People who struggle with generalized anxiety, have anxiety that impairs their quality of life in several domains. Think of this as a catch-all for anxiety ruining your life. You feel that your life is a constant battle of trying to have the life you want, while the anxious part of your brain screams “no it isn’t safe.” You likely notice that overtime where you go, what you do, and who you see is shrinking. Your world keeps getting smaller as you try to decrease the pain and distress you feel. Therapy will help you confront the avoidance and actively choose the life you want again.
Often people with generalized anxiety aren’t sure if therapy will help because they feel that this is just who they are. “I am just an anxious person.” Well, this may or may not be true. Some people do have a basic anxious temperament that can be from a combination of genetic factors and early experiences. In this case, we often see a family history of anxiety that is transmitted through genes and teachings that the world isn’t safe. However, being prone to anxiety doesn’t mean that you have to suffer from it. Well managed anxiety can allow you to have the sensitivity for connection and the drive for success without the pain. Learning to understand your temperament and skills to handle anxiety spikes can allow you to make the most of your natural strengths.
On the other hand, some people are not prone to an anxious temperament, but life events shake their sense of safety in the world and they begin to fear multiple areas of life. In this case, we want to help calm the traumatic reaction, whether from a single incident, chronic stress, or unhealthy relationships. This will allow the person to rediscover their natural state and let go of the anxiety that has been keeping them bound.
Therapy will help you figure out the cause of your anxiety and how to manage it well to reduce your suffering and increase your sense of safety and competence in the world. Feel free to contact me today to schedule a free consultation session either in the office or online to discuss your needs and how therapy can help.