Anxiety isn't just worry, it's a persistent state of fear and apprehension that can take over your life. It might show up as a racing heart before a presentation, obsessive thoughts that won't quiet down, or a constant sense of dread about things that haven't happened yet. You might find yourself avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, which can shrink your world smaller and smaller.
What makes anxiety so exhausting is that it doesn't just live in your mind. It affects your entire body. Which is why some will experience having tense muscles, shallow breathing, and feeling fatigued. It impacts your relationships when you cancel plans, withdraw from loved ones, or snap at people you care about. It interferes with your work when you can't concentrate, second-guess every decision, or procrastinate out of fear of failure.
Here's what's important to understand, anxiety is designed to bring our attention to any threat or perceived threat. But when it becomes chronic or disproportionate to actual threats, it stops being protective and starts being destructive. The good news is with the right tools and support, you can learn to manage your anxiety and reclaim control over your life.
Anxiety manifests in both your mind and body. You might be experiencing:
Racing or pounding heart
Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
Sweating or hot flashes
Nausea or lightheadedness
Intrusive thoughts
Excessive worry about future events
Avoiding triggering situations
Restlessness and irritability
Sleep disturbances
Compulsive behaviors
Difficulty concentrating & procrastination
Difficulty making decisions
The reality is we usually can’t control the first thought that pops into our brain, but we can control the thoughts that come after. With the proper tools, you can learn to manage your anxiety and overcome it’s negative impact.
Certain types of therapy can actually change your brain by forming new neural connections, and restructuring your long standing thought patterns. Blue Mind Mental Health Services takes an evidence-based approach that addresses both the symptoms and root causes of your anxiety. Our goal is to help you develop practical tools while understanding the deeper patterns that keep you stuck.
Our Approach to Treating Anxiety
Step 1) Understand Your Anxiety
We start by helping you identify those initial thoughts and use strategies to learn to control how your mind reacts. You will learn how and why your anxiety works and impacts you the way it does, what triggers it, how it manifests in your body and mind, and why it persists. Knowledge is power when it comes to anxiety.
Step 2) Regulate Your Nervous System
Through somatic techniques, and grounding exercises your will learn to regulate your nervous system. You'll learn to calm your body's stress response and create a sense of safety in your nervous system. Doing this helps to interrupt the involuntary anxious responses you experience before they become too distressing.
Step 3) Address Underlying Issues
Often, anxiety is connected to deeper issues like trauma, self-worth, or unmet needs. We explore these root causes to create lasting change, instead of just providing symptom relief.
Step 4) Challenge Anxious Thoughts
You'll learn to identify cognitive distortions and develop more balanced, realistic ways of thinking. We help you question your anxious thoughts rather than accepting them as truth. Avoidance feeds anxiety, so we will work together to gradually approach situations you've been avoiding, helping you build confidence and prove to yourself that you can handle discomfort.