Anxiety

Anxiety is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you very far.
Some quick facts about anxiety from the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America)
  • National prevalence data indicate that nearly 40 million people in the United States (18%) experience an anxiety disorder in any given year. 
  • Approximately 8% of children and teenagers experience an anxiety disorder with most people developing symptoms before age 21.
  • Only about one-third of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment, even though the disorders are highly treatable.
  • In addition, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 13 globally suffers from anxiety. The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide with specific phobia, major depressive disorder and social phobia being the most common anxiety disorders

Anxiety can be an occasional part of our lives that can prove to be quite helpful.  You may recall moments for example, where your anxiety over a test helped motivate you to study extra hard.  What was happening was that your fight or flight was activated and you chose to fight.  You channelled that anxiety positively to effect your outcome.

But when you experience anxiety that is persistent, excessive and overwhelming, and when you find it to be interfering with your daily activities, you may find yourself needing some help to cope.  There are many maladaptive ways individuals deal with anxiety--understanding these in connection with your anxiety will be vital in addressing that anxiety.  While deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery, grounding are all helpful tools to help address anxiety, ultimately they fall short in addressing the core issues.  

It may be that your anxiety is intricately connected to the narratives that you've accepted, whether that was influenced by your relationship to a significant event or an individual (whether parent, loved one, etc).  You may experience fear, worry and a loss of control.  Perhaps in order to protect yourself, you carry certain expectations that cause you to want control your environment in order to feel safe.  It may be that you are going through a life transition that has become challenging to adapt to. There are so many potential factors that cause us to experience seemingly uncontrollable anxiety and I would love the opportunity to walk besides you in pinpointing your anxiety and exploring how to move forward with a healthier version of you.
© Counseling at Cornerstone, 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate in TX