Anxiety and Social Anxiety

Do you have these thoughts?

I can’t stop ruminating about my problems.
I feel very shy around other people.
I feel extremely nervous in new situations.
I can’t seem to relax, even when I’m in a “relaxing” situation.
Other people seem to have more confidence than I do.
It’s hard for me to make decisions because I’m afraid I’ll make the wrong one.
I’m constantly anxious about money/my relationship/my job.
Sometimes I experience a full body panic and it’s very scary (panic attack).
I postpone important things.
I spend a lot of time thinking about specific/irrational worries (phobias).
I have trouble sleeping: worrying prevents me from sleeping.
I often feel that a catastrophic event is imminent.

There is hope!

Working together in anxiety therapy, we get underneath the surface symptoms. We learn how to work with the symptoms, and we learn practical, research-based ways to relax. Our clients at Mindfulness-Counseling vary from mildly anxious to severely anxious, and some have suffered from chronic anxiety attacks. Our work together has helped them learn how to manage their symptoms, face their fears, create behavioral change, reduce worrying and racing thoughts, and begin to feel confidence in social situations. Together we build a sense of being cared about and understood, with the goal of learning to “sit back” and enjoy life.

Generally, We have found that our clients are confronting many of the same issues when we begin our work together:

Panic, fear, and unease
Sleep problems
Not being able to stay calm and still
Feelings of terror that strike at random times
Panic attacks (sweat, strong or irregular heartbeat that feels like it might be a heart attack, dry mouth, shortness of breath, tense muscles, dizziness)
Fixating on the judgement of others
Fear of being embarrassed/ridiculed
Intense fear about objects or situations (heights, flying) that leads to avoidance of ordinary situations
Unrealistic worry and tension with little or no reason
Ruminating
Lack of motivation
Fear of public speaking
Trouble with relationships at work
Lack of confidence
Difficulty adjusting to new situations/new environments
Challenges with making decisions
Financial uncertainties
Doubts
Overwhelm
Lack of balance in life
Lack of support

We will work collaboratively to confront these issues head-on in a supported, gradual, and safe way!

Often, a sufferer of anxiety doesn’t realize how consuming and limiting a factor anxiety has been to their life experience. A panic event, or painful feedback can be the force that causes someone to realize they are an anxious person. Together we process the feelings around this realization and begin a journey of deeper and deeper self-awareness and implementation of research-based techniques that lead to freedom from constant worry. Our clients make positive changes to transform their anxieties and to live the life they always wanted. And you can too!