Although to anyone looking from the outside, you appear to have it all, your inner world could feel vastly different. Rather than having everything under control, maybe you are overwhelmed with anxious thoughts and paralyzing fear. Perhaps there are legitimate stressors in your life causing you to lose sleep—such as family or work issues—or you may suffer from more free-floating anxiety that comes seemingly out of nowhere.
The adrenaline surges caused by anxiety can take a physical toll on your body, leading to disruptions in your sleep and diet, as well as making you prone to illness or panic attacks. If you suffer from social anxiety, you might experience a nervous stomach, sweaty palms, and a rapid heartbeat.
Perhaps a lack of social connection negatively impacts your self-esteem, further triggering you to isolate yourself from others. You may feel like you don’t fit in anywhere and are not getting the support you need from friends and loved ones. Feeling alone and anxious, you might turn to substances for relief more often than you’d like to admit.
As much as you’ve tried to manage your anxiety on your own, maybe you’re at the end of your rope. You’re ready to find solutions and a new path forward where you worry less, sleep better, and feel more comfortable in social situations.
Fortunately, therapy can help you manage the symptoms of anxiety that negatively impact your well-being. With ongoing counseling, you can gain self-awareness about your anxiety and work toward discovering your authentic self.
Although living with anxiety can be an isolating experience, “anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issue in the United States, affecting 40 million adults—19.1 percent of the population.” Additionally, “anxiety disorders affect 31.9 percent of the adolescents between the ages of 13 to 18.” [1]
In today’s fast-paced world, there are countless reasons why so many of us are prone to anxiety. If we were raised with the expectation to be high-achievers, we might feel under constant pressure to perform and be successful at whatever we focus on. However, in our quest for perfection, we often feel hounded by potential failure. When left unchecked, our anxiety stems from not being enough or equating our self-worth solely with our achievements.
For many of us, image is everything. But even though our outward façade implies we have it all figured out, we are plagued by second-guessing and self-doubt. However, rather than share our insecurities with others, we might believe being vulnerable is a sign of weakness. We may try to ignore our issues until they come roaring to the surface or find unhealthy ways to deal with crippling anxiety, such as self-medicating.
If you aren’t comfortable expressing your emotions openly and showing vulnerability, you’re not alone. Many of us aren’t. But in therapy, the way to relieve anxiety is to tap into the emotions you’ve been reluctant to access. With the help of a supportive counselor, not only can you work through your anxiety, but you can also reveal who your authentic self is
When intrusive thoughts become your constant companion, you may feel like you’ve lost control. As therapists who specialize in treating anxiety, we believe you are the utmost expert in your life—the answers to many of your problems lie within you. We aim to establish a collaborative and trusting relationship built on mutual respect and create an environment where you will feel safe, supported, heard, and understood. Our role is to come alongside you to clear away any obstacles preventing you from real growth and change.
At Ammirati Counseling, we seek to empower you with a sense of agency and help you realize that you—and not your anxiety—are in charge. We will help normalize the problems you’re dealing with and teach you effective techniques for managing anxiety.
Initially, we like to identify your most problematic symptoms so we can provide you immediate relief through teaching effective coping techniques. If you are critical of your imperfections, we will focus on fostering self-compassion. And learning about your family history can help you you understand if your anxiety has some relationship to your family or past situations. Afterwards, we will move towards interventions that provide long-term shifts in how you think about yourself and your place in the world.
Pursue activities, hobbies, situations and relationships that you’ve always wanted but avoided due to anxiety.
Cover underlying causes of your worries and fears, and break self-destructive habits.
Regain your lost confidence, as well as improve your attention and focus.
Learn how to handle complex thoughts and feelings effectively and strategically.
Our clinicians utilize a variety of modalities for treating anxiety that may incorporate:
Anxiety that’s in check helps keep you productive and safe. By learning the proper tools and techniques in therapy, you can effectively manage your anxiety so you won’t feel out of control. And although exploring the underlying reasons you experience anxiety may cause momentary discomfort, the rewards of this exploration are well worth the journey.
There’s a physiological reason you feel anxious. As humans, we’re wired to experience anxiety whenever we feel threatened. It is an integral part of our survival instinct designed to protect us from potential danger. Although worrying about stressful things is normal, when it interferes with your well-being, you allow anxiety to control you. Anxiety disorder treatment can help you manage your symptoms so they are no longer in charge. Whether you suffer from Social Anxiety, perfectionism, or Generalized Anxiety, therapy can help improve the quality of your life.
Our philosophy is to build a solid and trusting long-term relationship with you to help you discover your authentic self. Rather than present quick fixes that don’t address the underlying issue, we want to support you in making positive lifestyle changes that stick. Partnering with a therapist who offers a safe place to explore the underlying reasons you suffer from anxiety will help you find answers to your problems without being told what to do.
If you are someone who has achieved success throughout your life, you may think you should be able to conquer anxiety without needing therapy. To admit you’re suffering and could use professional help may not come easily for you. But by holding off or avoiding going to therapy, you may simply be prolonging your distress. Building rapport with a therapist creates a safe place to direct your focus inward and discover what makes you tick. In anxiety treatment, you will learn it’s okay to show vulnerability—in fact, it’s a strength.
Pursue activities, hobbies, situations and relationships that you’ve always wanted but avoided due to anxiety.
Cover underlying causes of your worries and fears, and break self-destructive habits.
Regain your lost confidence, as well as improve your attention and focus.
Learn how to handle complex thoughts and feelings effectively and strategically.
When you get your anxiety under control, you can breathe easier. If you would like to find out more about anxiety therapy with Ammirati Counseling, you may visit our contact page or call 847-217-9381 to schedule a free 15-minute call to get more information.
[1] https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
In the 1980s, Dr. John Gottman established the “Love Lab,” where researchers discovered groundbreaking behaviors on the “Masters” and “Disasters” of relationships.
Terri Ammirati was fortunate to be trained directly by Dr. Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Gottman.
Subscribe now to receive Terri’s free e-book with “Love Lab” findings.
