Anxiety
“Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry”
Anxiety
You’re stressed out. You have a ton to do, but you can’t get motivated to do any of it. You feel overwhelmed, nauseous, and your thoughts are racing. Maybe you’ve started having panic attacks. A panic attack is a period of intense fear and discomfort in the absence of real danger. During a panic attack clients report feeling palpitations, sweating, trembling, shaking, shortness of breath, and even chest pain. These attacks are usually completely unexpected and always terrifying. Maybe you notice that you are suffering from constant feelings of anxiety that are not focused on any specific situation or event. Or maybe you are excessively apprehensive about being apart from a loved one. In any case, you are aware that your anxiety has reached a level that is interfering with your ability to live your life the way you want.
In some cases, there is an event that occurred that you can point to as being the 'start of this problem’.
Sometimes its linked with a divorce, or an empty nest. You may feel discouraged, unhappy, or even ashamed about the difficulties that you are now having in carrying out your normal routine. You might be comparing yourself to friends or family who have experienced similar life events and they seem to be handling it just fine. Please don’t for one second think that your own difficulty is due to a lack of strength or character. You are exactly as strong as you have always been, you’re just carrying a heavy load right now. Be as gentle with yourself as you would be with a friend who told you they were struggling.
Anxiety disorders are the most common issues that bring people into therapy.
In fact, they affect almost 40 million adults in the US. About 31% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. You’re not alone, you’re not crazy, and we can help. Anxiety is our bodies natural response to stress. Think about that for a minute, our body evolved to utilize panic or anxiety as a way to protect us.
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. Research has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is very effective in the treatment of phobias and anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a talk therapy focused on modifying negative thoughts, behaviors and emotional responses. It is a short-term, skills focused treatment and it has been shown through research to improve the quality of life for those dealing with excess anxiety.
It’s time to get help; to reach out and speak with a therapist.
You’ve suffered long enough. Maybe you feel like you can just handle this on your own and you don’t need to get therapy. How has that been working for you? Maybe you’re worried that by seeking help you will appear weak to your friends and family. They love you, they see you struggling, and they want you to be happy and whole. If you’re worried about stigma, all of our services are completely confidential.
At Pineapples Therapy we have a proven track record of providing evidence based, compassionate and quality therapy services. We will work with you to help you gain the skills to effectively manage your anxiety so that your life is no longer being adversely affected by it.
Call Today to speak with one of our therapists about counseling services to ease symptoms of Anxiety.
727-509-3960
Blog Posts About Anxiety
Let’s talk about anxiety.
Please be gentle with yourself. At all times, but in particular when you are feeling anxious. You absolutely are just as strong as you always have been, you’re just having a hard time.
A helpful tool for managing anxiety
If you have already been telling yourself to “just get over it”, then you already know that’s not going to work. You can’t ignore it and push it down, the worry has gotten too big for that. Here is a tool that might help.
Anxiety Test.
This is a screening measure to help you determine whether you might have an anxiety disorder that needs professional attention. This screening measure is not designed to make a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder or take the place of a professional diagnosis or consultation. Please take the time to fill out the below form as accurately, honestly and completely as possible. All of your responses are confidential.
Generalized Anxiety Test.
This easy-to-use self-administered patient questionnaire is used as a screening tool and severity measure for generalized anxiety disorder. This is only a screening test. A diagnosis can only be made by a mental health professional or psychiatrist. Click below to take the GAD7.
“You don’t have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.”
—Dan Millman
According to the DSM, Anxiety Disorders include: Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, Acute Stress Disorder, PTSD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, among others. Panic attack is a discrete period in which there is the sudden onset of physiological symptoms (eg: feeling of dread) as well as physical symptoms (eg: chest pain, difficulty breathing).
Panic Disorder is characterized by recurrent unexpected Panic Attacks about which there is persistent concern. A Panic Attack is a discrete period in which there is the sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness, or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom. During these attacks, symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, or discomfort are present.
Agoraphobia is anxiety about, or avoidance of, places or situations from which escape may be difficult.
A specific phobia is characterized by clinically significant anxiety provoked by exposure to a specific feared object or situation. While social phobia is characterized by clinically significant anxiety provoked by exposure to certain types of social or performance situations; often leading to avoidance behaviors.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is characterized by the re-experiencing of an extremely traumatic event accompanied by symptoms of increased arousal and by avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma.
Acute Stress Disorder is characterized by symptoms similar to those of PTSD that occur immediately in the aftermath of an extremely traumatic event.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by at least 6 months of persistent and excessive anxiety and worry.