Nathaniel Smith Counselor, PLLC
811 S. Central Expy, Suite 525, Richardson TX 75080
214-205-0237
nathaniel@nathanielsmithcounselor.com

Anxiety Counseling

Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone feels from time to time. Feeling anxious temporarily is one thing, but when your anxiety reaches a level that interferes with your life, work, relationships, and career you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder.

What Are The Symptoms Of An Anxiety Disorder?

• Feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness
  
• Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
  
• Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences
  
• Nightmares
  
• Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing
  
• Problems sleeping
  
• Cold or sweaty hands
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Palpitations
  
• An inability to be still and calm
  
• Dry mouth
  
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
  
• Nausea
  
• Muscle tension
  

What Are The Types Of Anxiety Disorders?

• Panic Disorder: People with this condition have feelings of terror, fearfulness, intense apprehension, often associated with feelings of impending doom. Panic attack symptoms include: shortness of breath, heart palpitations/chest pains, choking sensations, or a fear of going crazy.
  
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions and the rituals are called compulsions.
  
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts, dreams, and memories of a traumatic and/or terrifying event.
  
• Social Anxiety Disorder: Social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations.
  
• Specific Phobias: A specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as animals, flying, seeing blood, or heights. The level of fear is excessive or unreasonable to the situation and may cause the person to avoid everyday situations.
  
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Excessive anxiety, worry about a number of events or activities, and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.
  

Counseling Treatment for Anxiety
Treatment for anxiety disorders often combines medications and specific types of talking therapies. I have found that Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are two effective forms of therapy for treating anxiety. I believe Behavioral Therapy can change specific actions and stop unwanted behaviors. For example, we can work on special breathing exercises to reduce anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches people to identify, understand, and change the way they think and it teaches individuals how to control thoughts that are linked with anxiety.

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