Everyone experiences anxiety. Perhaps your boss has been more critical of your work than ever before, and you’re not sure if your job is in jeopardy. Maybe your doctor has asked you to undergo a series of tests that could result in a life-changing diagnosis. Or maybe your young adult children are making foolish decisions, you’re concerned about their welfare, and you are having trouble sleeping.
For most people, feelings of anxiety last only for a short time. Anxious moments can be intense and last between a few minutes and a few days. For others, however, feelings of anxiety can consume their daily lives and can go on for weeks, months and even years. When this happens, you likely have an anxiety disorder, and you should seriously consider seeking the help of an experienced counselor.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Symptoms vary, but your body tends to send out physical and emotion warning signals when you have anxiety. A small sample of common symptoms include:
- Headaches and/or migraines
- Fatigue
- Nervousness
- Chest pains
- Insomnia
- Rapid heart rate
- Trembling or muscle twitching
- Sadness or depression
- Digestive or gastrointestinal problems
- Feeling overwhelmed
What does an anxiety counselor do?
The goal of an anxiety counselor is to help you identify the cause of your anxiety and to manage and alleviate the symptoms of your anxiety.
What are the most common approaches that counselors use in treating anxiety?
Counselors use different kinds of therapy to lower your anxiety levels, calm your mind and relieve your fears. The two primary types of therapy include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – As its name suggests, this therapy focuses on 1) how one’s thoughts contribute to their anxiety; and 2) how one behaves and reacts in anxious situations. In effect, this therapy suggests that our perceptions of a potentially anxious situation trigger feelings of anxiety, not the actual situation.
Exposure Therapy – People with anxiety tend to avoid situations that trigger fear and anxiety. Exposure therapy aims to eventually expose people to the events, objects or people whom they fear. This process doesn’t happen overnight but is a process to help people address their fears.
In addition, there are more natural forms of treatment recommended by counselors, such as daily relaxation techniques, physical exercise, spending more time outside in nature, and more.
If you or a loved one are battling anxiety, perhaps it’s time to seek professional help? There are several options to explore, as a professional, like an anxiety doctor, at a treatment center like the Lotus Wellness Center, can explain.