Therapist for Anxiety

Why Do You Need To See a Therapist for Anxiety?

Many forms of anxiety include nervousness, worry, and self-doubt. Some anxiety causes are easy to spot, but others are not. It is normal to feel anxiety every once in a while. However, dread that is overwhelming, recurring, or out of nowhere can seriously disrupt people. The help of a therapist can be helpful when anxiety interferes with your life like this.

What Are The Different Types of Anxiety Disorders?

You may have a diagnosable anxiety disorder if you experience intense, persistent, and excessive anxiety. Anxiety disorders commonly occur in the following forms:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): When nothing or little provokes their anxiety, nervousness, or worry, GAD sufferers are constantly anxious and worried.

2. Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder): Someone with a social anxiety disorder is overly anxious, low in self-esteem, and self-conscious in social situations. A severe social phobia may cause significant psychological distress, leading to avoidant behavior in everyday social situations.

3. Panic Disorder (Panic Attack): An individual with panic disorder experiences unexpected and repeated panic attacks. Panic attacks can be extremely stressful for some people, making it difficult to function daily.

4. Phobias: Fears related to specific objects or situations cause individuals to experience severe anxiety. The most severe phobias can lead to avoidant behaviors, causing people to avoid everyday situations.

5. Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD): People with OCD experience intrusive, persistent thoughts (obsessions), leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). To cope with anxiety caused by obsessions, OCD individuals typically engage in compulsions such as counting or cleaning.

6. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after a traumatic event leading to nightmares and self-destructive behaviors.

7. Separation Anxiety Disorder: Separation anxiety is an emotional disorder in which the person feels excessive anxiety when being away from home or family. A normal part of development is separation anxiety, but extreme separation anxiety is one of the most common disorders of childhood. There is no reason to think separation anxiety will not occur during adolescence or adulthood.

What Are Possible Treatment Options for Anxiety?

There is a high level of treatment available for anxiety disorders, even though they may seem debilitating. First-line treatment with psychotherapy is the best option for most people with anxiety, but medication and psychological treatment may also be beneficial. The following treatment options can be helpful for those who may suffer from anxiety disorders by reducing symptoms and helping them feel better.

• Therapy: Taking part in psychotherapy, called talk therapy, can help a person overcome mental disorders. It may be possible to cope with anxiety in everyday life with the help of a psychologist, counselor, or social worker.

• Medication: Anxiety medications can improve your quality of life and help manage your symptoms, but they cannot cure them. This treatment option typically involves antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, beta-blockers, or benzodiazepines, each having its mechanism of action and effects on anxiety. We stress that every medication has a downside, and any decision towards medication should be taken very seriously, and consider the risk vs benefits.

• Check-ups: Sometimes, clinical anxiety symptoms mimic medical conditions like heart disease. A regular primary care visit is crucial to maintaining your physical health. If your primary care doctor determines you have no physical health issues, they can refer you to local mental health resources.

• Self-Care: You’ll have an easier time managing everyday stress and emotional strain if you take good care of your body and mind. Investing in your mental and physical well-being can be beneficial if you have a hectic schedule. To relieve anxiety symptoms, engage in hobbies you enjoy, avoid caffeine and nicotine, and exercise regularly since physical activity releases endorphins that reduce anxiety symptoms.

• Social Support: Social support networks provide both immediate and long-term benefits. Support networks can significantly impact an individual’s ability to manage their mental health. Support groups are available for anxiety patients if you don’t feel comfortable opening up to friends or family members. Support groups allow you to voice your concerns, develop valuable social skills, and relate to others in a group setting.

Our Approach to Anxiety Therapy Here At Capital District Neurofeedback

What Does a Therapist Do For Anxiety?

Anxiety therapy aims to help people identify their triggers, understand their feelings, and change their reactions to those triggers. The therapist will also teach techniques that help people change negative thoughts and behaviors. As every individual’s situation is different, the effectiveness of each treatment varies. They can be conducted individually, in couples, families, or in groups.

Anxiety therapy involves educating clients about the symptoms and reactions to a certain situation. This way, they can better recognize if they are suffering from the condition. Some common anxiety reactions include pacing, nail-biting, and tapping the feet. It can also cause irritability, insomnia, and other physical symptoms. People with anxiety disorders should recognize these symptoms and learn the most effective management techniques.

Is It Worth Seeing A Therapist For Anxiety Disorder?

The world has become more stressful and complicated than ever. While you may find it hard to talk about anxiety with friends and family, there are many benefits to working with a therapist in Albany or here in Clifton Park. Therapy helps you uncover the source of your anxiety, develop effective coping strategies, and respect your mental health condition.

Anxiety symptoms can interfere with your everyday life. Your ability to concentrate and function may suffer. You may have extreme procrastination and lack of sleep. You may experience extreme panic attacks or skip work because you are too worried about the task. You may have difficulty concentrating on work or school because of your anxiety. A therapist will be able to identify the exact causes of your symptoms and help you overcome them.

Anxiety therapy involves changing negative thoughts into more realistic ones. Seeing a therapist can help you replace distorted and irrational thoughts with more positive ones. Seeing a therapist can help you stop feeling depressed and panicked and begin feeling better more quickly. If you have an anxiety disorder, seeking help from a professional will improve your life.

What Type Of Therapy Options Are There For Anxiety?

Different types of therapy have different goals and approaches. Evidence-based therapy seeks to help patients learn to accept and deal with unpleasant experiences. It also promotes greater clarity in personal values and commitment to behavior change. Some evidence-based therapies are a good choice for people experiencing anxiety symptoms. With all therapeutic interventions, the purpose is to help you better understand your triggers, identify your anxiety sources, and learn new ways of dealing with them. Therapy may teach you techniques for changing your behavior and replacing negative thoughts.

Choosing a psychological treatment for your specific anxiety disorder and symptoms. Group, individual, couple or family therapy is possible. You will receive therapy appointments regularly and for some time, depending on the severity and duration of your anxiety symptoms. Different mental health services and professionals treat psychiatric disorders in different ways. Based on your symptoms, diagnosis, and preferences- your therapist can help you choose the best treatment plan. Different types of psychotherapy used in treating anxiety disorders include the following:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Highly effective treatment for anxiety is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). As part of CBT treatment, your psychologist will help you identify and manage anxiety-related factors.

You’ll learn the basics of cognitive restructuring through cognitive therapy, which involves identifying the thoughts that trigger your anxiety. You can improve their anxiety symptoms by learning how to replace negative thoughts with more realistic ones. As part of the behavior therapy process, you will learn the CBT techniques to help reduce problematic behaviors associated with anxiety disorders. As you participate in anxiety-provoking activities, your psychologist will encourage you to realize that the outcomes you fear are unlikely.

Among the mental health conditions that cognitive-behavior therapy treats are major depression, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and mood disorders.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy is a cognitive behavioral therapy initially used to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD). Bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression are among the mental illnesses treated by DBT today. The goal of DBT is to accept your anxiety while changing your thoughts and behaviors at the same time. DBT teaches four skills: mindfulness, distress toleration, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a common CBT technique for treating anxiety-related disorders, including social anxiety, specific phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clients who undergo exposure therapy become gradually accustomed to anxiety-provoking objects or situations through a process known as systematic desensitization. The steps involved in systematic desensitization are as follows:

1. Relax: To manage your anxiety, your therapist will teach you relaxation exercises, including progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and deep breathing.

2. List: Some triggers are stronger than others, so your therapist will guide you through creating a list of your triggers and helping you rank them according to their intensity.

3. Expose: As you learn relaxation techniques, your therapist will gradually introduce you to anxiety-provoking objects or situations to manage your level of anxiety.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy seeks insight into problems through exploring the past, which differs from cognitive behavioral therapy in that it is less structured. Psychoanalytic therapy aims to uncover past conflicts and work through these issues. Psychodynamic therapy involves determining the childhood issues that may have contributed to your anxiety disorders as an adult. It is a supportive therapy that emphasizes the patient-therapist relationship.

Interpersonal Therapy

A common form of therapy used to treat depression and anxiety disorders is interpersonal therapy (IPT). Through IPT, you will learn to recognize interpersonal issues, such as conflict with loved ones, avoidance, and communication difficulties. Using your therapist’s guidance, you’ll learn ways to express your emotions and communicate effectively.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) also effectively treats anxiety syndromes. ACT aims to help you identify your life values and act accordingly.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

It is a technique for alleviating stress after traumatic experiences that is less prevalent today than in the past. EMDR involves directing your eye movements toward external stimuli. Aside from hand-tapping and audio stimulation, EMDR may also involve other stimuli.

What We Recommend: Neurofeedback Therapy

What Makes Neurofeedback So Effective?

How Long Does Most Therapy Take For Anxiety Disorders?

A patient’s overall health and the severity of anxiety symptoms will determine the length of the therapy. During therapy, patients strive to improve their quality of life and reduce the amount of suffering experienced by patients. Most modern forms of therapy aim to help patients change their way of thinking. Cognitive and behavioral approaches focus on recognizing cognitive distortions that cause the patient to feel threatened. The typical therapist will approach the sessions using teaching methods to change how they think about stressful situations. However, the length of therapy may vary from one patient to the next.

Medications are often used with therapy, as the patient may be too agitated or frightened to focus on the therapy. Providing the patient with the skills to manage distress makes therapy the most effective way to treat anxiety. Several types of therapy have emerged to address different forms of anxiety, from cognitive behavioral therapies to psychoanalytic approaches. In addition, these therapies work in conjunction with medication, which is considered more effective than medication alone.

Here at Capital District Neurofeedback, our approach seeks to avoid medications and lean in favor of retraining the brain with biofeedback.

When Is It Time To See A Therapist?

If you’re suffering from emotional distress, you may have wondered when it’s time to see a therapist. Some people decide to wait and see if time, changes in lifestyle or support will improve their situation. While these solutions can help, therapy must address the root of emotional distress. When symptoms start to control your life or can do harm, it may be time to seek help.

Depression is a common affliction. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety or depression, this mood disorder affects your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Sadly, depression affects one in six adults. Fortunately, there are many ways to find a therapist. This article will cover some of the most common signs and symptoms of depression. Consider these tips when deciding whether to seek professional help.

It would help if you considered seeing a therapist when you suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental distress. You should seek help if you feel hopeless, depressed, or angry. Unhealthy habits often cause these feelings. Sometimes you might use alcohol or drugs to cope with stress, but a therapist can help you break the pattern. They can help you learn new strategies to cope with these emotions and feel better.

What Are The Main Symptoms Of Anxiety?

Chronic anxiety affects the mind and body in different ways. While a person’s sympathetic nervous system is naturally at work when experiencing anxiety, it is not the only reason for feeling tense. Anxiety symptoms can be debilitating and make people feel much worse than they are. Anxiety can lead to many physical problems, including an elevated heart rate and high blood pressure.

Anxiety can affect the body in both the short and long term. The heart rate and breathing rate may increase, and people may experience lightheadedness and difficulty concentrating. It can also impact the immune system and the digestive system. Anxiety can affect all body parts, including the respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. If these symptoms are present in a patient, they may require treatment. For most people, anxiety involves a combination of psychological and physical symptoms. An anxiety disorder could manifest as symptoms that interfere with your daily life.

The American Psychiatric Association describes anxiety symptoms as follows:
• Sleeping problems, such as fatigue and insomnia
• Unexplained aches, muscle tension, and headaches
• Digestive problems, such as nausea
• Excessive worry
• Low self-esteem
• Rapid heart rate
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

Read more about anxiety here at What Is The Difference Between Stress and Anxiety?

How Do You Find The Right Mental Health Therapist?

A far-off reality may seem inconceivable to someone who deals with anxiety. Anxiety, however, is highly treatable. The first step towards recovery is exploring your therapy options if you suffer from high anxiety levels.

Do Your Research

Although all therapists are licensed and have the training, they are not all the same. The same mental health professionals could study at the same school, have the same training, and still provide different services. For this reason, you must research the therapists you intend to work with before choosing one. Choosing a type of therapy will also require research. There is more to therapy than lying on a couch and discussing your feelings and memories with a therapist.

Look At Their Credentials

Many different people call themselves therapists. It would help if you understood a therapist’s credentials when looking for one.

Ask About Their Experience

A license and training do not necessarily translate into experience in a field. Experience enhances therapists’ comfort in their work, as in any profession. Having experienced how things work and don’t work for them, they can advise you accordingly. After practicing their skills and developing their strategies, they can better execute them. Look up their reviews online to see what other people have said about them.

Look For Pricing Options

The sliding scale offered by some therapists can save you money if you don’t have insurance coverage. Mental health professionals could offer you a discounted price for counseling based on your income level.

Meeting Options

Most often, patients with mental health issues may only meet with professionals in person. Then, some also offer therapy through phone calls, emails, texting, or video chat. When dealing with high anxiety levels, you may be more comfortable with some options over others. You may want to compare in-person and online sessions depending on your comfort level.

Ask Questions

Start by asking questions to discover if you are right for a counselor or mental health professional. To start with, ask if they work with anxious patients. If you would like to ask any other questions to help you feel more comfortable working with them, feel free to do so. The interview is an excellent way to see if they are a good fit for you. Having a good rapport with your therapist can increase the effectiveness of your sessions.

Ask For Recommendations

You can ask others who have worked with a therapist to find out who they recommend for handling anxiety. Hearing about someone else’s positive experience with a therapist can help you feel more confident in them. Nevertheless, even if you know someone who has used a particular therapist, it is still a good idea to interview them yourself. There is no guarantee that their mental health professionals will be a good fit for you simply because it was for someone else.

Therapy seeks to replace negative thinking and unrealistic or distorted predictions with realistic, healthy, and helpful ones. Many people find therapy helpful, but the choice can be personal. You can choose a therapy style that suits your needs and lifestyle. In addition to therapy, you can learn about anxiety. By understanding the problem better, you can maximize the benefit of your choice for your optima therapy approach.

Call Capital District Neurofeedback to begin your journey to better daily living, and relief from Anxiety.