Anxiety Therapy For Adults & Teens In Dallas Texas

Is what I'm Experiencing Anxiety?

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Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the U.S. An estimated 40 million adults struggle with it every year or roughly one in five adults. It’s no wonder, considering the multitude of stressors we face every day including work, family life, and current events. These external factors can contribute to anxiety, but so can genetics, brain chemistry, and one’s personality.

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Less than half of people with anxiety get any kind of treatment, although therapy is very effective in reducing or eliminating it. For my clients struggling with anxiety disorders, I use assessments to determine the type, severity, and potential causes of anxiety. I then match each client’s needs to the type of therapy best suited for them.

Too many people suffer in silence from anxiety. I started providing anxiety therapy in Dallas, Texas to give hope to those who find themselves stuck in never-ending cycles of worry

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There are several different anxiety disorders, each with their own set of signs and symptoms. The specific anxiety disorder is important, because it plays a role in how best to treat it.

The most common anxiety disorders are listed below, along with a few symptoms as listed by the Mayo

Clinic:

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Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety in Adults & Teens 

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• Generalized anxiety disorder​

  • Indecisiveness

  • Being unable to “let go” of a fear or worry

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Tiredness

  • Insomnia

  • Nausea

  • Persistent worries which are out of proportion to the situation

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• Social anxiety disorder

  • Fear of being judged negatively

  • Worry about embarrassment

  • Avoidance of social situations

  • Analyzing social situations after they occur

  • Trembling

  • Sweating

  • Dizziness

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• Panic disorder

  • Sense of impending doom

  • Fear of losing control or of death

  • Pounding heart rate

  • Shortness of breath or sense of tightness in throat

  • Feeling of unreality

  • Numbness or tingling

  • Chest pain

  • Chills

  • Hot flashes

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• Specific phobias

  • Feelings of intense fear and panic when thinking about or exposed to source of phobia

  • Knowing your fear is irrational, but being powerless to control it

  • Avoidance of the object of your phobia, or of any place or situation in which you could come into contact with it

  • Nausea

  • Dizziness or fainting

  • Rapid heart rate

  • Chest tightness

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Common Myths About Anxiety & Anxiety Therapy

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One misconception around anxiety is that it’s the same thing as stress. Stress is normal and happens to everyone. Anxiety, on the other hand, can be debilitating and usually interferes with daily life. If you’re experiencing stress, you’ll feel better once the stressful situation has passed. Anxiety disorders are more irrational; you’ll feel anxious in situations that don’t call for it. It won’t go away, even after the perceived threat has passed. You will simply become anxious about something else.

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Another myth is that anxiety is often just a part of who someone is, and medication is the only way to “fix” it. Medication can help, but therapy is highly effective for anxiety. In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that therapy is more effective than medication according to research. Unlike other disorders, for which a combination of medication and therapy is most effective, adding medication to therapy doesn’t seem to have additional benefits.

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What is Anxiety Therapy Like for Teens & Adults?

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Anxiety therapy can look very different depending on the type and severity of anxiety you’re dealing with. I’ll start off our sessions with an assessment and diagnosis. We’ll talk about what you want to get out of therapy and what you envision for your life after treatment. A big part of therapy with me is finding hope you can live a calmer, healthier daily life. At the beginning of therapy, we’ll pinpoint what it’ll take to get you there and build a roadmap around it.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is the most widely used and research-backed treatment for anxiety. It’s effective across all types of anxiety and for all levels of severity. CBT looks at the unique ways your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact with each other. In the case of anxiety, your anxious, fearful thoughts have a negative impact on your feelings, and therefore your behavior. Your behavior then reinforces your thoughts, and a cycle is formed that’s hard to break. 

 

Once you understand what your patterns are within this framework, I’ll help you learn to interrupt these patterns. We’ll do this through skill-building, reframing your thoughts, and other methods that we determine based on your assessment and goals.

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If, after reading more about anxiety disorders, you think you may be struggling with one, I can help you. I’m a locally based therapist in Dallas with openings for clients from all backgrounds. Therapy with me is confidential, affirmative, and collaborative. Please reach out to me today to book an appointment!