Anxiety Treatment

Is Constant Anxiety Ruining Your Life?

Do you lie awake at night, stressing over nearly every detail of your life? What if you buy that great car you wanted then can’t make the payments? Or what if you wear the wrong clothing to your new church and make a bad impression? You may worry that your spouse is still angry with you for backing out of the trip you planned. Perhaps you find yourself crippled by stress during your son’s junior varsity football tryouts, or wondering how you can tell your in-laws about the change in holiday plans.

Most of us worry about everyday problems from time to time. But when worry, especially unrealistic and excessive worry, consumes your life, it could be the sign of a problem, or even a disorder. The time you spend feeling anxious can affect your emotional and physical health, sleep patterns and appetite, ability to focus, behavior at work or in school and your relationships. Do you wonder if you’ll ever be able to feel comfortable with uncertainty?

Many Individuals Struggle with Anxiety

Anxiety is a kind of fear. But, unlike the fear of a present danger – being chased by a large, angry dog, for example – anxiety is the fear that something could happen. A person who feels anxious throughout the course of his or her day often has difficulty accepting and coping with uncertainty. This constant and overwhelming anxiety commonly leads to harmful “What if” questions like, “What if I can’t hack it tomorrow?” or “What if I’m just not capable of handling stress?”

On the other hand, anxiety can be a positive force. If it is properly focused, it can help motivate us to perform better. Athletes and performers nearly all agree that if they don’t feel “butterflies” in their stomach before a game or performance, they probably won’t do well. But, when it gets out of control, anxiety can cause problems.

In fact, anxiety problems are among the most commonly treated challenges that individuals face. The good news is, anxiety treatment can help you feel in control again.

You Can Learn to Understand and Manage Your Anxiety

Anxiety is a healthy, normal part of life. But, when it becomes overwhelming, it can begin to impact you in a variety of harmful ways. When you learn to understand your anxiety – both the cause and its symptoms – it becomes easier to see your options for personal development through anxiety treatment. You can begin developing strategies to help you cope with, and even overcome, the challenges you are facing.

I have worked with a variety of individuals suffering from a wide range of anxiety disorders and challenges. In our sessions we will begin by identifying the specific type of anxiety you are struggling with, and what you hope to gain from anxiety treatment. From here, we can determine the best approach for your particular situation. I understand the issues you are facing, and can provide support and guidance as you work to overcome your anxiety.

You May Be Suffering From…

Generalized Anxiety Disorder – You struggle with excessive worry and stress about a variety of circumstances. You imagine the worst case scenario. Physical symptoms may accompany the anxiety, including aches, fatigue, nausea and others.

Panic Disorder – You experience intense fear that arises for no apparent reason. This can be more than just frightening, because the physical symptoms can mimic those of a serious health crisis, like a heart attack or nervous breakdown.

Agoraphobia – This is the kind of anxiety that leads to avoiding places or situations which might cause you to panic or feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.

Social Anxiety Disorder – An intense fear of social situations, including extreme nervousness about talking in front of others. This extends to fear of making social errors, looking foolish at parties and in other social settings. This can even result in something called selective mutism in children and teens.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Characterized by obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts or impulses that occur again and again and that you feel you can’t control. Compulsions are behaviors or rituals that you feel you must perform to control disturbing thoughts and relieve the anxiety those thoughts trigger.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Refers to anxiety following a single event or a series of frightening experiences. In cases of PTSD, the fight-flight-freeze response is heightened, and you may become overly vigilant and easily panicked. You may also experience disturbing and terrifying events like night terrors, nightmares and flashbacks.

Specific Phobias – Intense and unrealistic fears of situations or things that are not always or commonly scary to all people. Phobias lead to avoidance of the object of fear. Avoiding commonplace situations like the dog next door, or elevators, for example, can lead to obvious complications, making your life far more difficult that it needs to be.

Rather than having a single cause, several factors can play a role in the formation of anxiety. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families, suggesting there is a hereditary component to many of these conditions. However, while having a family member with an anxiety disorder increases the chances you will develop one, it may not necessarily be the same type. Alternately, anxiety can arise due to traumatic events or health conditions, often appearing alongside a severe or persistent mood disorder like depression.

I understand the complexities of recognizing and managing your anxiety challenges, and I adapt my approach to meet your specific needs. Anxiety treatment may include a combination of medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy or other types of talk therapy, and relaxation or meditation to help you control tension and intrusive thoughts. There is wide agreement that anxiety treatment should not rely only on the use of medication, but should include psychotherapy to have the most benefit.

With the help of an experienced anxiety treatment therapist you can learn to take control of your anxiety and live a less stressful, more satisfying life.

But, you may still have questions about anxiety treatment…

I can’t afford therapy.

While therapy can be costly, it is important to remember you are investing in yourself. Additionally, if left untreated, anxiety and accompanying disorders can lead to costly issues down the road.

I don’t really have a problem, I just need to be tougher.

Learning to manage your anxiety isn’t a matter of toughness, but one of understanding. Anxiety treatment can help you understand why you are struggling and how you can regain control.

What if therapy makes things worse? I don’t like thinking about my anxiety.

While therapy may bring up difficult issues, you are doing so in a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can receive the support and guidance you need to create meaningful, lasting change.

You Can Overcome Your Anxiety

If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, don’t wait to ask for help. There are treatments that can help you feel much better, often fairly quickly.

To schedule an appointment or to discuss any questions you may have about anxiety treatment, I invite you to call (219) 309-3928 for a free 15-minute phone consultation.

Bob Kallus is certified in the use of Alpha-Stim, a widely researched technology proven effective in anxiety treatment. View demonstration and testimonial videos on YouTube.