The challenge of anxiety has been on the increase over the last twenty years. Anxiety seems to be infused in the very fabric of our culture. It infects the vary basis of our exchange in our daily life. Too frequently, those who suffer from anxiety feel alone. This is why I am emphazing that it is a pervasive problem in our society.

There are five types of anxiety:

  • Generalized – worry about many things more days than not
  • Social – being in public or with others
  • Specific – Fear of…heights, flying, spiders/snakes, blood, etc.
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – rituals, odd thoughts and fears
  • Post Traumatic Stress – situation/event(s) that have lasting impact

Anxiety Symptoms

Here are eight common symptoms of stress and anxiety:

  1. Worry and fear that the worst is going to happen.
  2. Continous, unwanted thoughts and feelings that can disrupt sleep, work and an ease of participation in life.
  3. Difficulty keeping up with the demands of school, work or relationships
  4. Trouble conscentrating or maintaining focus. Fears and worries may seem to be the only thing you can focus on.
  5. Worry that others will find out that you are struggling with anxiety.
  6. A feeling that you need control. Or, others have commented that they think you are ‘controling’.
  7. Panic attacks, which are experienced as racing heart, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness or difficulty breathing.
  8. Avoiding situations, people or places where you believe you will become anxious or have a panic attack.

Understanding Anxiety & Stress:

Anxiety and stress are an unavoidable part of everyone’s life. At one time or another, everyone experiences anxiety. In fact, it is a normal and functional response for sensing danger and motivating us to get things done. With an appropriate amount of fear, we don’t try to ‘beat the train’ as the lights flash and the traffic barriers come down. With a healthy amount of anxiety, we study for an exam and can stay up all night, if we must. Yet, when anxiety begins to interfere with normal life, it is time to seek treatment. 

The normal function of anxiety and stress backfires, when we seek to avoid or control experiences that we think we will become anxious.

Yet, if you begin to avoid situations, in an effort to avoid anxiety, your life can become too narrow. For example, you decline an invitation to go out with friends, because you experience discomfort around others. Or you’re reluctant to go to the store, because you’ve had panic episode while shopping.

There are, in deed, experiences of trauma that may have been the onset of such handicapping anxiety. Yet, no matter what the origin, it is important to know that there is an emotional and physiological cause of anxiety. It is not simply being caught-up in your head; it is your brain sending messages to your whole autonomic nervous system, saying,”beware of danger“.

Left unattended, these symptoms can develop into challenging problems that rob you of your quality of life. Focus, motivation, productivity, decision making, and physical health are all affected when you experience
unhealthy levels of anxiety. 

Counseling for anxiety and stress is a way for you to improve your overall life experience.

At the Center for Conscious Counseling, we treat a wide range of mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and trauma among other mood challenges. We take an integrative approach bringing together mind-body techniques with other, empirically validated forms of treatment. 

Give us a call today at (312) 948-9455 or Make an Appointment to begin the process of living your life more fully today.

Posted in Interventions