Many of us in the west suburbs are familiar with the rise in anxiety as a mental health condition during the last several years.
When we or someone we care about is struggling with anxiety, finding ways back to peace and clarity can sometimes be challenging. We need a secure and confidential space where we can express ourselves and work through what troubles us according to our specific circumstances.
Empowered Life Therapy supports those who seek personal healing and peace through compassionate, knowledgeable anxiety treatment. Through the individually centered therapeutic process, we help you explore thoughts, techniques and exercises for:
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We welcome and support all people of all backgrounds in their personal journey.
The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as an emotion characterized by inner tension, worried thoughts and physical changes such as increased blood pressure.
Anxiety differs from fear in that where fear responds to an immediate or identifiable threat, anxiety is a reaction to what might or could happen or what we think is happening, often when it’s not. It is our mind in a regular state of negative expectation.
In one recent survey, 37% of respondents indicated they were more anxious in 2023 than they had been the year before. While lower than the high of 62% during 2020 and the pandemic, this figure still reveals that anxiety remains a widespread concern.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting about 40 million Americans. They can take many different forms, such as:
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): excessive, persistent anxiety about everyday matters, often beyond proportion of the actual circumstances
panic disorder: repeated episodes of sudden, intense fear and anxiety that peak in short periods (e.g. panic attacks)
social anxiety disorder (social phobia): fear of social situations that leads to avoidance of them
specific phobias: intense fear of certain objects or conditions, such as heights, insects, closed spaces or public speaking
separation anxiety disorder: excessive fear of being away from loved ones
selective mutism: consistent inability to speak in certain situations or places, such as at school, despite being able to speak elsewhere
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): unwanted, intrusive and distressing thoughts that prompt urges to perform ritual actions or behaviors to help allay the associated anxiety
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): intense recurring anxiety as a result of having witnessed or experienced a traumatic event, often characterized by elevated fight-or-flight responses
Some anxiety disorders can be treated with therapy alone, and others may combine therapeutic and medical treatments.
Recurring or increasing anxiety might include any of the following common symptoms:
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In addition to anxiety caused by an illness, injury or health condition. factors that can increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder may include:
trauma. Children who endured abuse or trauma or witnessed traumatic events have a higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder during their lives. Adults who experience a traumatic event also can develop anxiety disorders.
intense or cumulative stress. A distressing major event (e.g. divorce or a death) or a buildup of other life stressors (e.g. finances, family turmoil) may develop into excessive anxiety.
personality. Individuals with certain personality types can be more prone to anxiety disorders than others are.
other mental health conditions. People with other mental health disorders, such as depression or ADHD, can often also have anxiety.
blood relatives with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can run in family trees.
substance use. Use of or withdrawal from drugs and alcohol can cause or worsen anxiety.
If we struggle with anxiety, sometimes the best thing we can do is just step back, be honest with ourselves and reach out to someone we know is there for us – someone who will listen with empathy and without judgment.
If you believe you would benefit from treatment for anxiety, Empowered Life Therapy offers you a safe, personal space for deepening your understanding of your intuition, passion, motivation, challenges and emotions.
You can expect to leave our first session together feeling heard. We will also begin a tentative direction for the therapeutic process by clarifying goals for anxiety therapy.
After a month or so, you should be familiar with the therapeutic process and starting to see signs of progress in your life.
As we keep learning about you, we will continue defining and refining your goals for anxiety counseling and identify any barriers to achieving them. We will also monitor your movement on the path to your greatest potential.
You really don’t have to live with anxiety and fear. Treatment can help, and for many anxiety disorders, therapy is often the most effective option. That is because unlike anxiety medication alone, anxiety therapy treats more than just the symptoms.
Anxiety therapy can help you uncover the underlying causes of your worries and fears; learn how to relax; look at situations in new, more-comforting ways; and develop better coping and problem-solving skills.
Anxiety counseling at Empowered Life Therapy gives you the tools to overcome anxiety and teaches you how to use them. Just a few approaches we can adapt to your circumstances might include:
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We truly understand how anxiety can affect inner peace and clarity. We recognize your desire to live your life with a healthy spirit and a balanced mind. To further discuss our anxiety counseling and how we can adapt treatment specifically for you, call us today at (630) 842-6585 or complete our contact form.
