ANXIETY

It is normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if your life is stressful. But excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that is difficult to control and that interferes with day-to-day activities may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

It's possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child, teenager or an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has symptoms that are similar to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they're all different conditions. Generalized anxiety disorder is a pervasive feeling of worry and stress that is excessive, uncontrollable and often times irrational. Signs may be irritability, restlessness and difficulty sleeping. GAD often has a genetic basis and it has been noted that there is often more prefrontal cortex and amygdala activity in response to stimuli in the brains of those predisposed to GAD. This genetic predisposition along with the occurrence of a trauma or stressful event is at the root of GAD.

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that causes panic attacks which are sudden feelings of terror when there is no real danger. You may have physical symptoms and fear that you are losing control. Physical symptoms can include pounding heart, shakiness, nausea, dizziness and a feeling of being disconnected from oneself. symptoms can appear without warning and peak in minutes. Often panic attacks stop when the stressful event is resolved but for others they remain.

One of the most troublesome aspects of panic attacks is the intense fear that you will have another one which can contribute to avoidance of situations and/or people that you come to associate with anxiety. panic attacks may come on suddenly and without warning but over time and with insight oriented psychotherapy with one of our specialists here at Kennedy Counseling the trigger and root cause is often discovered and addressed. Many people that suffer from panic attacks have had a history of childhood physical or sexual abuse, experienced a traumatic event or going through a life event that involves deep loss such as divorce or loss of a close family member.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder in which a person has certain thoughts “obsessions” and feels the need to perform certain routines repeatedly, “compulsions’ to an extent that impairs day to day functioning. Common compulsions are excessive handwashing, counting, or checking to make sure appliances are shut off or doors are locked. Treatment involves psychotherapy, possible medication and CBT where one of our specialists helps you examine, challenge and expose thoughts while preventing the compulsion response.

Living with any anxiety disorder can be a long-term challenge but it is highly treatable. In many cases, it occurs along with other mood disorders. In most cases, anxiety disorders improve with psychotherapy. Our highly trained therapists will address your anxiety with a combination of insight oriented therapy to help get to the root of the anxious thoughts and then CBT and DBT if needed to examine unhealthy patterns of thinking and help reduce feelings of high emotion. There is also a possibility that you may need medication when symptoms are severe so that you are better able to engage in psychotherapy. Your therapist will also discuss possible lifestyle changes that will alleviate symptoms of anxiety such as creating a daily routine and bedtime routine to help calm your nervous system.

Please call and make a consultation today with one of our specialists in order to alleviate your anxiety and feel more centered and calm. Meanwhile try some lifestyle adjustments such as adding meditation and/or yoga stretches once a day. Even a few minutes may help and there are excellent apps such as Positivity, Calm and Headspace that will help guide you. In addition make sure to get some physical exercise at least three times a week in order to dissipate the physical tightness that can often accompany anxiety. Avoid alcohol and decrease caffeine consumption along with getting eight hours of sleep and concentrating on eating three healthy meals a day even if you find you are not hungry. Even slight shifts in lifestyle choices along with weekly insight psychotherapy with your therapist here at Kennedy Counseling will make all the difference.