What is Anxiety? And why won’t it go away!
Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. It is a very common emotional response! The charge of anxiety can push us to engage and take action. It’s when we feel stuck, covered, and entrenched in anxiety that we can experience challenges. When anxiety is stuck, one might notice a sense of tension, loops of worried thoughts, and physical experiences like increased blood pressure, constricted muscles, or upset stomach. While occasional anxiety is a typical part of life, chronic anxiety can get in the way of daily activities, well-being, and contribute to our suffering.
What Are Common Symptoms of Anxiety?
To get closer to decreasing anxiety, it helps to understand the typical symptoms. Here are some common symptoms to look out for:
Emotional Symptoms: emotional restlessness, irritability, tightened emotional response or emotional fatigue
Cognitive Symptoms: excessive worry, negative and critical thought loops that feel stuck or never ending, difficulty concentrating
Physical Symptoms: fatigue, muscle tension, headaches, upset stomach, sleep disturbances
Behavioral Symptoms: avoidance of certain situations, procrastination, social withdrawal
Steps for Reducing Anxiety Symptoms
Here are some tips to help reduce anxiety symptoms:
Mindfulness and Meditation: Anxiety is often times focused on future stressors. Mindfulness techniques can help one stay grounded in the present moment and reduce anxiety by focusing on the Here and Now.
Physical Movement: Physical movement and sensory engagement can releases endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. It can decrease energy consumed by thoughts, and help bring us back to the present moment (note Mindfulness above).
Supportive & Balanced Self-Care: Maintaining a balanced diet, restful sleep patterns, and connections with supportive individuals can enhance our capacity for emotional flexibility, creative cognition, and general mental and emotional wellness.
Deep Breathing Exercises: Deep breathing can help calm the nervous system and reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Structured Problem-Solving: Break down overwhelming tasks into smaller, manageable steps to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.
Professional Help
At times, professional help with reducing anxiety and increasing coping and resilience can be very beneficial. When one’s anxiety is persistent and gets in the way of daily life, reaching out for professional support can be an effective step in making a desired change.
How Therapy for Anxiety Can Help
Therapy provides a secure and supportive environment to explore one’s experience and develop individualized, effective coping strategies.
Benefits of Therapy:
Personalized Plan: Therapy tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Evidence-Based Approaches: Modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and EMDR are used to address anxiety effectively.
Integrative Steps: Strategies, tools, and steps are individualized for your care and woven into a comprehensive toolbox. This may include traditional talk therapy as well as interactive, expressive modalities such as Clinical Art Therapy, Clinical Hypnosis, and Somatic Therapies (Learn More about Clinical Art Therapy HERE, and Therapist Specialties HERE).
Supportive Environment: A compassionate space to share your experiences and challenges.
At Radiant Mind Wellness we are excited to work with individuals who aim to reduce anxiety and increase confidence and ease. Our integrative and evidence-based approaches are crafted to help individuals discover calm, control, and confidence.
If you’d like to learn more about Anxiety Therapy or other services, we’d be glad to connect and discover how we may help. Feel free to schedule a consult or a direct session via the link below.
We hope that all find ease and comfort on their journeys!