Counseling for Anxiety

Research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown that anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem among American women, and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men. Anxiety disorders affect more than 13% of the population!

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Anxiety Symptoms - Not Just Mental

Many individuals do not even realize they suffer from an anxiety disorder, attributing their symptoms to physical problems. A majority of these individuals are not seen by mental health professionals but present to medical care settings with anxiety-related physical complaints. Actually, people with anxiety-related problems represent approximately 30% of patients seeking help from their primary care physicians. They typically complain of somatic symptoms, such as a racing heart, stomach ache, diarrhea, chest tightness, and dizziness. It is important to recognize anxiety in patients who are not even complaining of it.

Treatment Options for Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT) is one of the most common methods to treat anxiety and research has shown it to be effective in treating all forms of anxiety, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder and others. CBT is not the only effective way to treat anxiety, however. Counselors use a variety of other techniques, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), group therapy, exposure therapy, relaxation techniques and mindfulness. There are many helpful medications too. If you believe you may have an anxiety problem, connect with a counselor. He or she will be able to work with you to see which method is the best fit for you and will help you get back on track.