Sarah had always been a nervous kid. She was terrified of the dark and often had horrible nightmares that left her gasping for air when she woke up. Looking back, she assumed that was just normal childhood fear.
As a teenager, she dreaded getting called on in her classes, even if she knew the answer. She wanted to try out for clubs and sports but always let her nerves stop her. When her friends invited her to parties, she spent the weeks leading up to them thinking about everything that could go wrong. Again, looking back, she assumed this was standard teenage insecurity at play.
But she wasn’t able to shake the anxiety as an adult either. If anything, it grew stronger. She started to experience intense emotional episodes that she thought might be panic attacks. More and more, she found it more difficult to convince herself to leave her house and face the unknown of the average day. Frustrated that she felt like she was losing agency in her own life, Sarah decided to reach out to a therapist.
It’s not always easy to recognize that you might be struggling with your mental health. If what Sarah is going through resonates at all with you, you might be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Our licensed counselors, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Rochester, MN can offer you compassion and support to help you reduce your anxiety.
How To Identify Anxiety Disorders
You might suspect you have anxiety but don’t see your experience reflected in Sarah’s story — and that’s okay! Symptoms of anxiety can manifest in many different ways.
Part of the reason for this is that there are many different anxiety disorders, such as:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is characterized by excessive worrying exceeding what is normal and typically lasting for at least six months
- Social anxiety disorder, which is characterized by high levels of anxiety caused by the potential for embarrassment or judgment from others in social situations
- Panic disorder, which involves frequent episodes of intense terror that often culminate in panic attacks
- Agoraphobia, which is characterized by the avoidance of certain places or situations that might cause embarrassment or panic
When you work with one of our Thriveworks providers in Rochester, MN, they will assess your symptoms to determine what anxiety disorder you may be experiencing.
Some common symptoms of anxiety disorders include:
- Feelings of tension or restlessness
- Sweating
- Trouble concentrating or recalling information
- Muscle soreness
- Increased anger or irritability
- Experiencing the sense that something bad is about to happen without real cause
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Persistent feelings of uncontrollable worry
- Feeling exhausted
- Avoidance of certain activities or places
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to know that support is available. Reach out to our team of experts at Thriveworks in Rochester, MN to get help today.
What Therapy Can Do for People With Anxiety
Anxiety can be disruptive in the way that it amplifies worries and nervousness to take you out of the present moment. That’s why many types of anxiety counseling and therapy involve using mindfulness, grounding, and relaxation techniques to treat anxiety symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common form of psychotherapy used with people facing anxiety disorders. CBT helps clients identify and analyze the schemas, or patterns, they use to think, feel, and behave. If you have a schema that opens the door for anxious thinking, your therapist can help you reframe it to mitigate those unhelpful thoughts. That way, you can remain grounded in reality and not in your anxiety.
Other types of therapy include exposure therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and psychoanalysis. Therapists might also suggest lifestyle changes, like adding a meditation or yoga practice into your routine. For clients with more moderate to severe anxiety, your provider might also recommend prescription medicine to help reduce symptoms.
Anxiety can feel scary and isolating but it is manageable under the guidance of a trained professional. Let our Thriveworks providers in Rochester, MN help you regain control over your life.
Start Anxiety Counseling — Schedule an Appointment in Rochester, MN Today
You don’t need to wait to get help. The sooner you call or click, the sooner you could be in a therapy session with one of our licensed mental health professionals. Our scheduling experts will make sure you get an appointment that works for your schedule, whether that’s in person or online, in the morning, evening, or even on the weekend.
We want to make sure you have help whenever you need it. That’s why when you sign up with Thriveworks, you gain access to a counselor-moderated online forum, an ask-a-coach 24 hour Q&A, and a text support line. You can also reach out to your provider via phone and email during your sessions.
You can take back control from anxiety. Make your appointment with Thriveworks at Rochester, MN today to get started.