Anxiety

Stress is a normal part of life unless it begins to interfere with our day-to-day life and ability to reach our goals.  There are three levels of stress: positive stress, tolerable stress, and toxic stress.  Positive stress is a mild level of stress, the kind we experience when going to a job interview or meeting a deadline at work.  Tolerable stress is a more intense level of stress brought on by a big life change, such as moving to a new neighborhood.  During a period of positive and tolerable stress, our bodies can return to normal after the stressful event is over, especially with a good support system.  Toxic stress is when stressful events are ongoing.  The stress response can stay active for too long, hurting our bodies and brains.

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Common Symptoms

There are many ways toxic stress can manifest itself in our thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and behaviors.  Common symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, worry, fear, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, restlessness, pounding heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or avoidance behaviors.  ​​

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Treatment Approach

​There is relief for those who suffer from anxiety disorders.  My treatment approach focuses on helping individuals identify their unique stressors and triggers, providing psychoeducation on the stress response in the brain and body, and targeting the pathways that produce the fear response.  Interventions may include breathwork, mindfulness, embodied work, targeting anxiety-igniting thoughts, and exposure to feared stimuli.  ​

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If you have any questions or want to learn more about my treatment approach, contact me for a free 30-minute phone consultation.