Anxiety

“I thought I was dying – I went to the ER – they told me it was a panic attack!”
“How do other people do it? I can barely pay my bills without breaking down.”
“I can’t shut off my brain – I swirl around for hours about everything”
“I am either completely shut down and feel nothing or
I am overwhelmed and in panic.”

Anxiety and panic disorders are all part of a continuum of fear. There are many factors that create anxiety and similarly many possible ways to understand and stop it. Left untreated, extreme anxiety may become a panic disorder. Panic attacks are common to many people.

Some panic attacks are virtually imperceptible to others, like an internal fit with no outward signs. More extreme panic attacks feel like a heart attack: chest pain, racing thoughts, laboured breathing, an inability to function occurs. Regardless of the severity, anyone who has had a panic attack knows the tremendous feeling of fear that accompanies it.

Making the decision to seek psychotherapy is the first step in taking back control from what feels uncontrolled. I will help you learn techniques that can immediately alleviate the severity of the attack. Skill-based interventions are my first and immediate priority so that you can feel some immediate relief. Together we can understand your cycle of anxiety and then create a series of interventions that you can practice to build up your resilience in the face of anxiety.

Skills and interventions are derived from the most current research on neuroplasticity and cognitive behaviour therapy. Understanding how the brain functions and what is happening allows you to be more conscious and aware of how the cycle of anxiety is able to gain momentum resulting in anxiety attacks. Developing techniques allows the cycle to be interrupted and thus new pathways developed in the brain. Your new pathways will be of your choosing and it will allow you to function.

Once you have learned techniques to manage the intensity of these feelings we can embark on a deeper exploration for the source of the anxiety. The more conscious you are the more in control you are of the present moment.

Sometimes there is no source to uncover, no roots of the anxiety worth exploring, and the desire to understand is less important than the need to function better in the present. Each person must decide for themselves the necessary steps to improving life functioning. The present for many people is much more important than the past. Ultimately you are the director of your own treatment. I can provide you with the rationale and the possible benefits of the many options but when it comes to your life – you are the expert!

If you would like to immediately begin the process and learn techniques for immediate improvement you are welcome to contact me. If you feel unsatisfied with the efforts that you have made to date then now may be the time to take the opportunity to consult. I can provide a thorough assessment and provide a clear direction for you to focus. This collaborative process can provide you with tools, skills, and a supportive relationship to create the change you need to see in your life.

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