Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all feel on a regular basis. It is a feeling that keeps us safe, prevents us from harm, and signals us that there is danger. While anxiety is necessary to motivate us at times, too much anxiety can become debilitating.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 31.9% of adolescents have an anxiety disorder while an estimated 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder in the past year. Anxiety disorders can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school, work, and relationships.

In our high tech, fast paced society today, we tend to value immediate gratification and expect the highest achievements and accomplishments from ourselves and others.

Why do we strive to be constantly busy and productive with no downtime? Have you noticed that our kids are overscheduled and our calendars are jam packed with activities with no time to relax? What does it say about us if we take a moment to ourselves to do….nothing? Are we not worthy or productive? While we are aware that this way of thinking is unsustainable, we continue to hold ourselves accountable to this unattainable standard.

Where do anxious thoughts come from? Often, they originate from traumatic experiences. Regardless of if we were abused, bullied, or suffered from another form of trauma, it is likely that we developed coping mechanisms that may have been successful in helping us to feel a sense of security at first, but then, may have fed into our anxiety as time passed.

Your anxiety symptoms are not your fault. Anxiety is a normal part of who we are. Over time, our symptoms and needs evolve, but the time it takes for us to cope and adjust to changes happens over time. What may compound our propensity towards anxiety is the fact that in today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with a constant flow of bad news and information of the dangers in the world, which further trigger the worry that something bad could happen to us.

When you think about your anxiety, you are probably going to focus on the symptoms rather than where they originated. However, with treatment, you can begin exploring and gaining an understanding of when your anxiety started, how it is impacting you and how you can develop effective solutions that result in you living a life in peace, safety, and security, rather than in fear.

Will I be pressured into taking medication or forced to share painful information from my past.

At Apple Psychological, our approach is to work with you together as a team, making decisions that make sense and are comfortable for you. The decision to go on medication or not is a personal decision that, while it may be discussed in a thoughtful manner, will never be forced upon anyone. The goal of anxiety treatment is for you to trust your provider and feel the utmost comfort level with the care that you receive. As with all of our clients, the ways we help you address your problems have to make sense to you.

Since anxiety is something everyone experiences, shouldn’t I be able to handle it on my own? I am worried about how others might judge me if they know I’m seeking treatment.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Anxiety disorders are the most common and pervasive mental disorders in the United States. Therefore, you can be sure that you are not alone in your experience. Also, the stigma of mental health treatment has decreased significantly over time and therapy has been far more accepted and understood by society as a necessary form of self-care now more than ever.

Is anxiety treatment expensive and time consuming?

While therapy is an investment in your mental health and quality of life, think of the consequences if your symptoms go unaddressed. If you are experiencing anxiety symptoms, I am sure that your anxiety has caused you to waste many hours ruminating, spending negative energy, staying up late at night, only to rob you of precious time and money in the past. While therapy only lasts an hour each week, your anxiety has limited your productivity and been debilitating on a regular basis. Also, you have probably had to spend money trying to relieve yourself from your symptoms in whatever way that has worked for you- whether it is shopping, substance use, or self-care.
Once you give therapy a chance, you will see in just a matter of weeks to months that it is worth it! You will begin to feel relief and realize that it is a quicker and less expensive solution when looking long term. Invest in yourself, giving you the inner peace and feeling of safety and comfort each day. You deserve it!