Do you ever worry excessively about a scenario that you’ve created in your mind? Do you feel anxious about worst-case scenarios and convince yourself that they will come true? Anxiety has a way of taking over our minds and, therefore, our lives. If only we could turn our minds off when we wanted to or silence our thoughts at a moment’s notice, all would be right in the world again. But it isn’t that easy. In reality, we have to work at calming and controlling our anxiety. And sometimes this requires a little bit of help!
Anxiety therapists specialize in helping people control their anxious thoughts. They are uniquely qualified and equipped to help people manage their anxiety disorders. These professionals can assist in managing any and all anxiety disorders, including but not limited to:
Thriveworks Washington, DC (Georgetown) has anxiety therapists and psychologists on our team. These professionals have the skills and knowledge as well as the training and experience to help their clients with their anxiety — and they are ready to assist you as soon as today! If you think that you could benefit from anxiety therapy, schedule a session online or call us for scheduling assistance.
Do I Have Anxiety? What Is Anxiety?
Who doesn’t experience the occasional worry? Honestly, nobody. We all worry about stressful life events from time to time: We might worry about the outcome of a serious conversation with our spouse; we might worry about whether or not we’ll get that job promotion; we might worry about making it safely to our destination. Feeling anxious or worried is normal—it’s when our worry is uncontrollable or excessive that it becomes a problem.
Considering how your worries affect your everyday life might help you better understand whether or not you are experiencing anxiety and if you might have an anxiety disorder. For example, avoidance of social situations could indicate social anxiety disorder. Someone who experiences panic attacks could have a panic disorder. Additionally, you can keep an eye out for the following common behavioral symptoms of anxiety disorders:
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Racing thoughts
- Inability to focus on tasks
- An unexplained sense of impending doom
Anxiety disorders also often come with a host of physical symptoms, including:
- Nausea
- Trembling
- Heart palpitations
- Fatigue
- Excessive sweating
If you are experiencing a combination of the above symptoms, it’s important that you talk to a professional about them. You might not experience all of these symptoms, but even experiencing several of the above might signify an anxiety problem. Some professionals can diagnose anxiety, while others can offer counseling to help relieve your symptoms.
There are also certain risk factors that could make someone more likely to have an anxiety disorder. Some of these include trauma or exposure to stress, being diagnosed with a health condition, other mental health disorders, or having a family member with anxiety. These factors do not guarantee someone has anxiety, but they could be an indicator when combined with the symptoms listed above.
How Does Anxiety Therapy Work?
The good news is that anxiety is treatable! Anxiety therapy as well as medication can help people effectively manage their anxiety. Sometimes, it’s a combination of the two that proves the most effective, and sometimes it’s one or the other. Now, one of the most common types of therapy for anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is all about working through negative thinking patterns. Negative thinking patterns lead to negative emotions and can bring us down; correcting them can help us get back to a happy, healthy place. Exposure therapy, a category of CBT, is also effective in treating people with specific phobias. It involves being exposed to whatever object or situation is causing your anxiety in order to gain confidence around it. The method is highly effective in helping people with anxiety manage and overcome their symptoms.
If you are suffering from anxious or negative thinking, you could likely benefit from working with an anxiety therapist! You could also possibly benefit from medication or self-help practices. Here are a few quick facts about treating your anxiety at home:
- Stress management, meditation and other relaxation techniques can help people learn to soothe or cope with their anxiety
- Exercise can help to reduce or alleviate anxious thoughts
- In addition to working with a therapist, talking with a trusted loved one can go a long way in reducing anxiety and negative thinking
- Limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol could help you in the long term when it comes to anxiety management
While the above self-care tips can help you to manage your anxiety, they should not replace professional anxiety help. Remember: the anxiety therapists at Thriveworks Washington, DC (Georgetown) are here to help you.
Is There Anxiety Counseling Near Me?
You can schedule an anxiety therapist appointment at Thriveworks Washington, DC (Georgetown) right now! All you have to do is call our office—one of our scheduling specialists will get you set up with an anxiety therapist or psychologist right away—or schedule your session online yourself. We can offer you onsite as well as online counseling appointments. Regardless of which format you choose, you’ll have flexible appointment times to choose from.
Thriveworks Washington, DC (Georgetown) looks forward to joining you on your mental health journey. Call our office today to schedule your appointment.
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