Anxiety & Stress
What is anxiety?
Although most of us have experienced anxiety before, we don’t often define all of the characteristics that can make it so debilitating. More specifically, anxiety is an emotional and physical experience that typically involves:
worries about the future (e.g., concerns about upcoming social interactions or public speaking, the “what ifs” in life, fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment, concerns about not getting what you want)
overanalyzing and overthinking (e.g., racing thoughts, disrupted sleep from analyzing your day in bed, feeling paralyzed about making a decision because it might be the “wrong” one)
unpleasant physical symptoms (e.g., sweating, upset stomach, tension, increased blood pressure and heart rate, flushed cheeks/body)
frustrating and debilitating emotional symptoms (e.g., irritability, feeling unable to relax, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread, depression, depersonalization)
People who struggle with anxiety disorders tend to feel held back from engaging in rewarding areas of life and avoid meaningful moments because of the fear of what could happen if they engage. Anxiety is largely based on future-oriented fears that feel like an overarching threat with no relief in sight.
What is the difference between stress and anxiety?
Although stress and anxiety have many aspects in common (e.g., exhaustion, irritability, muscle tension, digestive problems, sleep problems, etc), stress is usually associated with an identifiable, external trigger. A catalyst for stress is usually related to a specific occurence, such as a relationship problem or strain, a work conflict or loss of a job, chronic illness, family changes, discrimination, or anything else that causes a major disruption to someone’s life.
Anxiety, as noted above, tends to be consistent, excessive worry and unpleasant thoughts about the future without an immediate or obvious trigger. Although both stress and anxiety need to be addressed and supported in therapy, it’s important to make this distinction so you can most effectively treat the underlying reason for seemingly similar symptoms (e.g., problems with motivation/concentration, irritability, insomnia, distractibility, stomach problems, fatigue, muscle aches and pains, etc).
how can mindfulness & integrative therapy help with anxiety & Stress?
Regardless of whether you are struggling with anxiety or stress, the good news is that integrative therapy can alleviate symptoms of both. With stress, we focus on the here and now and use a multitude of tools to stay present in order to find solution-focused ways to work through current stressors.
With anxiety, it’s important to get to the root of the problem and understand what’s really going on. By utilizing mindfulness tools, interpersonal therapy techniques, hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we are able to understand the unconscious and historical reasons it feels so difficult to let go of fears and worries. We then help individuals learn how to live more fully in the present moment so that past worries and future fears no longer hold them back from living the fulfilling and satisfying lives they deserve.
At SGS Practices, we help people struggling with a number of anxiety disorders, including (though not limited to): Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Adjustment Disorder, Panic Disorder/Panic Attacks, Social Anxiety, and Public Speaking and Performance Anxiety.
If you are struggling with anxiety or stress, please get in touch by email to schedule an appointment or learn more about how we can help.