Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns, and the number one reason people call our practice. Anxiety impacts nearly every person to some extent as it is a natural feeling that overcomes us in response to our perception of a situation and actual occurrences that take place in life. Sometimes anxiety is the primary presenting reason for treatment at Tampa Therapy, and sometimes it is just one symptom a person experiences, only to discover out there is much more at the root of the problem to be addressed and worked through.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders include Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, Agoraphobia, Generalized Anxiety, and Separation Anxiety. Almost one-third of adults will have experienced an anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime. For some people, it can be debilitating and interfere with their ability to do the things they most want in life, whether it’s making more friends, dating, becoming more active, being independent, or simply living a life free of constant worry.
Without treatment, anxiety disorders can last many years and even a lifetime. Thankfully, however, a lifetime of struggling with anxiety is not necessary. This class of disorders has some of the most effective psychological treatments available. Exposure-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has consistently shown to be the gold standard in treatments for anxiety disorders in general, often just as effective as treatment with psychiatric medications alone.
We always recommend to engage in the therapy process before seeking medication for anxiety. If a person is truly engaged in their therapy sessions, therapy yields longer lasting results, and is equally as effective – if not more effective, than medication.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder feel persistently worried or anxious about a variety of events or activities in their daily lives, and have difficulty controlling or stopping worry. They may worry greatly about small things (e.g., being on time or running errands), work or school, money, their relationships with others, their own health or the health of others, and/or things going on in the world around them. People with GAD may describe themselves as “worry warts” and likely have often had others tell them that they worry too much.
In addition to feeling worried often, people with GAD can experience symptoms such as restlessness, feeling on edge or keyed up, being easily tired, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep difficulties.
SOCIAL ANXIETY OR SOCIAL PHOBIA
A person with social phobia feels anxious or nervous in one or more social situations. While many people may feel anxious at times in some social situations, those with social phobia feel strong anxiety that is enduring and often gets in the way of them doing things they want to do, especially when they avoid social situations that cause them to feel uncomfortable.
PANIC DISORDER
The core symptom of panic disorder is the panic attack, an overwhelming combination of physical and psychological distress. Because symptoms of Panic Disorder are so severe, many people with Panic Disorder believe they are having a heart attack or another life-threatening disorder.
During an attack several of these symptoms occur in combination:
* Pounding heart or chest pain
* Sweating, trembling, shaking
* Shortness of breath, sensation of choking
* Nausea or abdominal pain
* Dizziness or lightheadedness
* Feeling unreal or disconnected
* Fear of losing control, “going crazy,” or dying
* Numbness
* Chills or hot flashes
SPECIFIC PHOBIAS
Specific Phobia is when a person experiences intense fear as a reaction to an object or situation. Common specific phobias include fear of blood or needles, fear of enclosed places, and fear of flying, though fear of spiders, fear of snakes, and fear of heights are the most common specific phobias. While many people report being very afraid of certain situations or things, they may not be bothered by their fear or it may not stop them from doing things because they may not be faced with the feared situation or object. For example, a man who lives in New York City and fears snakes may not be very concerned and his fear likely does not get in the way of him doing things he needs and wants to do. In such a case, the fear would not necessarily be considered a Specific Phobia and he probably would not have a need for treatment. The key component is whether the fear causes interruptions in one’s life, such as avoiding specific places, situations, or objects.
WHY TURN TO TAMPA THERAPY FOR YOUR ANXIETY TREATMENT
If you’re in search of a therapist in Tampa that can walk you through the process of combating worry and anxiety, our team at Tampa Therapy has the advanced training and many years of experience providing anxiety treatment. Your therapist will work with you to identify your specific concerns and problem areas, and collaboratively develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs.
WE CAN HELP
If you are looking to learn ways to challenge your anxious thinking, feel more calm and relaxed, feel more confident and secure, and live life with more ease, we would love to help. The anxiety treatments we provide can be used with a wide array of presenting problems.
Whatever the reason, give us a call or send us an email. Remember, there are many reasons why people seek therapy. Professional mental health assistance can greatly benefit you in many ways, including making important changes in your life.
We are committed to providing therapy and counseling services in a comfortable, relaxing, encouraging, and non-judgmental environment to yield the most realistic and best outcomes. Give us a call or email us today to schedule an appointment.