What is Anxiety?

All of us worry from time to time but if feelings of anxiety interfere with your daily functioning and prevent you from enjoying your life, it may be time to seek help. It is important to understand that anxiety takes many forms. Some individuals experience intense social anxiety that holds them back from dating, attending social events, or giving a presentation at school or work. Others may experiences panic attacks that seem to come out of the blue and make it difficult to drive or leave the house. Still others find that they tend to worry about almost everything and have a difficult time controlling their thoughts. Regardless of the form, anxiety is an uncomfortable emotion that can leave you feeling debilitated and helpless.

How can psychotherapy help?

All of us worry from time to time but if feelings of anxiety interfere with your daily functioning and prevent you from enjoying your life, it may be time to seek help. It is important to understand that anxiety takes many forms. Some individuals experience intense social anxiety that holds them back from dating, attending social events, or giving a presentation at school or work. Others may experiences panic attacks that seem to come out of the blue and make it difficult to drive or leave the house. Still others find that they tend to worry about almost everything and have a difficult time controlling their thoughts. Regardless of the form, anxiety is an uncomfortable emotion that can leave you feeling debilitated and helpless.

How can psychotherapy help?

Although there are many ways to treat anxiety, most forms of therapy focus on the direct connection between our thoughts and feelings by examining the negative patterns of thinking that keep us in fear. We often take our way of thinking for granted without considering that our beliefs about a certain situation may be irrational and our perceptions may be distorted. How we view and react to events in our lives may also be influenced by factors that lie out of our conscious awareness such as past experiences, traumas, and early relationships. Once these hidden factors are uncovered and explored in a safe and supportive environment, we can begin to view our lives through a more realistic and adaptive lense.