Anxiety
It’s a normal day and everything is going well.
You’re at work or with family and friends and feeling good.
A thought or a body sensation
Then, a thought enters your mind, or you feel a sensation in your body that catches your attention. Your mind begins to focus on the thought or sensation and within seconds you find yourself consumed with only thinking about that. You become less present in the moment, distracted.
Something bad is going to happen
You are convinced something bad is going to happen. All energy and focus is used on the thought or figuring out what the sensation is from. This starts a cascade of other thoughts and your mind begins to write a story about what is happening.
The story always seems to have the worst possible outcome. Then the fear kicks in.
The mind vacillates between trying to be logical and experiencing fear. Add in the body’s physical responses of increased heart rate, sweaty palms, tingling, shallow breathing or pressure in your chest.
Disordered anxiety
This all adds up to anxiety or panic. It rarely happens at a convenient time, and it is never pleasant. But, it’s common. 30% of adults experience some form of disordered anxiety in their life.
Feeling anxious, anticipation or nervousness are natural responses to some of life’s events. They are a good thing and can motivate, provide energy and help assess danger. But, when the feelings are severe, excessive, upsetting and interrupt your life, it’s time to a look at what’s happening.
There are many factors that can cause anxiety to develop: thinking style, coping strategies, excessive stress, underlying emotional challenges, past experiences or physical health problems. Sometimes, anxiety is rooted in negative beliefs you have about yourself or the world – beliefs that you may not even be aware of.
Therapy can help
Therapy can help uncover what’s at the core of your anxiety. You will begin to develop the ability to manage the intrusive thoughts, shift your beliefs and your reactions to them. We will help you get in front of your anxiety, learn to live in the present moment, and release unproductive thoughts that steal your joy.