peaceful to one person, may seem like life-or-death circumstances to someone suffering from acute anxiety. But the good news is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable conditions.
The licensed mental health providers at Thriveworks in Odessa, TX offer premium anxiety therapy at affordable prices. The anxiety therapists at Thriveworks use evidence-based treatments to quell anxious minds and allay fears. They can help people who suffer from panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias like agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, general anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. Reaching out for the first time is sometimes the hardest part. But once you ask for help, you can rest assured that you’re in good hands at Thriveworks.
How Does Therapy Help with Anxiety?
Anxiety treatment at Thriveworks in Odessa, TX helps to manage and prevent anxiety by using well-researched, proven strategies like cognitive therapy and psychiatric medication like antidepressants. Mental health providers at Thriveworks may use one or a combination of the following effective approaches:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps to modify maladaptive thoughts and beliefs that can lead to anxiety and panic attacks
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy), which works on an interpersonal level to delve deeper into the triggers for anxiety, among other things
- Exposure therapy, which uses desensitization in a secure environment to treat phobias
- Psychiatric medication prescribed by a licensed Thriveworks psychiatrist, which treats underlying neurochemical issues
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), which uses bilateral movement to ease anxiety
- Lifestyle modifications; for example, cutting back on caffeine and increasing exercise
- Holistic treatments like meditation and deep breathing, which can relax the body and hence relax the mind
- Biofeedback, which focuses on small neurological changes that can make a big emotional difference
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Depression therapy (if someone has simultaneous depression)
- Creative therapies like art, music, and journaling
- Family therapy or couples counseling
- Solution-focused coping strategies
Is There a Way to Overcome Panic Attacks?
To overcome panic attacks for good, a person must ultimately overcome the underlying anxiety that leads to panic attacks. The anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Odessa, TX can give people the psychological resources they need to nip panic attacks in the bud. When you’re having a panic attack, you may feel like you can’t breathe. You may experience hyperventilation, a racing heart, dizziness, or nausea. You may think you need to go to the emergency room because panic attacks can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack.
Remember that during a panic attack, your brain and your body are in a destructive feedback loop. Your racing heart signals to your brain that something is very wrong, which signals to your heart that it should beat faster, and back and forth, exacerbating your symptoms. So calming either your mind or your body can have a compound effect.
If you’re in the middle of a panic attack, there are some practical tactics you can try to soothe yourself:
- Regulate your breathing. Slowing down and deepening your breathing sends a physiological signal to your brain that you’re going to be okay.
- Focus on something during the panic attack, like an image or an object.
- Repeat a mantra like “You are safe.” or “This will pass.”
- Focus on your physical senses as opposed to your thoughts. What do you smell? What do you hear? This can gently tether you to your surroundings when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Numerous celebrities have spoken up about experiencing panic attacks, including the model Kendall Jenner, the singers Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus, and even Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
Calm Your Anxious Mind with a Licensed Anxiety Therapist at Thriveworks in Odessa, TX
The licensed anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Odessa, TX use proven techniques to help their clients manage their anxiety and prevent panic attacks. Anxiety disorder and panic disorder are serious conditions that can leave a person feeling overwhelmed and isolated. Professional intervention can address the underlying reasons for anxiety and give people the strategies they need to overcome their fears.
Call the Thriveworks office in Odessa, TX today and you can often meet with your therapist within 24-48 hours. You also get the added benefit of email and phone access to your anxiety counselor between sessions. And our licensed counselors accept most health insurance.
Find out how Thriveworks can give you the mental health support you’ve always deserved. We look forward to getting you started with an exceptional counselor!
