Anxiety

When was the last time you got a good night’s sleep?

Lying awake worrying about all the things you didn’t get done, or all the things that might go wrong, you replay conversations over and over in your head. Your brain is constantly spinning.

The harder you try to calm your thoughts down, the more intense they become. You just want the thinking and worrying to stop.

You’re a pro at the “what if” game.

“What if this happened… or this… or this?”

Some people feel anxiety during stressful situations – a new job, preparing for a test, moving to a new city, starting a new relationship.

Others have specific fears such as a fear of flying, heights, or spiders.

Sometimes anxiety hits out of the blue.

It happened to Karen.

Karen is an accountant and has held the same job for the past 20 years.

One morning while driving to work, Karen’s heart started beating fast and she felt pain in her chest.

She began to sweat, and her breathing became shallow. She felt as though she was going to pass out.

She went to the hospital because she thought she was having a heart attack.

After hours of tests, the doctor told her she was physically healthy, but had likely experienced a panic attack.

Karen started having similar symptoms each time she drove. She also began having them while at the grocery store and at work.

Karen went to the doctor several more times, only to be told she had anxiety and was referred to our office for therapy.

Karen came to therapy desperate for help.

Karen shared that she had several stressors, including her youngest child moving to college and her husband losing his job.

We discovered that these big changes were likely the cause of the sudden onset of anxiety.

Karen acknowledged that her purpose in life had been her kids and she wasn’t sure who she was any more. Karen felt lost and scared.

Through therapy, Karen began connecting with herself again.

She discovered a new purpose for her life. She started new hobbies and began a regular exercise program.

She also learned powerful techniques to manage the anxiety when she began feeling symptoms. In time, Karen’s anxiety went away.

When she left therapy, she said that she felt better than she had in years and was excited about her future.

A calmer, more peaceful life is a phone call away.

Anxiety is highly treatable.

At Three Rivers Counseling, we help people with anxiety to feel better and live calmer, more peaceful lives.

We will help you gain insight into the anxiety you are experiencing and learn valuable tools on how to overcome it.

Call (530) 788-5274 Today!