One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to learn about your own anxiety: your symptoms, what triggers it, and what coping mechanisms have been effective in the past. When you learn what your anxiety is tied to, it can help you be mindful of what's really happening as well as prevent and mitigate symptoms by processing and working through the issue in therapy. Other strategies that have been shown to help manage anxiety are meditation, challenging anxious thoughts, exercising, and journaling.
What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
According to the DSM, one of the most common anxiety disorders called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) manifests with the following symptoms:
- Excessive anxiety and worry that’s hard to control
- Three or more of the following:
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- Restlessness
- Being easily fatigued
- Attention difficulties
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances
- These additional types of anxiety disorders are ruled out:
- Symptoms cause significant distress or impairment
- Symptoms aren’t caused by a substance or another medical condition
Because anxiety can sometimes have physical symptoms, as when someone experiences gastrointestinal problems related to feeling anxious, people often present to their primary care doctor first. But anxiety requires specialized psychological treatment from a mental health professional. Physicians often refer people to Thriveworks for authoritative care.
What Is Anxiety Therapy?
Anxiety therapy aims to help individuals address and manage their anxiety symptoms, as well as set them up with effective tools that will help them outside of therapy. The two most common treatments for anxiety are psychotherapy (or talk therapy) and medication, often used side by side.
Psychotherapy is a very standard form of therapy, but what makes it effective against anxiety is the targeting of specific anxieties and working to overcome them. If the therapeutic approach is too generalized, it may not work as well, which is why individualized treatment is a point of emphasis at Thriveworks.
Medication is the other common treatment for anxiety disorders. Though medications will not cure anxiety, they can lessen the severity of symptoms, allowing people to move through their lives a bit more easily.
How Does Anxiety Counseling Work? What Therapy Is Good for Anxiety?
Different kinds and degrees of anxiety respond to different types of therapy and treatment plans. The anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Spring, TX will tailor any of the following treatments toward individual clients, using approaches such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Exposure therapy, especially for specific phobias of an object or situation (also called systematic desensitization)
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Psychiatric medication like antidepressants, prescribed by a licensed Thriveworks psychiatric NP
- Relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or deep breathing
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
- Panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Applied relaxation training (ART)
- Supportive-expressive therapy
- Biofeedback
- Support groups
- Substance abuse counseling
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
- Nutrition and exercise modifications
- Family therapy or couples counseling
Treatment plans can always evolve based on client feedback, goals, and responses.
What Is Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Separation anxiety disorder is when someone experiences acute distress when they’re separated from someone to whom they have an emotional attachment. This condition is normally observed in children, and typically wanes with age.
Adults can also experience separation anxiety disorder. They might worry about the distance between themselves and another person or a beloved pet.
They may need to know someone’s exact location at all times so they won’t feel a sense of panic. The anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Spring, TX can diagnose separation anxiety disorder and treat it with CBT or other talk therapy methods.
Is There Anxiety Counseling Near Me? Consult an Anxiety Therapist at Thriveworks in Spring, TX
Anxiety therapy at Thriveworks in Spring, TX can be short-term or long-term, depending on individual symptoms and responses. Thriveworks providers accept most major forms of health insurance. They also offer self-pay rates for clients who are paying out-of-pocket.
Lastly, Thriveworks offers clients the choice of traditional, in-person counseling sessions or online counseling sessions. By giving us a call, our staff can help match you to an exceptional anxiety therapist. Or, browse our providers and book an appointment yourself online. We look forward to helping you feel good again!
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