Anxiety is a normal part of life. You might feel anxious before a big presentation or a first date with a potential partner. For some people, anxiety can persist and interfere with day-to-day functions. When this happens, it’s typically considered an anxiety disorder.
Millions suffer from anxiety disorders in the United States alone. Even everyday situations can elicit intense worry and fear for those living with anxiety disorders, which are often difficult to control. There are many causes for anxiety disorders, including trauma, genetics, environmental stressors, and drug addiction.
Living with anxiety can be exhausting, but we want you to know that help is available. Mental health professionals have the skills and training to diagnose, treat, and manage anxiety for their clients. They can help you reduce your anxiety and live a happier, calmer life.
Do you struggle with anxiety? Working with a mental health professional can help. Call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Palo Alto, CA, to get started with one of our counselors or therapists.
Anxiety Disorders: What To Look For
Everyone deals with worries and stressful times in their life — those feelings are completely normal. However, if you find that your stress is near-constant and often interferes with your daily life, you might be dealing with an anxiety disorder.
There are several kinds of anxiety disorders that describe the different ways anxiety symptoms manifest. Some common examples include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: This disorder occurs when you worry intensely for most days over a period of six months or more. Often, these are not worries you can control. For some people, they assume that being in this heightened state of anxiety is just the way that they are. Besides worry, other common symptoms include restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and trouble sleeping.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): People with OCD experience troubling or disturbing repetitive thoughts or obsessions that they manage through rituals or compulsions. Common obsessions among people with OCD include fixations with germs, thoughts of violence, and fixations with order, symmetry, and organization.
- Panic disorder: This disorder causes repeated panic attacks that happen without an understandable cause. Symptoms of panic attacks include a pounding heart, sweating, shortness of breath, trembling, lightheadedness, chest pain, and numbness. In between panic attacks, people with panic disorder often worry about when the next attack will come, which can make them avoid certain situations.
When left untreated, anxiety also can occur alongside mood disorders and substance abuse issues. That’s why enlisting the help of a mental health professional can be so crucial to helping you reduce anxiety and reclaim stability in your life. Working with a professional from Thriveworks Counseling in Palo Alto, CA can do just that.
What Happens During Therapy for Anxiety?
In your initial counseling sessions, a provider like a psychologist or a psychiatrist will ask you about your symptoms and likely run some tests to reach a diagnosis of what disorder you’re facing. From there, what sessions look like can vary from client to client, depending on their unique needs.
People with anxiety can benefit greatly from the structured treatment therapy provides as they learn about what triggers their symptoms, how to recognize and disrupt anxious thought patterns, and stress-reduction methods.
Therapy for anxiety is often short-term, but how often and how long you meet with your provider depends on the type and severity of your disorder. In some cases, a provider might also recommend medication to help reduce your symptoms of anxiety.
When you enroll with Thriveworks in Palo Alto, CA, you’ll receive personalized and attentive care from our licensed professionals. Call our office today to get started.
Schedule Sessions With a Thriveworks Provider in Palo Alto, CA
If you’re struggling with anxiety, we want you to know that support is available to help you reduce its impact on your life. Working with a counselor, therapist, or other mental health professional from Thriveworks Counseling in Palo Alto, CA can help relieve anxiety. Call our office today or use our convenient online session scheduling tool to set up your first appointment.
At Thriveworks, we believe that mental health is something you should be able to work into any schedule. We offer evening and weekend sessions for your convenience. You can also take advantage of online therapy or counseling sessions to get the help you need from the comfort of your own home via phone call or video chat.
We accept most major health insurance plans to help make treatment more affordable. Most new clients can get started very quickly — many often meet with a provider within just 24-48 hours after calling.
The mental health specialists from Thriveworks Counseling in Palo Alto, CA can help you manage your anxiety and live your best life. Consider contacting us today to set up your first appointment.
