Do You Feel Stressed Out, Stuck, and Overwhelmed? 

• Are you having difficulty controlling worries, fear, and self-doubt? 
• Do you have racing thoughts about work, relationships, parenting, etc.? 
• Do you have panic attacks? 
• Does anxiety therapy treatment sound overwhelming?
• Have people told you to “calm down” or that “it’s all in your head?”  
• Are you irritable, or do you have difficulty concentrating? 
• Do you have muscle tension, neck stiffness, or tight shoulders? 
• Do you have difficulty sleeping?  

If any of the above problems sound familiar, then our anxiety therapists in Louisville, KY can help.

Navigating anxiety can be frustrating, isolating, and exhausting. In the morning, you might feel “amped up” or overwhelmed by your typical to-do list. Whether you rush to prepare yourself for work or your kids for school, your day might already be packing on the stress.

Individuals with anxiety may feel anxious throughout the day, have poor concentration, or be unable to control automatic negative thoughts. They typically don’t feel “caught up.” At times, they withdraw from friends and family, struggling daily with a loop of negative thoughts such as: “I’m not as successful as I should be,” “I’m a bad parent,” “They’re judging me,” or “My boss is going to fire me.”  

Some people with elevated symptoms of anxiety can experience panic attacks. You might have experienced a panic attack if you have had any of the following symptoms: chest tightness, a lump in your throat, racing heartbeat, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and/or nausea. Panic attacks can become so distressing that you avoid situations, places, or people that might trigger any significant anxiety. At the most extreme level, people with anxiety stop leaving their houses altogether (agoraphobia).  

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults ages 18 and older. About 31% of adults will experience an anxiety disorder within their lifespans.  

Typical symptoms of anxiety are: 

• Uncontrollable worry.
• Muscle tension.
• Restlessness (feeling wound-up or on edge).
• Fatigue or low energy.
• Irritability.
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
• Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, or unrestful sleep).
• Fearing situations in which one might be judged or embarrassed.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder “Chronic Stress”
  

  Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) causes one to worry excessively about everyday things such as work, family, health, money, school, and more. This type of worry tends to be disproportionate to the item or situation causing stress. Some symptoms of GAD include overthinking plans and solutions, persistently worrying about worst-case scenarios, perceiving nonthreatening situations as dangerous, and struggling to concentrate or relax.   

• Panic Disorder (Panic Attacks)

  Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense panic and fear without real danger or apparent cause. People experiencing panic attacks might think they are having heart attacks or strokes, losing control, or even dying. Although panic attacks themselves aren’t life-threatening, they can be frightening and affect one’s quality of life. Some symptoms include rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain, dizziness, and more.  

• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
  

  Social anxiety is characterized by emotional discomfort in group settings. This disorder is often accompanied by fears of embarrassment or judgment from others. They tend to avoid social gatherings since small talk or eye contact with others causes discomfort or feeling judged. They may think, “People will make fun of me,” “I’m an idiot,” “I’ll make a fool of myself,” “I’ll be the third wheel,” “They’ll think I’m weird,” “Everyone is judging me,” etc. Many times, people with this type of anxiety disorder choose to simply avoid social situations.  

Having some anxiety is healthy. Good anxiety spurs motivation and protects us from harm. Without some anxiety, all humans would have been eaten by lions thousands of years ago. But if your anxiety disrupts your efficiency at work or causes problems with your family and friends, then it may be time to seek help from an anxiety therapist.   

Untreated anxiety can cause problems with your physical health such as headaches, chronic pain, digestive issues, poor immune system, etc.  The bottom line is that if you feel stuck in a state of constant worry, you need the help of an anxiety therapist.

Therapy alone is effective for most individuals we treat. Research generally shows that psychotherapy is more effective than medications and that adding anxiety medications does not significantly improve outcomes from counseling alone. However, if therapy alone is not sufficient to treat your anxiety, we can discuss the pros and cons of referring you to a medical professional to prescribe and manage medication for your anxiety. We will choose the best mix of treatments for you to overcome your worries and fears and give you the quality of life you deserve. 

The providers at Grace Psychological Services offer evidence-based treatments that keep your anxiety under control. We stay up to date on the latest scientific research and treatments designed for anxiety disorders. Our therapists will assess your symptoms to determine if you have anxiety or any other mental health concerns. Then, they will customize a treatment plan that will aid your specific type of anxiety while pushing you toward your goals. If you are looking for someone trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, or exposure therapy for anxiety and/or panic attacks, then Grace Psychological Services may be a good fit for you. To learn more about CBT, click here.  

Most of our clients come to us after working tirelessly trying to avoid their anxiety and worry. They try to suppress their anxiety, ignore it, distract themselves, or other methods. Unfortunately, those coping methods don’t typically work. The more one uses these poor coping methods to battle anxiety, the more the anxiety will appear in random and uncontrolled ways (e.g., irritability, poor concentration, anger outbursts, panic attacks, etc.).  

Our therapists provide a safe place to discuss your anxiety and how it has influenced you, your work, and your relationships. You will learn new coping techniques that you can use daily, including ways to challenge your automatic negative thought patterns and instead focus on the present moment. You will also learn how to take decisive actions for a better and more relaxed future. Therapy is the time to examine your thoughts and feelings, take risks, and make steps toward a life controlled by you and not your anxiety.