What is Anxiety?

Anxiety takes many forms, but its’ main feature is fear – fear of something happening now, or fear of something that may happen in the future.

What does it feel like? People with anxiety talk about constant muscle tension, sweaty palms, butterflies in their stomach, a tight band around their head, feelings of bladder or bowel urgency, breathing difficulty, or even a feeling of being disconnected from their body. They fear the loss of approval and love from important people in their life. They fear loss of acceptance and their self-esteem suffers badly. Some people get overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness, depression and guilt. They become prone to moments of distraction, confusion and difficulty thinking.

Here are common ways that people feel anxiety:

• Fear of separation from certain people
• Fear or avoidance of certain objects
• Fear of social settings, of being  judged
• Fear of brief surges of intense panic
• Fear that results in obsessive thoughts
• Fear that results in repeated activities
• Fear of leaving home, being in crowds or open spaces.
• Persistent fear about seemingly everything

Feeling mildly anxious now and then is natural and you can find ways to manage it yourself (self-help books, meditation, etc.) If these fears sound way too familiar or have caused serious problems for you, then you should seek further evaluation from a mental health professional. I can provide that evaluation and I can also provide treatment.

The therapy I provide, psychodynamic therapy, is a proven, effective treatment for anxiety and its root causes. Therapy isn’t simply talking, chatting. We’ll work together to address the causes of your anxiety and the negative experiences that have come with it.