Have you ever avoided doing something you really wanted to do because of a nagging, anxious thought or feeling? Maybe you didn’t try out that new neighborhood restaurant because you were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people waiting in line at the door. Or perhaps you declined the short weekend trip with friends because you were sure something bad would happen.
Anxiety can stop us from doing the things we love or trying new experiences. It can interfere with our relationships, our careers, and our hobbies. It can even lead to uncomfortable physical symptoms or other mental health issues.
Anxiety can feel isolating and overwhelming but help is available. A therapist, counselor, psychologist, or another mental health professional at Thriveworks in West Des Moines, IA can help you cope with your anxiety and address it so that it doesn’t hinder your future plans or goals.
What Does Anxiety Look Like?
Anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. When some people are anxious, they get the feeling of butterflies in their stomachs. When others are anxious, they may experience ruminating thoughts and have trouble getting to sleep.
Although we use the term anxiety to categorize any extended periods of persistent worrying, there are actually many types of anxiety disorders. Depending on the disorder you experience, your symptoms may vary.
Some of the most common types of anxiety include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder, which is what we most often think of when we talk of problematic anxiety. It is characterized by persistent worrying about everyday events over a long stretch of time. It can be caused by stress, trauma, genetics, substance abuse, or a combination of factors.
- Social anxiety disorder, which is characterized by the intense fear of everyday social situations such as walking into an already occupied room or visiting a college campus, mall, or social function. Trauma and past negative experiences such as bullying can often cause social anxiety disorder, as can genetics and other factors.
- Panic disorder, which is characterized by sudden and intense bouts of worry. Panic attacks often have physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, dissociation, and sweating. Panic disorder may be caused by genetics, environmental stresses, trauma, and other factors.
- Phobias, which are fears about a person, place, object, situation, or event. Phobias can range from a fear of heights to a fear of crowds to a fear of spiders. Negative experiences or associations with a particular object or situation are typically the cause of phobias, though there can be other contributing factors as well.
- Separation anxiety disorder, which is characterized by the worry that being separated from a loved one will cause them harm. Past trauma — such as the recent death of a friend or family member — can often lead to separation anxiety disorder. Genetics as well as life stresses that lead to separation from a loved one can also play a role.
When and how your anxiety appears can depend on your past experiences, your environment, and your relationships. It’s also possible to experience more than one type of anxiety at once.
Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, our therapists and other providers at Thriveworks in West Des Moines, IA have techniques they can use to help you reduce your symptoms and get back to focusing on the things you love.
The Benefits of Receiving Therapy for Anxiety
What makes anxiety disorders especially disorienting is that their triggers are often unavoidable. Separation anxiety disorder, for instance, may be triggered when a loved one is out of sight. But separation is practically inevitable, as are many other triggers of anxiety disorders.
Treatment for people with anxiety varies based on the type of anxiety they have and their specific needs. Your treatment may include:
- Medications, such as antidepressants and sedatives
- Self-care practices, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and meditation
- Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and exposure therapy
To determine what type of treatment is right for you, set up an appointment with us at Thriveworks in West Des Moines, IA. We look forward to helping you soon.
Schedule an Appointment With a Therapist at Thriveworks
It is common for people with anxiety to feel alone in their struggles. They trick themselves into believing their anxiety doesn’t need addressing because other people are unfazed by the things that worry them.
But you don’t have to ignore your anxious feelings. No matter how your anxiety manifests itself, you can take steps to keep your symptoms under control.
Our professionals at Thriveworks are available to meet with you seven days a week, whenever is most convenient for you. We offer our services online or in person, and our cancellation policy is flexible should you need to move your appointment to a later date.
We accept health insurance and offer a suite of perks for all Thriveworks clients. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help. Reach out to schedule an appointment at Thriveworks in West Des Moines, IA.
