Anxiety

If you're seeking therapy for anxiety, know that you're not alone

Anxiety will show up in everyone at some point in their life. Many people experience feelings of anxiety when facing stressful situations, big decisions, or the unknown. However, sometimes anxiety can reach a point where it interferes with your ability to live a fulfilling life. It can manifest as a result of past trauma, cultural influences or societal expectations.

Symptoms of anxiety

The symptoms associated with anxiety vary person to person but everyone struggling with anxiety reports some type of extreme, irrational fear or feeling of dread. Many people also have physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, tension headaches, nausea, or muscle weakness.

Anxiety symptoms can impact interpersonal relationships

Anxiety can impact every area of day-to-day life, from work and school to family, romantic relationships, and friendships. At work or school, it may lead to difficulty focusing, perfectionism, or fear of making mistakes. These stressors often make it difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance and can lead to burn-out. In family and romantic relationships, anxiety can show up as irritability, withdrawal, or a need for reassurance, which can create distance and cause misunderstandings. Friendships may also feel the effects. Anxiety can make social situations overwhelming, leaving you feeling isolated or misunderstood by those around you.

How therapy can help with anxiety

Dealing with generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, panic attacks or persistent worry is exhausting and you may have a hard time imagining what life would be like without this weight on your shoulders. In therapy, we will work together to understand the moments and influences that have shaped your anxiety. As you share your experiences, we will identify and challenge beliefs that contribute to your symptoms and highlight moments of strength and resilience in your past that we can draw on as you move forward.

How a therapist can help work through anxiety in couple's therapy

Symptoms like irritability, withdrawal, or heightened sensitivity in one or both of you can disrupt interactions and create misunderstandings. When we work together, I will help identify these anxiety-driven behaviors without placing blame. By externalizing symptoms of anxiety, we take the focus off any one individual. This approach creates a safe space where both partners feel heard and understood. With this foundation of support, we can move forward ready to tackle your therapy goals as a team.

Take control of your anxiety at Equilibrium Psychotherapy located in Madison, Wisconsin

By exploring your emotions, beliefs, and reactions with a non-judgemental and compassionate attitude, you can regain a sense of control over your responses. Then you can begin reconnecting with the you that exists beneath the anxiety. If you are ready to get started, I will provide you with a compassionate and patient therapeutic space that helps you make the change you have been needing.