What is Anxiety?
We all experience anxiety. Anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress. Biologically, it’s meant to put us in a heightened sense of awareness so we’re prepared for potential threats. When anxiety begins to arise regularly in the absence of an actual threat, it can have a negative effect on our physical health, our mood, emotional wellbeing, and even our relationships with others.
The mind-body connection is never more obvious than when we’re caught up in a state of anxiety—fearful thoughts prompt a biochemical response in the body (racing heart, shallow breath, dry mouth), and the mind interprets these physical symptoms as further evidence of something being “wrong.” Essentially, anxiety is a warning sign that you’re about to do something you may not want to.
Our goal shouldn’t be to dismiss it entirely—just to make it a healthy, manageable part of our lives.
Symptoms of Anxiety
There are a number of different kinds of anxiety, including generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), obsessive compulsive (OCD), and social anxiety. The most common symptoms of anxiety include:
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Excessive worrying
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Restlessness
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Fatigue
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Difficulty sleeping
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Nightmares
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Panic or fear
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Feeling nervous
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Heart palpitations or racing heart
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Impaired concentration
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Irritability or anger
What to expect from Anxiety Counseling
Anxiety counseling is a collaborative process, where the therapist and client work together to identify specific concerns and develop concrete skills and techniques for coping with anxiety. Clients can expect to practice their new skills outside of sessions to manage anxiety in situations that might make them uncomfortable. Therapy may be short- or long-term depending on the severity of symptoms.
Who is it for?
HWP provides anxiety counseling services to young adults and adults.
