Anxiety Counseling

Anxiety Counseling: Imagine Living without Anxiety!

Counseling for Generalized Anxiety, Worry, Fears, Panic Attacks and Social Phobia

I read a New York Times blog post recently which reported that according to the World Health Organization, Americans are more likely to suffer from anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders (such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, etc) than most other nations. In fact, about one third of Americans suffer from anxiety. What’s going on?

What is Anxiety, and why do so many people have Anxiety Disorders?

Let’s start by understanding what anxiety is exactly, and how it develops. In general, anxiety is a feeling of tension, discomfort, fear, or worry and it exists as a result of the “fight or flight” response that humans have built into their DNA. The fight-or-flight response is what allowed our ancestors to take protective action in the face of danger. For instance, if you were picking berries in the woods hundreds of years ago, and came face-to-face with a bear, you had to make a quick decision to either fight the bear or run away. To make a good decision quickly in that circumstance, a chemical called adrenalin floods your body and improves your focus.

Fast forward to today. We still have the fight-or-flight response in our DNA, but of course, not many bears around. Instead, we have demanding bossed, kids with tantrums, deadlines, bills to pay, crazy traffic, etc. Problem is, our brain doesn’t know the difference between work stress and a bear. So, all these stressors of modern-day life activate our fight-or-flight response and keep too much adrenalin flowing through our bodies. And too much tension over a period of time, can lead to the development of anxiety.

Getting Rid of Anxiety: How Anxiety Counseling Can Help

Luckily, anxiety treatments have a high rate of success. There are a number of psychotherapy approaches that have been shown to be effective in helping individuals reduce, manage, or even eliminate anxiety. These include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Relaxation Training, and others. It is important to choose a therapist who has training in a variety of approaches so that your therapy can be tailored to your needs. As a practicing psychotherapist in Plantation, Florida (Plantation is a city in Broward County located near zip codes 33324 , 33317 , 33326 , 33322 , 33331), I have had the opportunity to work and successfully treat individuals with a variety of anxiety problems or anxiety disorders. If you live or work near my office and would like a consultation, please feel free to contact me. My rates are reasonable and I accept some health insurances. If you do not live locally, you may want to visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America to find a therapist near you.