Anxiety
What we do to ourselves…
Your morning starts like any other day. Nothing significant. Ding, it’s your phone. A text from your best friend Amy. “Need to talk to you later.”
You immediately text back, wondering what’s wrong. Amy counters. “Can’t now. After work.”
“OMG,” you think. “She’s mad at me for something, and she doesn’t want to fight while she’s at work. What did I do? I’m sure I’ve done something, but what is it? Maybe my kids did something to one of her kids. I hate arguing,” you think. And there it is – your life has been spent avoiding an argument.
Your anxious brain continues, “I can’t fight with her. She’s my best friend. I don’t want to lose her. I can’t stand having her upset with me.”
Your mind goes on…and on…and on. For the rest of the afternoon, you are consumed with what you must have done to upset your friend, only the worst possible scenarios, including stupid stuff clear back to college. You know that everyone doesn’t think like this, and you try, but you can’t seem to stop.
And, all for nothing…
Hours pass and with the exception of a few breaks, you’ve worried and been on edge all afternoon. You get in the car and dial Amy immediately. She answers. She’s excited – the exact opposite of the angry Amy you built in your mind.
Amy blurts out, “A group from work is doing a mud run, and we need to sign up tomorrow; wanna do it with us?”
Once again, your anxious mind has wrecked the day. And true to form, it was nothing.
What Anxiety Therapy Actually Looks Like
A lot of people come to me having never tried therapy before. They’re not sure what to expect, and honestly, they’re a little nervous about that too. This totally makes sense, because anxiety has a way of making even good decisions feel scary.
Here’s what I can tell you: we start where you are. You don’t need to have it figured out before you call. You don’t need to know how to explain it. Most people just know that the way they’re thinking and feeling isn’t working for them anymore, and that’s enough to get started.
In our sessions, we’ll work on things like:
- Identifying the thought patterns that are keeping you stuck in the worry loop
- Learning to challenge anxious thoughts before they hijack your whole afternoon
- Building practical tools you can use in the moment — not just in my office
- Understanding where your anxiety comes from so it loses some of its power over you
- Feeling more confident in relationships, at work, and in everyday decisions
I use a cognitive behavioral approach, which means we look at the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. And we work on changing the ones that aren’t serving you. It’s not about thinking positively. It’s about thinking accurately.
Anxiety Looks Different for Everyone
For some people it’s the racing thoughts that won’t quit. For others it’s physical sensations, the tight chest, the trouble sleeping, the stomach that’s always in knots. Some folks have struggled with anxiety their whole lives and assumed this is just how they are. Others notice it creeping in during a major life transition like a new job, a move, becoming a parent or a relationship ending.
Whatever yours looks like, anxiety therapy with me online or in my office in Westfield, New Jersey can help. You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through the day.
Ready to Turn Down the Volume?
If you’re tired of your anxious brain running the show, reach out. I offer anxiety counseling in Westfield, NJ for adults who are ready to think and feel differently. I also offer teletherapy for anyone in New Jersey who prefers to meet from the comfort of their own home.
Call, text, or email me. We’ll take it from there.
