Anxiety

When properly functioning, the body is designed to warn us of danger. Our body is constantly taking in sensory information and processing it for danger. When the mind evaluates sensory information and determines that a threat is near, the body responds by turning on our alarm system. It can send a siren signal throughout the body that is hard to ignore.

In the case of anxiety disorders, the brain and body are over assessing potential risks and danger and then alerting the nervous system to prepare to flee or fight for safety. In anxiety, the imagined threat can be more powerful than the reality of the situation. There may not be any danger in reality, but the mind and the body believe there is and respond accordingly. When a person cannot escape a perceived danger, fatigue and overwhelm can set in. Feeling activated, worried, panicked and overwhelmed are core experiences in anxiety disorders. It’s exhausting to feel scared or ready to act to keep yourself safe.

I will help you identify the specific features of your anxiety and then we will work together to develop a treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms. We can use evidence-based approaches as well as creative ones to help you respond effectively when anxiety hits.