Understanding and Treating Anxiety: A Personalized Path Toward Relief
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns people face, but it does not present in the same way for everyone. Some individuals experience racing thoughts before a meeting or presentation. Others feel overwhelmed or panicked at the thought of leaving home. Anxiety has many faces, and part of the healing process begins with recognizing how it uniquely manifests in your life.
As a therapist, I guide my clients in exploring the stories they tell themselves about anxiety—what it means, where it began, and how it affects their identity and daily life. From a narrative therapy perspective, we seek to understand not just the symptoms but the meaning you have assigned to your experiences. Together, we begin to separate the problem from your sense of self.
When Does Anxiety Become a Disorder?
It is perfectly normal to feel anxious from time to time. However, when that anxiety becomes persistent, overwhelming, or begins to interfere with daily life, it may point to an anxiety disorder. These conditions can disrupt routines, challenge relationships, and make even basic tasks feel burdensome.
Common anxiety-related diagnoses include:
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): A pattern of chronic worry and tension, often about everyday situations.
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Social Anxiety Disorder: A fear of being judged, criticized, or embarrassed in social or performance situations.
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Panic Disorder: Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, often accompanied by fear of future attacks.
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Phobias: Intense fear of specific objects or situations, such as flying or enclosed spaces.
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): These share traits with anxiety and often involve intrusive thoughts or hypervigilance.
In many cases, anxiety overlaps with depression, trauma histories, or occupational burnout. Identifying and addressing these intersections is a crucial part of effective care. From a CBT lens, we work to uncover and shift distorted thought patterns that contribute to ongoing distress. Through mindfulness-based practices, we increase present-moment awareness, reduce reactivity, and cultivate greater emotional regulation.
Anxiety Therapy Can Transform Your Relationship with Fear
Whether your anxiety feels like a constant undercurrent or strikes without warning, there are concrete tools and strategies available to help you regain a sense of calm, clarity, and confidence. Using a combination of evidence-based approaches, I help clients map out practical goals and apply techniques that promote lasting change.
We may work on identifying triggers, restructuring anxious thought patterns, developing grounding techniques, and increasing resilience through self-compassion and strengths-based exercises drawn from positive psychology. In some cases, collaboration with a medical provider regarding medication may also be helpful in easing the intensity of symptoms and supporting deeper therapeutic work.
You do not have to live in fear or remain stuck in the story anxiety tells about you. Change is possible. I invite you to reach out so we can begin building a therapy plan that honors your strengths, values your voice, and supports your healing, one intentional step at a time.
