All of us worry. We work ourselves up over the worst possible scenarios: missing our flight, flunking that test, forgetting our entire work presentation, starting an argument with a friend or family member, being negatively perceived by others. The list goes on. We can find comfort in our shared worries and fears—but it’s important to know the line that separates normal, occasional worry from the excessive.
“Anxiety was born in the very same moment as mankind. And since we will never be able to master it, we will have to learn to live with it—just as we have learned to live with storms.” –Paulo Coelho
When our everyday thoughts become excessive or uncontrollable, we have a more serious problem on our hands. Anxiety, which is characterized by this excessive and persistent worry, can interfere with your basic functionality and make each day unpleasant. This illness affects over 40 million adults in the US, which is a startling yet comforting statistic. This number shows that anxiety is common and that people learn to manage it and resume their lives.
Anxiety is highly treatable, and anxiety therapy proves to help many people better manage their symptoms, understand where their anxiety stems from, and get back to healthy living. If you are experiencing anxiety symptoms and think you could benefit from anxiety therapy, consider working with an anxiety therapist at Thriveworks Counseling in Stamford, CT. To schedule an appointment, just call (203) 635-5693. We are here to help.
Do I Have Anxiety? What Are Common Anxiety Symptoms to Look Out For?
Sometimes, it’s hard to differentiate the occasional worrying from the excessive. For this reason, it’s important to understand what anxiety entails and what symptoms you might experience. These include:
- A sense of impending doom
- Rampant anxious thoughts
- Quickened heartbeat
- Tense muscles
- Lack of focus
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Nausea
- Sweaty palms
As we mentioned above, there are millions of people in the US who struggle with anxiety and the above symptoms every single year. That said, you can learn to control them. Often, our anxiety stems from negative thinking patterns that we have learned and adapted over time. These patterns cause us to assume the worst and obsess over the disastrous events that we create in our heads. Fortunately, anxiety therapy at Thriveworks Counseling can help you take control again.
Anxiety Disorders: What Type of Anxiety Do I Have?
There are different forms of anxiety, including anxiety about random, day to day events, as well as anxiety about more specific events, such as social interactions, flying on a plane, or even encountering a spider! Let’s delve into a few of these disorders below:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: The first case of anxiety we mentioned above is generalized anxiety disorder. With generalized anxiety, one experiences anxiety about a broad range of events and situations on a regular basis.
- Social anxiety disorder: The second case we referred to above is social anxiety disorder. With this disorder, individuals feel nervous in social situations and fear being negatively perceived by others.
- Specific phobia: The latter two instances of anxiety mentioned above refer to specific phobia. With specific phobia, an individual develops an irrational fear to the exposure of a specific object or situation, such as flying on an airplane or coming across a spider.
There are other forms of anxiety too, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). PTSD can develop after someone experiences a traumatic event and is characterized by fear, hopelessness, helplessness, and hypervigilance. “They may see significant changes in mood or see that responses to things are different from how the person may have responded in the past,” explains Annie Tarnasky, a Licensed Professional Counselor at Thriveworks in Stamford. OCD, on the other hand, is characterized by recurrent thoughts that compel them to perform a specific action.
If you are experiencing symptoms of any of the above anxiety disorders, reach out for help. An anxiety therapist, counselor, or psychologist at Thriveworks Counseling in Stamford, CT can help you work through your anxious thoughts and live a calmer life.
Work with an Anxiety Counselor at Thriveworks Counseling in Stamford, CT
Anxiety counseling at Thriveworks Counseling in Stamford, CT will provide you with a personalized treatment plan made just for you. This plan will consider your specific anxiety symptoms, as well as your needs, preferences, and goals in therapy. Our anxiety therapists, counselors, and psychologists are ready to get to work if you are!
Are you ready to schedule your first anxiety counseling appointment? Call Thriveworks Counseling in Stamford, CT at (203) 635-5693. We can offer you a next-day appointment, as well as other flexible scheduling options like evening and weekend sessions, to ensure that you can secure the mental health care you’re looking for.
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