“Over the Counter” Advice
We know the drill. You have anxiety. Everyone tells you to get CBT. They say it will help you. Or they say it is easy. They say it is free online. And they tell you about a great Instagram account to follow, etc., and so on. We call this over-the-counter advice.
It is over the counter because it is convenient. It might even come in nice packing. But it doesn’t get you lasting results.
We hate this. We hate this because who do you think people blame when it doesn’t work?!? THEMSELVES!
Stop Blaming Yourself
Stop blaming yourself for “not getting it” from over-the-counter therapy for anxiety. Work with experienced and caring professionals. It is our life’s work to help you.
Symptoms of Anxiety are Serious
Some serious symptoms include:
Intense and persistent worry
This is a silent energy drain. Anxiety often involves excessive and uncontrollable worrying about life, work, relationships, health, or future events. This can be overwhelming and interfere with your day-to-day life.
Panic attacks
These are intense experiences of fear and distress that can come on suddenly and unexpectedly. A panic attack typically includes a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of impending doom. These are serious not only because they can lead to a fear of future panic attacks.
Avoidance Behaviors
Anxiety can lead to the development of avoidance behaviors, where you deliberately avoid situations or places that may cause anxiety. Someone with social anxiety may avoid social gatherings, while someone with agoraphobia may avoid leaving their home altogether. Avoidance behaviors can limit your opportunities and enjoyment of life.
Intrusive Thoughts and Repetitive Behaviors
In some cases, you may experience intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors to reduce your anxiety. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and the need to perform repetitive behaviors or mental rituals (compulsions). These symptoms can make you feel crazy when your body may be simply trying to soothe itself.
Physical Symptoms
Anxiety can cause muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, and sleep problems. These symptoms can be debilitating and may lead to uncontrolled worry about your health. Of course, this makes people more anxious.
CBT Therapy for Anxiety can Help with the Most Stubborn Symptoms
We have been doing CBT for even the hardest-to-treat anxiety symptoms for over 15 years. What we have learned is this:
CBT provides practical techniques to manage anxiety symptoms:
These may include relaxation exercises, deep breathing techniques, and gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking situations. Learning and practicing these skills can help you better cope with anxiety in daily life.
Addressing underlying beliefs and patterns:
CBT explores the underlying beliefs and patterns that contribute to anxiety. By understanding the root causes and working through them, you can achieve long-term changes and reduce the likelihood of anxiety recurring
Identifying and challenging negative thoughts:
In CBT, you learn to recognize and question negative thoughts that contribute to anxiety. By identifying and challenging these thoughts, you can gain a more realistic perspective and reduce anxiety symptoms.
Understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors:
CBT teaches that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. By recognizing how YOUR thoughts influence our emotions and actions, we can develop strategies to manage anxiety effectively.
Developing a relapse prevention plan:
CBT focuses on equipping you with tools to prevent anxiety from returning in the future. Through therapy, you can create a relapse prevention plan that includes strategies to maintain progress, manage stress, and cope with any potential setbacks.
This is What so Many of Our Clients Get out of CBT Therapy for Anxiety
So many people tell us that establishing a trusting relationship with the therapist begins the process of healing anxiety. At DCNE we build trust by helping first. We do this by offering free consultations to anyone who wants one regardless of them working with us.
During that free consultation, you can begin to address your anxiety symptoms, triggers, concerns, and questions. These goals will be revisited when you decide to begin therapy for anxiety. CBT is often talked about as a one size fits all therapy for anxiety. But it isn’t. We want to get to know your specific goals.
Gain Tools and Techniques to Help Overcome Anxiety
You will get tools and techniques to help you. We are not an “Uh-huh, tell me more” therapy group. At DCNE, get in there with you. We provide you with solutions and resources, and then we practice practice practice with you!
These tools and techniques will help you identify and dismantle underlying thoughts, beliefs, physical sensations, and emotions that cause your anxiety. This is the deep work of “prescription strength therapy” (not medicine) for anxiety. That means you can use them in real-life situations.
If we need to bring out the big guns, we can. We can use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and/or neurofeedback too. In other words, we have a tool for you no matter what your therapy for anxiety needs may be.
Begin CBT for Anxiety in Washington, DC
Don’t settle for “over-the-counter” therapy for anxiety. Contact us today for your free anxiety consultation. We show you we are trustworthy by giving away free consults, even if you decide not to work with us. You can book your consultation on our website, by texting us at 202-998-ADHD (2343), or by emailing [email protected]. Untreated anxiety is hard enough. Let us make this easier for you.
Other Services Offered by The Center for Neurocognitive Excellence in Washington, DC
Therapy for anxiety is only one of the services we offer. We also provide counseling for depression, ADHD, EMDR Therapy, Neurofeedback Training, and mental health assessments if you need a diagnosis or aren’t ready to start counseling. Neurofeedback is also a great option if you don’t want to try medications.
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