Counseling for Anxiety and Stress

Serving St. Louis and the state of Missouri via Telehealth

 

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the united states, impacting 40 million people ages 18 and older.

According to The American Institute of Stress: 73% of people have stress that impacts their mental health.

 

Everyone experiences anxiety and stress at some point in their life. Some degree of anxiety and stress is normal and can be beneficial to keep us motivated to complete certain tasks such as a big project or studying for an important exam. From an evolutionary standpoint, anxiety and stress helped keep our ancestors safe and still helps us identify and respond to danger (flight, fight or freeze). They serve as our built in warning system. However, sometimes we experience sensations associated with anxiety that we interpret as dangerous, which causes our anxiety and fear to intensify.

Although there can be some benefits to minor anxiousness and stress, it can also be a hindrance to daily life and significant domains of your life may be impacted as a result such as relationships, work, school and our health. When anxiety and stress begins to consume our lives, steal our happiness or leave us feeling stuck and overwhelmed, it’s time to seek help.

 

Stress and anxiety can look different for everyone, but here are some of the most commonly reported symptoms:

  • Feeling nervous, restless, or “on edge.”

  • Sense of impending doom or danger

  • Restlessness

  • Difficulty concentrating and/or making decisions

  • Forgetfulness

  • Excessive feeling of worry

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle tension

  • Irritability

  • Sleep distrubstance (difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep)

  • Racing heart/heart palpitations

  • Nausea

  • Dizziness

  • Avoidance

 

Stress and anxiety can look different for everyone, but here are some of the most commonly reported symptoms:

  • Feeling nervous, restless, or “on edge.”

  • Sense of impending doom or danger

  • Restlessness

  • Difficulty concentrating and/or making decisions

  • Forgetfulness

  • Excessive feeling of worry

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle tension

  • Irritability

  • Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep)

  • Racing heart/heart palpitations

  • Nausea

  • Dizziness

  • Avoidance

What are some different types of Anxiety?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Illness Anxiety Disorder (formerly hypochondriasis)

Social Anxiety Disorder

Panic Disorder

Specific Phobias

Agoraphobia

What are the different types of Stress?

Acute Stress

Episodic Acute Stress

Chronic Stress

IS THERe a difference between stress and anxiety? Does one cause the other?

 

The most significant difference between stress and anxiety is the type of trigger. Stress is often associated with temporary or specific situations and events. Most find that once the stressful event has passed, the stress subsides or resolves completely.

Maybe you have a large project at work and you’re worried about meeting the deadline. Or you’re trying to balance parenting while caring for a sick family member. In both of these instances, there’s a specific cause of your stress. Once the project has been completed or your family member heals, your stress begins to subside. However, this doesn’t always mean the stress is temporary.

Anxiety, by contrast, may not always manifest from a certain trigger. Some individuals may find they feel on edge or nervous about nothing specific. Although stress and anxiety are not the same, they are closely related. Stress may cause and/or trigger anxiety. For example, when you’re feeling stressed about an upcoming project, you may find yourself feeling worried about various domains of your life despite no obvious disturbances.

Maybe you’ve been battling with anxiety and stress for as long as you can remember or maybe it has become a recent burden in your life. When anxiety and Stress begins to impact our daily functioning and ability to enjoy our life…

it’s time to seek treatment

Our sessions will be:

 

Personalized

Our initial sessions will be dedicated to assessing your current concerns and creating a personalized treatment plan to fit your unique needs and goals. I’ll work closely with you to help identify and overcome your triggers, address uncertainty and reduce avoidance behaviors as a result of stress and anxiety.

Collaborative

Therapy is a journey and although we’ll work closely together, you’re the expert on your life and symptoms. I will not have all the answers to your concerns. Instead, I will make observations, provide a safe and non judgmental space, ask thoughtful questions and provide insight to empower you with tools to address your concerns and ultimately develop your own conclusions. Think of therapy like having a personal trainer - I’ll give you all the tools, tips and “exercises” to succeed, but it’s up to you to put forth the effort to see results.

Integrative

Various treatment modalities exist for anxiety and one approach will not suit everyone. I enjoy utilizing various types of therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and other evidence based practices such as mindfulness and motivational interviewing to meet your unique concerns.

 

Ready to take your first steps?