September 15, 2014

Anxiety Counseling Can Help You Overcome Anxiety

Written by Rachel Eddins

Posted in Anxiety and with tags:

anxiety counseling white woman talking to therapist on couch

Do I Need Anxiety Counseling?

Everyone feels anxious and under stress from time to time. Situations such as meeting tight deadlines, important social obligations or driving in heavy traffic, often bring about anxious feelings.

Such mild anxiety may help make you alert and focused on facing threatening or challenging circumstances. On the other hand, anxiety disorders cause severe distress over a period of time and disrupt the lives of individuals suffering from them.

The frequency and intensity of anxiety involved in these disorders is often debilitating. But fortunately, with proper and effective treatment, people suffering from anxiety disorders can lead normal lives.

Many people who suffer from an untreated anxiety disorder are prone to other psychological disorders, such as depression, and they have a greater tendency to abuse alcohol and other drugs.

Their relationships with family members, friends and coworkers may become very strained. And their job performance may falter.

If this describes you, know that there is hope! Anxiety counseling can help you overcome anxiety and the way it impacts your life.

What are the major kinds of anxiety disorders? 

There are several major types of anxiety disorders, each with its own characteristics.

  • People with generalized anxiety disorder have recurring fears or worries, such as about health or finances, and they often have a persistent sense that something bad is just about to happen. The reason for the intense feelings of anxiety may be difficult to identify. But the fears and worries are very real and often keep individuals from concentrating on daily tasks.
  • Panic disorder involves sudden, intense and unprovoked feelings of terror and dread. People who suffer from panic disorder generally develop strong fears about when and where their next panic attack will occur, and they often restrict their activities as a result.

 

  • A related disorder involves phobias, or intense fears, about certain objects or situations. Specific phobias may involve things such as encountering certain animals or flying in airplanes, whereas social phobias or social anxiety disorder involves fear of social settings or public places.

 

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by persistent, uncontrollable and unwanted feelings or thoughts (obsessions) and routines or rituals in which individuals engage to try to prevent or rid themselves of these thoughts (compulsions). Examples of common compulsions include washing hands or cleaning house excessively for fear of germs, or checking over something repeatedly for errors.

 

  • Someone who suffers severe physical or emotional trauma such as from a natural disaster, serious accident, crime or even early attachment trauma may experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns become seriously affected by reminders of the event, sometimes months or even years after the traumatic experience.

Symptoms such as shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, trembling and dizziness often accompany certain anxiety disorders such as panic and generalized anxiety disorders.

Although they may begin at any time, anxiety disorders often surface in adolescence or early adulthood.

There is some evidence of a genetic or family predisposition to certain anxiety disorders.

EDMR therapy for PTSD can be an effective treatment for PTSD. We offer EMDR therapy at our office in Houston, Tx.

Why is it important to seek counseling for anxiety? 

If left untreated, anxiety disorders can have severe consequences. For example, some people who suffer from recurring panic attacks avoid at all costs putting themselves in a situation that they fear may trigger an attack.

Such avoidance behavior may create problems by conflicting with job requirements, family obligations, or other basic activities of daily living. Learning to overcome anxiety may mean taking your life back!

Our Houston, Tx therapists specialize in treating anxiety disorders.

Are there effective counseling treatments available for anxiety disorders? 

Absolutely. Most cases of anxiety disorder can be treated successfully by appropriately trained health and mental health care professionals.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, research has demonstrated that both “behavioral therapy” and “cognitive therapy” can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. Behavioral therapy involves using techniques to reduce or stop the undesired behavior associated with these disorders.

For example, one approach involves training patients in relaxation and deep breathing techniques to counteract the agitation and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing) that accompany certain anxiety disorders.

Through cognitive therapy, clients learn to understand how their thoughts contribute to the symptoms of anxiety disorders, and how to change those thought patterns to reduce the likelihood of occurrence and the intensity of reaction.

The client’s increased cognitive awareness is often combined with behavioral techniques to help the individual gradually confront and tolerate fearful situations in a controlled, safe environment.

Proper and effective medications may have a role in treatment along with psychotherapy. In cases where medications are used, the client’s care may be managed collaboratively by a therapist and physician.

It is important for clients to realize that there are side effects to any drugs, which must be monitored closely by the prescribing physician.

How can anxiety counseling help someone overcome anxiety?

Therapists are highly qualified to diagnose and treat anxiety disorders. Experienced mental health professionals have the added benefit of having helped other clients recover from anxiety disorders.

Your therapist can work with you to develop a specific treatment plan to help you overcome your anxiety.

How long does anxiety counseling take? 

It is very important to understand that treatments for anxiety disorders do not work instantly. You should be comfortable from the outset with the general treatment being proposed and with the therapist with whom you are working.

There must be a strong sense that the client and therapist are collaborating as a team to remedy the anxiety disorder. No one plan works well for all clients. Anxiety treatment needs to be tailored to the needs of the client.

Many clients will begin to improve noticeably within eight to ten sessions, especially those who carefully follow the outlined treatment plan. However, others may find that anxiety treatment is a longer term process.

Next Steps

Contact us to find out more about how anxiety counseling can benefit you. We offer therapy services in Houston, Tx and online therapy in Texas and several other states.

There is no question that the various kinds of anxiety disorders can severely impair a person’s functioning in work, family and social environments. But the prospects for long-term recovery for most individuals who seek appropriate professional help are very good.

Those who suffer from anxiety disorders can work with a qualified and experienced therapist to help them regain control of their feelings and thoughts — and their lives. Take charge of your life and contact us to learn how to overcome anxiety.

Our therapists in Houston can help you or your loved one recover. To get started now give us a call to schedule an appointment at 832-559-2622 or schedule an appointment online with an anxiety therapist in Houston.

We look forward to helping you!

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