Counseling for Anxiety in Fort Myers

Counseling for Anxiety in Fort Myers

Do you find yourself constantly worrying? Are you anxious and on edge all the time? Do you try to stop yourself from worrying, but you just can’t turn it off? Do you suffer from panic attacks or phobias?  If you are looking for counseling to manage your anxiety, you are in the right place.

Anxiety is a very normal emotion, but excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension, worry, and panic can indicate an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States affecting over 40 million people.

Common symptoms of anxiety include:

  • Chronic feelings of nervousness, tension, and fear
  • Ruminating over worries with an inability to focus on anything else.
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Obsessive thoughts and behaviors
  • Phobias
  • Panic attacks
  • Feelings of danger or dread
  • Physical symptoms including rapid, shallow breathing, sweating, trembling, tingling limbs, nausea, and chest pain.
  • Anxiety can also be the result of a traumatic experience causing hyper-vigilance and avoidance behaviors, a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder. Individuals experience excessive worry and anxiety most of the time. Anxiety can involve fear around events, situations, and activities. Symptoms can also include restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, poor concentration, irritability, and insomnia.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder involves the presence of panic attacks. The feeling of panic escalates quickly and usually peak in about ten minutes, but can last for hours. Symptoms include feelings of panic, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, shaking, and dizziness. Stressful events can trigger panic attacks, but they can also occur without any apparent trigger.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder involves the fear of being judged and embarrassed in social situations. Fears can revolve around public speaking, intimacy, or fears of humiliation or rejections. Social anxiety can be very isolating, making it exceedingly difficult to function in daily life.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessive thinking and compulsive behaviors that are difficult to resist. Obsessions involve persistent and distressing ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images. Compulsions involve repetitive behaviors that only temporarily reduce anxiety.

Phobias

Phobias are irrational fears that relate to specific objects or situations. Examples of phobias include social anxiety, fear of heights, flying, or driving.

Psych Hub offers this helpful video on anxiety:

Therapy Approaches for Anxiety

Counseling is the best treatment for anxiety. While you might find relief with medications, these only treat the symptoms. To create lasting change, it is important to treat the cause of the anxiety and not just the symptoms.

I offer two therapeutic approaches for addressing anxiety. Both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR Therapy are proven, effective therapies for anxiety. I will help you learn specific coping skills for managing your anxiety. We will work to resolve the underlying cause of your anxiety and change negative thinking patterns that fuel it and keep you stuck.

If you suffer from anxiety, you can find quality therapy conveniently located in Fort Myers. Please contact me today for a free consultation. You deserve to feel calm, safe, and at peace.