Are You Looking For Anxiety Treatment?

Are you experiencing racing thoughts? Do you feel overwhelmed? Is sleeping soundly a thing of the past? Simply put, if you answered yes to these three questions, you might be experiencing anxiety. Symptoms of anxiety range from minor worrying to full blown panic attacks and not functioning properly. Debilitating social anxiety could make you avoid important situations. Also, maybe anxiety is affecting your work performance. Overall, whether it’s a little bit of anxiety or a lot, anxiety treatment can help.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Excessive Worrying

Feeling Nervous

Trouble Sleeping

Agitation

Difficulty Concentrating

Tiredness

Body Tension

Sweating

 Upset Stomach

Panic Attacks

Social Phobia

Irrational Fears

Hyper Arousal

Derealization/Depersonalization

Anxiety Syndromes & Subtypes

Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (Trichotillomania/ hair pulling, nail biting, skin picking)

Panic Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Derealization/Depersonalization Disorder

Phobias- Claustrophobia 

More….

Anxiety Disorders Are Common

In the United States, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults. In fact, anxiety is the most common mental illness in the country. Having anxiety could be a result of childhood trauma such as bullying or an unstable home and family life. It could also arise from a recent event that was distressing. In addition, anxiety may even run in your family. Overall, symptoms of anxiety can pop up due to many life circumstances and a variety of factors.

Unfortunately, many adults do not seek treatment for their anxiety symptoms. Subsequently, many adults self treat anxiety with alcohol, illegal drugs, overuse of prescription drugs, or other maladaptive behaviors. They might isolate away from family, friends, work and other life events. There is no shame in having anxiety. Ultimately, receiving anxiety treatment is your right.

Treatment for anxiety can help you. People with anxiety often live in a constant state of hyper-arousal. Their thoughts may have turned against them. Above all, Anxiety Treatment can help you find peace again.

Always Worried

In my practice I find many people I work with are in an endless cycle of worry. Basically, from the moment they wake up, it’s a constant flood of worries. Worry over finances, work, health, family, and more. And lets not forget the lack of sleep from waking up in the middle of the night curtesy of the worry monster! By and large, so many people are constantly always worried. Worrying takes you out of the present moment, away from family and friends, and what matters most to you in life. With tools and support, you can get off the worry train!

How I Help People With Anxiety

In anxiety treatment I utilize many different approaches. I come at anxiety from a holistic standpoint. Simply put, I like to use different mind and body techniques that you won’t get from a basic talk therapist. Basic talk therapy only gets you so far when it comes to anxiety treatment.

Firstly, I teach methods to help you calm your nervous system. People with anxiety often have the Sympathetic branch of their nervous system constantly activated and on alert. When the Sympathetic branch is activated, you are in flight/fight/freeze. The goal is to activate the Parasympathetic branch- rest and digest. Simply put, it’s important to learn how to feel more centered grounded, and safe.

Therapies I Use For Anxiety

Our thoughts are often our worst enemies! Above all, thoughts are not facts. Cognitive restructuring therapies I use are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The basis of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is- Our thoughts affect how we feel. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is based on your life values and making life choices according to your values. It also has tools to unhook from unhelpful thoughts, worry, and rumination. 

Later, I might add in mindfulness techniques such as breath meditations and progressive muscle relaxation. Mindfulness techniques are great because they teach us to remain in the present moment. Often, with anxiety, we are too focused on the future or upset about the past.

Other Anxiety Techniques

Also, I use EFT- Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT is a great tool for overwhelm and settling yourself. Interestingly, studies have shown that EFT helps lower cortisol in the body which is a stress hormone. You can find more info about EFT HERE.

Lastly, I use Somatic Experiencing techniques to tap into our body’s role in anxiety and to feel grounded. By and large, symptoms of anxiety don’t have to take over your life.

Healing from anxiety is possible but it takes commitment!

 

It’s Time To Make Changes

Symptoms of anxiety not only affect you negatively, they put stress on relationships, families, careers, and more. I offer you my non-judgmental support, attention and care. Also, from personal experience, I know what it’s like to be overcome with anxiety and worry. Throughout my own life I have dealt with anxiety and it’s unpleasant symptoms. In essence, I may not know exactly what you are experiencing, but I can definitely relate, empathize, and above all, help.

Questions

My anxiety is terrible. Will I need medication?

Medication is a very personal decision. It might depend on the severity of your anxiety symptoms. Surely, lifestyle changes and anxiety therapy treatment can help, but it can take time for changes to happen. Overall, medication might help you feel stable faster. Then you can start using the tools that I will teach you with clarity.  But as I have said, the decision is up to you. I always recommend speaking to a psychiatrist to discuss your options. 

Can you help with anxiety attacks? 

Anxiety attacks are scary. Additionally, not feeling in control over your body is a terrible feeling. But anxiety attacks can be a thing of the past. During anxiety treatment, we will discover what events or thoughts might be setting off the attacks. Often, we get anxiety over having anxiety attacks! By and large, learning how anxiety attacks work can help to make them go away permanently.

Can anxiety cause other illnesses? 

Chronic anxiety has been linked to some illnesses and other strange bodily issues. When you’re constantly stressed, your body reacts! After all, the mind and body are connected. Luckily, I work with many people who have somatic (body) symptoms. Calming the anxiety helps to calm the body symptoms. Examples are Irritable Bowl Syndrome, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, TMJ, Vulvodynia, and more. Click HERE to find out more on how I work with these issues.

 

My Clinical Background With Anxiety

I have worked in intensive outpatient and residential clinics for substance abuse and eating disorders. Many of my clients used maladaptive coping behaviors to deal with their anxiety.  With cognitive and psychodynamic techniques, I have seen clients transform their stress and anxiety. Overall, anxiety treatment helped them to feel more confident and comfortable again.

I also have worked with clients who have Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs). Mainly, Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors are- Trichotillomania, Nail Biting, and Skin Picking. The therapy that is used for BFRBs is called ComB. Also, I have had a lot of experience working with adolescents who struggle with anxiety symptoms. See HERE for more info on teen therapy.

Lets Talk

To sum up, I am available for in person and online anxiety therapy. My office is located in the beautiful Ventura Harbor. It’s close to Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Barbara, and Thousand Oaks. For directions click HERE. Feel free to call me or send me an email and we can begin working on your peace of mind. Lets start anxiety treatment now!