Anxiety

Anxiety is on the rise today, at Atan Therapy, we understand that anxiety is something we all experience sometimes. It helps us prepare for that next big exam or job interview, and can help us be alert when we are walking down an empty street in a neighbourhood we don’t know very well. Some also describe it as “a trusted sidekick,” and in the situations described above, it’s clear that worrying can be quite helpful.

But, when anxiety becomes more challenging than the issue that’s prompting it, it becomes clear that it is getting out of hand. And when anxiety is keeping you from doing the things you want to do, and you find yourself worrying about things instead of living the life you’re wanting to live, it might be time to reach out for support. People who are struggling with anxiety can experience both physical and emotional challenges.

Here are some symptoms of anxiety:

• Racing or unwanted thoughts that make it difficult to concentrate

• Physical symptoms such as nausea, heart palpitations, trembling, stomach issues and tension headaches

• Worrying excessively over normal, everyday situations

• Worrying about part or future even on “good” days.

• Avoiding social situations to avoid feeling uncomfortable

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

• Struggling with day-to-day aspects of taking care of yourself including “adulting”

If any of this sounds familiar, and you don’t want to keep dealing with your anxiety alone, therapy can help.

At Atan Therapy we work with our clients to understand their anxiety, and to develop a different way of responding to their anxiety. The stress response, the feeling that we all feel when we are in a difficult situation, is natural and is designed to keep us safe. For this reason, there is no cure for anxiety, but there are ways to manage it, especially if it is showing up at times when there is no real threat and it’s getting in the way of your life.

You will be doing the work along with your therapist to figure out where this anxiety comes from, when it started to show up. Your therapist will help you recognize if there are certain triggers to your anxious feelings and to learn different and useful coping skills to manage the anxiety.