Anxiety Counseling
“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.”
– Kahlil Gibran (Lebanese-American writer, poet, philosopher)
Feeling anxious is something we all experience.
We all know what anxiety feels like.
It’s that jittery, tingly, and heart-racing sensation that spreads across your body when you’re faced with a problem, uncertainty, or a major life event.
The feeling is not quite that of fear or stress, though they do have quite a bit in common.
In most situations, those feelings dissipate once the matter has been worked out.
Anxiety becomes a problem which does not go away.
For some people, anxiety does not go away. In fact, it can often get worse over time and can interfere with your daily activities, including work, school, and relationships.
This type of anxiety impacts a person physically and mentally. Symptoms vary, but in general, they persist and become disruptive to your life in every respect. They can cause irritability, sleeplessness, chronic fatigue, restlessness, and tension.
This type of anxiety, known as generalized anxiety disorder, is excessive and doesn’t go away.
Counseling is the best solution.
When it’s affecting your life to the point you are limiting what you want to do and who you want to be, this is when you need to reach out for help.
Anxiety counseling can help.
Social Anxiety
Many people have told you to “just do it,” whatever it is that you feel unable to do or to just face it and overcome that fear as if it is that easy.
They’ve told you to just stand up for yourself. They’ve told you to go meet new people, get out there, and start dating.
But they are ignoring the most important thing; the fear inside you is debilitating and seems impossible to overcome.
Social anxiety is fear of social situations.
Although Social Anxiety is under the umbrella of anxiety, it is very specific; and it is more than casual nervousness in social situations.
Social Anxiety is defined as “a feeling of discomfort, fear or worry that is centered on our interactions with other people and involves a concern with being judged negatively, evaluated, or looked down upon by others.”
In other words, it’s the crushing weight of just being with other people.
Manifestations of social anxiety are different from anxiety disorder.
Social Anxiety is characterized not by outbursts but by the quiet fight to get through the days of the invisible struggle for all who suffer from it.
Anxiety and Depression are so closely tied together because the most important thing to realize is that all depression comes from a deep sense of aloneness, feeling unworthy to have a relationship, and feeling disconnected from your loved ones. All these feelings lead to depression.
But how do you make connections with people when you are overwhelmed by fear?
When you are in great pain and your self-confidence and self-esteem have been shattered, how do you make that connection?
Remember, you are not alone.
Social Anxiety affects all people regardless of status, wealth, prestige, gender, age, or fame.
Famous authors, actors, and musicians have begun to speak out about their Social Anxiety.
I know that there are real reasons for your Social Anxiety. You didn’t wake up one day and decide people aren’t safe or that it’s too difficult to even go to a party or family gathering.
Find a compassionate space to ease your social tensions.
As your counselor, I won’t push you or be critical of you and your fears. You don’t need that! You are already that way with yourself, right?
I know that avoiding social situations and people are part of a complex protective system you put in place to avoid painful feelings of inferiority, low self-confidence and esteem, and rejection, to name a few.
Family histories and negative experiences, such as teasing, bullying, rejection or ridicule, trauma, and temperament all play into someone’s development of Social Anxiety.
I will always be compassionate, humanistic, supportive, and nonjudgmental. My goal is to help you become confident, secure, and assertive in social situations.
You needn’t suffer from anxiety any longer.
Whether you are experiencing Anxiety Disorder or Social Anxiety, counseling/therapy is effective in helping you overcome those negative feelings.
My approach uses a variety of methods, including but not limited to Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-informed anxiety treatment, and attachment-based therapy, which are all evidence-based practices.
I also will utilize mindfulness, grounding, and relaxation to help you process and work through your anxiety.
Do you need anxiety counseling?
If you can relate to anything that has been written here, then anxiety counseling may be necessary to help you live the life you want.
Please call me or email me for more information on how I can help you (562) 213-5318 or email stephanie@stephaniegonzalesmft.com.