Discover the benefits of anxiety counseling Birmingham; By Empower Counseling.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by anxiety? If so, you’re not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States and it can lead to feelings of helplessness and despair. Fortunately, there are many ways to combat anxiety, including counseling.
Empower Counseling offers anxiety counseling services in Birmingham Alabama that can help you if you are struggling with this condition find relief from your symptoms. Our experienced counselors will provide an individualized treatment plan tailored specifically for your needs that includes all facets of Acceptance Commitment Therapy and other coping strategies to reduce anxiety and restore balance in your life. Discover the benefits of anxiety counseling in Birmingham today at Empower Counseling!
In this blog post we will explain what anxiety is and how it impacts your life. We will help you identify the warning signs of anxiety. You will learn exactly what to expect from anxiety counseling in Birmingham with Empower Counseling and the solutions it will provide you. We will answer the most common questions associated with anxiety counseling.
Understanding Anxiety and its Impact on your Life
Anxiety comes from thoughts that cause feelings of fear, dread, nervousness or uneasiness. Becoming scared or fearful can trigger your nervous system to engage in the fight or flight response.
The fight or flight response is a natural and automatic physiological reaction to a perceived threat. When this response is activated, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which can cause a range of physical reactions.
These reactions, or physiological symptoms of anxiety may include an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, dilated pupils, and a feeling of being on edge. The purpose of these reactions is to prepare the body for action so that it can either fight or flee from danger. Although the fight or flight response is essential for survival in dangerous situations, in the case of anxiety it is triggered by everyday stressors such as deadlines, public speaking, or being around people you don’t know.
Anxiety at Work
Anxiety disorders in the workplace can have a major impact on your professional life.
They can lead to reduced creativity, difficulty in decision-making, burnout, confusion, fear of judgement and lack of confidence.
For example, when faced with an anxiety-inducing situation at work such as giving a presentation or making an important decision, you may feel overwhelmed and unable to think clearly. This can lead to decreased productivity and missed deadlines. Anxiety can also affect relationships with colleagues and supervisors if it leads to irritability or difficulty in communicating effectively.
Anxiety in Relationships
Anxiety can have a significant negative effect on personal relationships. People with anxiety may experience fear of being judged, worry of abandonment, and difficulty trusting their partner. This can lead to excessive worry, anger, or irritability in the relationship. Additionally, people with anxiety may need constant reassurance from their partner which can be stressful for both parties involved.
Anxiety can also cause one to become co-dependent in the relationship, leading to an intense desire for closeness that can be difficult for the other person to meet. These issues can lead to further distress in the relationship and make it difficult for both partners to maintain a healthy connection.
Indentifying the Warning Signs of Anxiety
Anxiety is a common emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. However, when it becomes persistent and overwhelming, it can be a sign of an anxiety. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder. PTSD can also look like anxiety disorder.
Some common warning signs of anxiety or anxiety symptoms include:
feeling restless or on edge
being easily fatigued
difficulty concentrating
irritability
headaches
rapid heart rate
rapid breathing or trouble breathing
feelings of danger or panic
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
GAD is a form of anxiety characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry and fear. If you have GAD, you may feel restless, tense, or on edge and have difficulty focusing due to recurring thoughts about a source of worry such as finances or health. You might consistently worry about the future or ruminate about the past, unable to let go of it. You might always feel like something bad is going to happen.
Symptoms of GAD can include fatigue, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and difficulty controlling the worry. It is important to seek help from a mental health professional if you are experiencing symptoms of GAD as it will interfere with how you live your life.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD):
Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder that causes fear and anxiety in social settings. People with this disorder often feel very self-conscious in social situations and may have an intense fear of being judged or negatively evaluated by others.
Common symptoms include feeling shy and uncomfortable when being observed, avoiding certain social situations, and having persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being judged by others. It is important to note that the fear experienced by those with social anxiety disorder goes beyond everyday nervousness and can interfere with relationships and daily activities. Often, SAD leads to avoidance of any situation in which you might be around strangers. Social anxiety is a particularly dangerous disorder if left untreated. Because of the avoidance that often occurs as a result of this disorder, those suffering from it often become lonely and lose their sense of connection and belonging with others. Connection and belonging is a basic human need. If that need goes unmet long enough, depression will follow.
Panic disorder:
Panic disorder is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes. These panic attacks can involve physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, and chest pain, often leading individuals to believe they are experiencing a heart attack or other life-threatening situation.
Additionally, panic attacks can be accompanied by emotional symptoms like feelings of impending doom, loss of control, or detachment from reality. Individuals with panic disorder often develop a persistent fear of having future panic attacks, which can result in avoidance behaviors, such as steering clear of places or situations where they have experienced previous attacks. This constant state of apprehension can significantly impact daily life, leading to disruptions in work, social interactions, and overall well-being.
It is important to recognize these symptoms so that you can seek help from an anxiety therapist in Birmingham. If left untreated, anxiety can become more severe and have a greater impact on your life.
Solutions for Anxiety through Anxiety Counseling in Birmingham
When you are looking for anxiety counseling in Birmingham it is important to find a therapist that specializes in treating anxiety. Not only that, but you should specifically look for an anxiety specialist who only has anxiety therapists who uses types of therapy that have been scientifically proven to treat anxiety.
At Empower Counseling, for your anxiety therapy we our therapists will use Acceptance Commitment Therapy, a scientifically proven effective treatment, to help you move away from anxiety and toward a more peaceful and content life. Acceptance Commitment Therapy is a higher level cognitive-behavioral therapy. Your anxiety therapist will create a treatment plan to specifically fit your needs using methods that have already been proven effective, in scientific studies, and with former clients.
What to expect from Anxiety Counseling in Birmingham with Empower Counseling
As previously mentioned, your anxiety therapy at Empower Counseling will be based on a treatment plan created for your particular needs. The treatment plan will be based on the scientifically proven effective components of ACT for anxiety therapy. After your counselor uncovered the thoughts leading to your anxiety, we will teach you mindfulness techniques to become more aware of the thoughts driving your anxiety, as well as, exercises designed to enable you to let go of these thoughts, rather than being drawn in and consumed by them.
If your anxiety involves self-criticism, which is most often does, your counselor will use techniques to move you from self-criticism toward self-compassion. Finally, through ACT, our counselors will help you change your focus from what you are scared of and need to avoid to what you value and what you want your life to look like. Then we help you set and reach goals that align with your values. When you take action toward what is really important to you, anxiety decreases and enjoy of your life increases.
Common questions About Anxiety Counseling in Birmingham Answered Here
Do you accept insurance?
Kathryn, licensed professional counselor and founder, is in network for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama only. Savannah and Marti are not in network for insurance. Don’t worry though. Each licensed counselor at Empower can provide you with a superbill (fancy word for receipt) which you can easily file for out of network benefits with your insurance. You can call your insurance to find out what your out of network benefits are.
How long does anxiety counseling in Birmingham take to work?
We have seen improvement in many clients after just a few sessions. However, if you complete the entire treatment plan to reach maximum improvement with one of our licensed counselors, trained in clinical mental health counseling, it can take anywhere from 12-20 sessions, based on severity. You may find you receive so many benefits from counseling that you want to keep coming.
How do I begin anxiety counseling in Birmingham with Empower Counseling?
It is so easy to begin anxiety therapy with Empower Counseling!
- Click here and scroll down the homepage.
2. Send us a quick message asking for a consultation.
3. Kathryn will call you back ASAP.
Anxiety counseling in Birmingham is not the only service that we provide at Empower Counseling. We also provide counseling for depression, trauma and PTSD counseling and counseling for difficult life transitions. We offer in person and online counseling for teens, counseling for professionals, young adult counseling and counseling for colleges students. We help clients who attend, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Samford University and Birmingham-Southern College. Reach out to Empower Counseling today.