Anxiety – Why do I have it?
There are many possible causes of anxiety, namely: long-term "predisposing" causes, such as:
- having overly protective or overly critical parents
- experiencing cumulative stress over time (such as neglect or abandonment)
- emotional insecurity or over-dependence.
There are also short-term “triggering” causes of anxiety, which include:
- significant personal loss
- having too much to do
- drug use
Okay, I know I have anxiety and how I got it. Those things happened a long time ago. Why do I still have it?
Many behaviors we engage in to get rid of anxiety often make anxiety worse, or at the very least, cause it to persist without getting better or worse. Some of these behaviors include:
- avoiding anxiety-provoking situations
- negative and anxious self-talk
- erroneous beliefs
- denying or hiding feelings
- poor self-care skills
- stressful lifestyles
- lack of sense of purpose
- use of stimulants (such as energy drinks)
For more information on the causes of anxiety listed above, a great resource is The Anxiey and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne
How do you treat anxiety?
Anxiety is highly treatable! You don’t have to spend every day in an endless cycle of worry, doubt and fear. There are several ways I go about helping people alleviate their anxiety. You may have heard of a treatment called “cognitive-behavioral therapy”. This is an excellent way to help reduce anxiety. In my work with clients, I use this type of therapy to address the following components of anxiety:
1) The cognitive component: identifying and changing the images, thoughts, assumptions and beliefs you have that contribute to anxiety and worry.
2) The physiological component: identifying and changing your physical responses to your anxiety (for example: feelings of panic, muscle tension).
3) The behavioral component: helping you increase your involvement in pleasurable activities and decrease your use of unnecessary coping behaviors (such as avoidance and procrastination).
How long does this take?
That varies from person to person. Treating anxiety is very much like learning a new language. You’ve been thinking, believing and acting in a certain way for a very long time now, perhaps your whole life to date. You can change the way you think, believe and act, but it does require daily attention, practice and willingness to try, to make these new thoughts, beliefs and actions second nature. Generally, the more you are willing to work at it, the faster you will see results.
What are some of the benefits of going through therapy to reduce my anxiety?
After learning and applying some of the techniques I described above to help change the way you view your life and events, you may experience:
- Less worry
- improved self-confidence
- more energy
- improved sleep
- more control over your life
- the ability cope better with the demands of others
These are just a few examples. What are your goals? Think about it. Don't try to "tough it out" by yourself any longer. You don't have to stay in a place of worry, anxiety and dread. Call me today at (916) 454-1021 and let's talk about the challenges you are going through. I look forward to hearing from you.