Anxiety can be a beneficial survival element in the human psyche, but not if you let it control you. Anxiety is a spectrum. On one end it can be a normal, healthy reaction to stress. On the other end it can cause a person to become overwhelmed by fear and worry, virtually paralyzing them and preventing them from performing basic functions. But no matter where your anxiety falls on the spectrum, it’s good to have a healthy relationship with your stressful feelings. And that’s where anxiety therapy can help.
The anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR specialize in diagnosing, treating, and helping prevent anxiety disorders. They can help clients manage social anxiety, specific phobias like agoraphobia, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and more. They support clients with debilitating anxiety symptoms and clients who feel pretty good most of the time, but just have a few problem areas and want to learn deep breathing techniques. At Thriveworks in Tigard, OR, anxiety therapists treat their clients with compassion, insight, and the wealth of knowledge that comes from many years of experience at the top of their field.
What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
Anxiety can manifest in a number of physical, behavioral, and emotional ways. In children anxiety can show up as bedwetting, fear of the dark, or fear of strangers. Anxious teenagers might have unexplained outbursts or stop going to school. Adults with anxiety may notice any of the following symptoms:
- Sleep disruptions like insomnia or excessive fatigue
- Gastrointestinal (GI) problems, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Migraines or headaches
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Memory and focus issues
- Mild and major depression
- Substance abuse or addiction issues
- Unintentional weight loss or gain
- Racing heart
- Hyperventilation
- Hypochondria (irrationally thinking you’re sick)
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
Sometimes new medications or dietary changes (like increased caffeine intake) can cause anxiety symptoms. A psychiatrist or anxiety therapist at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR can make a full evaluation of a client’s symptoms and get to the bottom of what’s going on so they can effectively treat anxiety.
Best Treatments for Anxiety Disorders
Fortunately, anxiety disorders are very treatable. One of the most effective and highly studied treatments for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on modifying maladaptive thinking patterns. The top-rated anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR may also use some of the following evidence-based approaches:
- Exposure therapy, especially for phobias
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Psychiatric medication like antidepressants, prescribed by a Thriveworks psychiatrist
- Relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing
- Mindfulness therapy
- Supportive-expressive therapy
- Biofeedback
- Art and music therapy
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
- Lifestyle changes
- Family therapy or couples counseling
How Do I Stop a Panic Attack?
The best way to stop panic attacks is to never have them in the first place. Anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR can work with clients with panic disorder to prevent panic attacks from occurring. But if you do find yourself in the midst of a panic attack, experts recommend the following techniques:
- Breathe deeply to send a signal to your mind that your body isn’t threatened
- Consciously recognize what’s happening, i.e., you’re just experiencing a panic attack, not dying
- Find an object to focus on
- Repeat a mantra like, “Everything is okay.”
If you suffer from panic attacks, you’re not alone. Many celebrities have even spoken up in recent years about their frightening experiences with panic attacks. A-list singers might need to throw up backstage before performing. They may start hyperventilating and want to cancel concerts. Celebrities like Ariana Grande and Travis Barker, who have been through traumatic events (a bombing and a plane crash, respectively), have been professionally treated for panic attacks.
Get Premium Anxiety Therapy at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR
Anxiety therapists and other mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR can support clients who are feeling anxious for a wide variety of reasons. When you call Thriveworks for an appointment, or go online to schedule your session, you can often meet your anxiety therapist within 24-48 hours of reaching out. That’s fast relief! Thriveworks also believes that everyone deserves premium mental health care, which is why our fully licensed counselors accept most health insurance plans, minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for clients.
When you enroll at clients, you receive other benefits like email and phone access to your therapist between sessions. You can also choose to see your counselor online instead of in-person at the modern office. Some clients even choose a hybrid model of appointments. For example, if they’re traveling, they can take their anxiety therapist with them, so to speak, in the form of Thriveworks’ secure telehealth video conferencing software. Online therapy is safe, convenient, and effective.
Don’t wait to start finding relief for your anxiety. Call the Thriveworks office in Tigard, OR today.
