Anxiety Therapy in San Diego, CA
Do Fear And Worry Hinder Your Quality Of Life?
Are you preoccupied with intrusive thoughts that drain the joy out of life? Do you often feel worried and nervous as you move through the day? Is your anxiety getting in the way of work, social occasions, or close relationships?
When anxiety has become your constant companion, you begin to see the world through the lens of worry and fear. Rather than enjoying a sense of calm and satisfaction around what’s important to you, you may constantly play out worse-case scenarios in your mind. If it’s gotten to the point where your anxiousness is interfering with daily life, you might feel like you’re at the end of your rope.
You May Feel Anxiety In Your Body
Perhaps your worrisome thoughts affect you physically. You might find it difficult to sleep, concentrate, or even sit still at times. Or maybe you experience muscle tension, heart palpitations, sweaty palms, or a loss of appetite when your stomach is in knots. All of these symptoms may sometimes culminate into panic attacks that leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
When you feel this way, you might avoid the company of others. Or you may prefer to be alone because you fear judgment or might worry about what people think of you. If meeting new people makes you anxious, it’s possible you cancel plans rather than subject yourself to discomfort. Your behavior may be impacting your close relationships which might lead to you feeling even more anxious. If only you knew how to release yourself from this distress.
But what if you could feel more relaxed and get through the day with less worry and fear? With therapy, you can learn how to keep your anxiety at bay so that you are no longer consumed with intrusive thoughts or unpleasant physical sensations.
Anxiety Disorders Affect Nearly 1 In 5 People In The United States
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 American adults each year.” Not only do those of us who suffer from anxiety deal with ongoing feelings of fear and uncertainty that interfere with everyday activities but we are also at higher risk for other medical problems, “such as heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression.”
Anxiety disorders—for example, social anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)—differ from functional anxiety and, as such, usually require treatment. When anxiety regulates normally, our fight-or-flight reflex works as an internal alarm system to help us avoid danger. However, when anxiety is disordered, it creates an excess of fear, worry, and physical distress within us. The root causes of anxiety disorders can be biological in nature, attributed to our family environment growing up, or both.
Modern Day Stressors Can Lead To Higher Levels Of Anxiety
The pressure of today’s fast-paced society coupled with the state of the world can lead many of us to feel overly anxious more often. Additionally, the aftermath of the global pandemic has also contributed to more of us experiencing isolation, fear, and emotional distress.
And yet, sadly, those of us who suffer from anxiety may avoid seeking therapy if we think we’re simply wired this way and are unable to change. Or we may feel ashamed or embarrassed asking for help for our anxiety which keeps us from receiving treatment.
But choosing anxiety therapy is nothing to be embarrassed about. Counseling is the best way to learn effective strategies for coping with anxiety and confronting situations that currently cause distress.
Anxiety Therapy Offers The Skills You Need To Manage Your Worries And Fears
Perhaps you’ve tried therapy to manage anxiety before and were disappointed to find that it wasn’t as helpful as you’d hoped it would be. Unfortunately, many therapists aren’t trained in what we feel is the most effective treatment for anxiety disorders, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy—and Exposure Response and Prevention (ERP).
Anxiety therapy in San Diego or Encinitas, at the Center for Mental Wellness, allows you to better understand what your fears are, where they may come from, and then identify effective strategies to prevent anxiety from interfering with your life. When you recognize the thoughts that contribute to excessive anxiety, you will learn how to look at situations differently without them causing as much distress.
What To Expect In Sessions
Your San Diego Anxiety therapist will meet you where you are by checking in with you to determine what is bothering you the most these days. Initially, you will take the lead by discussing whatever you’re most comfortable with. Once we’ve established a safe environment where you can be open, honest, and vulnerable, we can begin to implement strategies for overcoming your anxious thoughts and behaviors.
Because we are solution-oriented and problem-focused, anxiety counseling with your therapist is intended to be time-limited. And although treatment will focus on current issues and problems, you will also gain an understanding of how your past affects current difficulties. And after you’ve completed therapy, we aim for you to be equipped with effective tools and insights for managing anxiety that you’ll be able to draw upon long into the future.
The Modalities We Use
We have found the best modalities to utilize for anxiety treatment are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including Mindfulness-based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and exposure therapy, also called Exposure and Response and Prevention (ERP), whenever appropriate. Combining mindfulness—the act of “being focused on present-moment experiences in an accepting, non-judgmental manner”—with the principles of CBT can be a winning combination.
Your San Diego or Encinitas anxiety therapist will help you identify and challenge unhelpful thought processes that contribute to over-worrying, procrastination, and catastrophizing. Recognizing that you are not your thoughts will allow you to shift your perceptions and release anxious feelings.
Once you’re feeling ready and receptive to it, exposure therapy can encourage you to do the things you’ve been afraid to do or, conversely, to stop engaging in unhelpful behaviors that anxiety perpetuates. By gradually building up your tolerance to discomfort, the fears you associate with certain situations, things, or ideas will begin to diminish.
Anxiety is treatable. With therapy, it’s possible to live with more of a spring in your step, less burdened by worry. You can be happier and more relaxed.
But You May Wonder Whether Anxiety Therapy Is Right For You…
My anxiety has helped me set high standards to achieve life goals. What if I become unmotivated without it?
It’s a common misconception that anxiety is an “all or nothing” proposition. We may worry that without it, we will become unmotivated or lack focus to accomplish our goals. Our objective in therapy won’t be to eradicate your anxiety altogether; rather, it will be to regulate it so that its effect is beneficial—not detrimental—to you. With anxiety under control, not only will you be able to achieve as much as you always have, you’ll probably be able to accomplish even more.
I’ve tried therapy for my anxiety before and it hasn’t worked. How do I know you’ll be able to help me?
If you previously went to a therapist for anxiety who didn’t utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), it’s worth trying counseling again. At the Center for Mental Wellness, each counselor has the knowledge and experience to implement the most current evidence-based strategies for treating anxiety. We combine our knowledge with compassion and understanding so that you feel understood as you learn how to manage your symptoms.
Is anxiety counseling really worth the time?
If you are someone who is high functioning and seemingly able to handle anxiety, you may wonder if treatment is necessary. And if you suffer from severe anxiety, you may feel too hopeless to seek treatment. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, you don’t have to live with so much anxiety. It’s always worth the time to reduce your suffering and improve your quality of life.
Talk with an Anxiety Therapist in San Diego, CA
Doesn’t a life with less worry, fear, and anxiousness sound good to you? If you would like to find out more about our San Diego anxiety therapy sessions, and would like a free consultation, you may call 858-461-9409 or visit our contact page.