Anxiety. Why won’t it leave me alone?

 

Anxiety is part of the human condition. It makes your stomach ache, your ears ring, your heart race, your hands shake and go numb. It silences you, stops you from joining the group, holds you back from reaching your goals. It can be a beast. And like so many beasts, it can be tamed.

Anxiety is part of the human condition for a reason. Helping you to understand the neurobiology and physiology of anxiety is one of the ways I can help you begin to tame your anxiety. And even though we humans all have anxiety, we also all have a unique brand of it. What makes me anxious may not make you anxious. And the origin of our personal brand of anxiety is unique to us as well. Together, you and I will explore how anxiety arises in you, how best to reduce its impact on your day to day life, and what type of interventions work best for you.

Are you just going to tell me to meditate?

 

Meditation is great. But so is rollerskating. Or making balloon animals. Anxiety is fueled by our thoughts and feelings about the past or the future. So engaging in something that keeps you focused and in the present moment can become an effective tool in decreasing anxiety. So no, I promise I won’t simply tell you to meditate (I won’t discourage you from it either!). I have lots of tools in my anxiety treatment toolbox. We will find those that fit best for you.

Can you help me if my anxiety is due to trauma?

 

Yes. The majority of my clients have experienced some degree of trauma and I am a trauma informed counselor and EMDR trained. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is used to treat a wide range of trauma presentations. I received my EMDR training from Christie Sprowls, Psy.D. Dr. Sprowls is a Senior EMDR Institute Trainer who has trained counselors all over the world. EMDR is considered an “A” level treatment for trauma by the World Health Organization (2013) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (2010).