Anxiety Therapy in West Springfield: How Does It Work and How Can It Help?

It’s easy to let anxiety continue when you are feeling too overwhelmed to think of yourself. You may be balancing family, friends, or a stressful work environment, and feel that your own concerns can wait. Depression and anxiety often creep up slowly. Talking with our caring and patient counselors can be the first step toward addressing it. We are living through trying times and this means many of us may be putting their mental health on the back burner.

How can I find a good therapist for my anxiety? Is my anxiety untreatable? These are the types of questions you may have, and they show how deeply involved and motivated you are. Your anxiety is unique and may be caused by an array of factors contributing to the environment, social pressures, inner struggle, and professional responsibilities. A litany of fears, stressors, and phobias may be encroaching on your mental health.

At Thriveworks in West Springfield, we are devoted to working with you to narrow down these culprits and provide in-the-moment advice and coping strategies. A therapist can work with you to explore tangible solutions that you can begin to incorporate immediately into your daily routines. Online counseling for anxiety may suit your needs in our busy and unpredictable world. A psychologist who specializes in anxiety will be able to systematically work through your anxieties and offer much-needed insight into what you are dealing with. Let us provide you with a professional and comfortable service that values your personal experiences and history.

Our dedicated therapists at Thriveworks in West Springfield, MA, want you to consider your value and your mental health. Make an online counseling appointment with us and speak with one of our counselors or therapists or call (413) 634-4805.

What Are Common Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder?

Do you often feel anxious and uncertain and have a hard time pinning down where exactly your anxiety is coming from? We often feel locked into our social settings and professional lives and forget we are constantly interacting with people, new ideas, and painful events that are out of our control. We pride ourselves on remaining calm under pressure. This mentality of dismissal and fortitude is common and can contribute to and cause us to ignore anxieties resulting from constant interaction with the world.

How can we step back and examine our anxieties and confront them? We can begin by identifying them and shed some light on how they work their way into our lives.  Common anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder: This is lingering anxiety that can be triggered by a host of events. It can disrupt functioning on a daily basis. Symptoms include ceaseless fears, emotional stressors, constant worry, and concentration problems.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by recurring, unwelcome, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and irrational, disproportionate, and excessive urges to do certain actions (compulsions).
• Panic attacks and Panic Disorder: Panic disorder often come in the form of panic “attacks”, which are sudden feelings of dread or trepidation and may be accompanied by sweating, shortness of breath, and a pounding heart. People with a panic disorder may feel that they have no control over events or experiences and may also feel painful physical symptoms associated with their condition.
• Phobias, Agoraphobia: Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in circumstances where the person feels their environment is precarious, or inescapable. For example, crowded spaces like public transit, malls, and outdoor spaces may trigger serious anxiety.
• Eating Disorders: Habitual and harmful eating behaviors can have negative effects on your health, your emotions, and your ability to function in both social and private settings. These disorders include bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, and body dysmorphia.
• PTSD: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of anxiety that develops after a traumatic or distressing event. People with PTSD may find it difficult to recover from their trauma, as there are many factors that may need to be addressed. People suffering from it can experience symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, hallucinations, isolation, and avoidance of people important in their life.
• Social anxiety disorder: A form of anxiety that is characterized by unreasonable worry about social situations and exchanges. People with social anxiety disorder may experience anxiety from social interactions that society sees as normal and easy to navigate. Because of the tendency to avoid these situations, many people with this disorder go untreated.

If you can relate to any of these then therapy may be a great choice for you. Our counselors would love to discuss your specific and individual issues and help you develop a plan to overcome them and live the life you want!

How Does Anxiety Therapy Work?

Realize that you are not alone and that your concerns are valid. There is an array of treatments available to you once you take the first step to contact a professional counselor or therapist. An anxiety therapist can offer specific advice and techniques aimed at easing your anxiety. Some of the methods our therapist may use are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): One of the great things about being human is our unique ability to challenge ourselves and compartmentalize information. Sometimes this works against us though and we develop unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviors. This is where a therapist will be able to unearth patterns of thinking that may be causing anxiety. Negative thought patterns can build up and work in tandem to exacerbate worries and undue fears. Our therapists help you replace negative thoughts and emotions with helpful and more nuanced ones that will allow you to live your best life and share it with others.

Exposure Therapy for Anxiety: Exposure therapy, also known as, Systematic Desensitization, is a gradual step-by-step approach to control and master fears related to imagined or real situations. Therapists will help you to face and overcome anxiety-inducing situations and triggers.

Other Alternative Therapies for Anxiety Disorders: Some types may include…

• Guided Imagery Exercise
• Relaxation techniques
• Biofeedback
• Hypnosis
• Music & art therapy

One counseling method may help you in one area and another may be needed to address another problem. Our therapists are highly aware of the changing nature of your mental health and the unstable nature of the social and personal struggle. Reach out to us today so we can begin a healthy and purposeful dialogue.

How Can Counseling and Therapy Help with Anxiety Disorder?

One of the most challenging obstacles to overcome in life is how to confront fears and anxieties that we know are holding us back. Often times we forgo experiences that we can partake and excel in because of anxieties and misplaced feelings of guilt and shame. We avoid stressful situations, so they don’t harm us but we also long to be included in the collective conversation.

One success story was Andrea. She was anxious and frightened of public transportation and this was holding her back from pursuing her dreams and passions and severally limited social interaction. By partaking in talk therapy with a professional she learned to identify an undercurrent of fears and recognize signs of an oncoming panic. Once she began replacing negative thoughts with more grounded emotions, she became fully adept at harnessing her goals. Perhaps this account speaks to you. Maybe you can relate. Our therapists and counselors can personalize your help and move you toward the freedom of enjoying and exploring your life!

Thriveworks offers trained and professional psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors dedicated to helping patients identify and overcome their unique conditions. The goal should be to replace negative thinking with positive thinking. But this is easier said than done. A willingness to start a conversation requires courage and we encourage you to reach out to our passionate therapists and counselors.

Schedule an Appointment at Thriveworks Counseling in West Springfield, MA

At Thriveworks we believe in the inalienable right every individual has to mental health. We will work with your health plan and insurance and find a licensed and professional therapist who can begin you on your way towards a healthy social and emotional life.

Don’t devalue or discount your experiences and mental well-being. Life is out there waiting to be seized. Our mental health counselors are here for you and we look forward to beginning a dialogue. So call to schedule an appointment today at (860) 553-3374 or book an appointment online!