Are you currently suffering from anxiety? You shouldn’t have to face it alone. Find out in this guide when to see a therapist for anxiety.
You shouldn’t have to feel like you are suffering alone, because you aren’t. The reality is that over 40 million Americans, 18% of the entire population, and millions more around the world suffer from anxiety.
And yet, it is not common knowledge when to see a therapist if you are suffering from anxiety. Anxiety as an illness isn’t spoken about much at all, and it should be. We’re here to help change that.
We’ve written this guide to help you identify whether you might have an anxiety problem. Then, we’ve also highlighted when you should see a therapist, as well as what you can expect when you get there.
You’re not alone, and you will get through it.
What Exactly Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotional feeling closely linked to similar feelings such as stress and depression. If gone unchecked, or in certain people, it can grow to become a disorder that has a significant impact on their day to day lives.
Like any other emotion or feeling, it can be hard to describe exactly what anxiety is as many people experience it slightly differently.
In general, it is viewed as a fear of what is to come in the future. Imagine starting your first day at your new job, a major career change, and having a pit of sick feeling in your stomach that you don’t quite understand. That’s what anxiety is often described as.
Other examples can include moving and your first day of school; big life-changing moments that can naturally be quite scary for people. But anxiety isn’t that simple.
The reality of anxiety is that, in small doses, it’s a very normal feeling for humans to experience. Similar to depression and sadness; everyone feels sad from time to time.
The difference in these emotions is that they can grow to overpower a person, to the point where they knock the body out of its more natural order of thinking. This is when these feelings come to be known as disorders.
Anxiety as a more severe problem can come in different forms, such as panic attacks, extreme social anxiety (not wanting to leave the house), anxiety towards your health, and so much more.
Now you know roughly what it is, you need to know when to see a therapist about it.
Anxiety: When To See a Therapist?
As mentioned earlier, feeling anxious occasionally is normal. You need to see a therapist when the anxiety you’re feeling is beginning to significantly affect your life negatively.
That can make it hard to judge; when is it too much? This is the question many anxiety sufferers ask themselves regularly. What makes it particularly challenging, is that taking this leap is an extremely anxiety-inducing decision in itself.
But it shouldn’t be. As we mentioned before, anxiety is widely felt in America. It is, in fact, the most common mental illness in the entire country.
Simply put, if your anxiety is impacting you to the point where you can notice it, that’s the time to see a therapist. This is in any way at all.
For example, if anxiety about the next day has been causing you to have sleep problems consecutively, you should see a therapist. If you’ve skipped days at work because of a fear of going in or socializing, you should see a therapist.
These are just two of a whole heap of ways in which anxiety can significantly affect your life. And it shouldn’t; your life is worth living, free from worries or fears. To take back control of it, looking to see a therapist is the first major step in recovery.
What Are Anxiety Therapists? What is Anxiety Therapy or Treatment?
Anxiety therapists are clinical professionals who’ve been trained to specifically identify and treat anxiety-related illnesses. This treatment can come in many different forms and depends on what specific form of anxiety you are suffering from.
For some, medical treatment may not even be necessary. But you’ll only know this if you meet with a therapist first. On meeting with a therapist, you can discuss your problems and work to identify the cause of them.
This in itself is a major part of the treatment process, as you are actively identifying the illness and working towards fighting it. If you’re able to identify specifically why you’re feeling anxiety, sometimes making lifestyle changes can prevent it.
In cases where anxiety is stronger however, other treatment may be necessary. There are two main categories of anxiety treatment, known as psychotherapy and medication.
In terms of medication, you might be prescribed antidepressants or sedatives to help balance your brain. Don’t feel any shame in taking medication; millions of Americans do the same every single day.
The psychotherapy option can often be preferable for many sufferers, however. This involves specific counseling sessions or other appointments designed to help you discuss and target your anxiety.
One common form of anxiety counseling is known as cognitive-behavioral therapy. This is designed in a way to help you break down the overwhelming problems in your life. It can then help you work towards practical solutions to these problems in a caring, professional environment.
Where Should I Go If I Need Anxiety Therapy?
If you’ve read the above section on when to see a therapist and think that it applies to you, the team here at Kenosis Counseling Center can help. Our team is trained and experienced in provided counseling services tailored to help cure your anxiety.
Many of our staff members are experienced in providing counseling to target anxiety as well as counseling families, marital partners, and groups. Finding the right counselor is one of the hardest parts of curing your anxiety, but don’t worry. Someone at Kenosis will be best suited to help you work through your anxiety.
If you want to find out more, please fill in our quick contact form on our website.