Stress and anxiety can actually be helpful for us in certain situations, but what happens when the anxiety doesn't turn "off"? Anxiety and stress are meant to serve as a response to stressors when there is actual danger. When it doesn't shut "off", it can be exhausting, frustrating, and overwhelming. Chronic nervous system activation and dysregulation can cause us to live with little to no capacity for distress.
You or your child may be experiencing:
High, chronic stress
Consistent worry or overthinking
A sense of urgency or panic for all things (even things that aren't urgent)
Struggles slowing down and resting/relaxing/enjoying life
Body tension, stomachaches, headaches/migraines, poor sleep, poor eating, or other physical manifestations of anxiety
Fear of the future or the unknown
Always needing to have a "plan" or be prepared
Perfectionism
Struggles with transitions
Inability to tolerate frustration or distress
Shame, guilt, loneliness
What does therapy for anxiety look like?
Imagine anxiety and stress responses act like a kitchen smoke alarm. Ideally, they would only go off when there is an actual threat of fire or danger. When anxiety becomes natural part of living or a part of day to day life, it's like the kitchen smoke alarm is going off anytime you try to cook. We often find the kitchen smoke alarm (your anxiety and stress responses) just needs a change in batteries or a system upgrade to help it work more effectively.
Therapy for anxiety starts with stabilizing the kitchen smoke alarm and noticing what activates it to go off- meaning, your therapist will work with you to notice triggers for activation, identify patterns, and identify ways to move through it. Stress and anxiety don't feel so overwhelming or all consuming when the body builds more capacity for distress and emotions.
Interventions can include verbal processing, body-based modalities like EMDR and Somatic Experiencing, expressive arts, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and more. Therapy isn't one size fits all, and you as the client get to decide what works best for you.
Therapy can help you or your child:
Decrease anxiety and stress responses
Practice regulation skills
Increase distress and frustration tolerance
Improve well-being and enjoyment
Improve overwhelm and urgency
Improve confidence and empowerment in navigating stressors and life
Improve avoidant behaviors
Express emotions
Cope with life's demands and stressors
There is no timeline for how long it takes to feel better and reduce distress. Sessions are typically 50-60 minutes, and we do offer extended sessions for deeper processing and based on need. We offer holistic mental health services in-person at our office in Plano and virtually across Texas.