ANXIETY

Our ability to plan for the distant future is a uniquely human capacity; a large amount of brain real estate is dedicated to focusing our attention, filtering distractions, prioritizing tasks, and working toward goals. Yet, this same uniquely adaptive skillset can ravage our happiness as we anticipate impossibly distant future terrors. We can use this same amazing gift to self-regulate to torture ourselves as we live, day-to-day, as though each experience or decision is life-or-death. Unfortunately for our mental health, our stress response system cannot differentiate between a work deadline and a life-threatening predator. When stress becomes a constant part of our day-to-day lives, we stew in a cascade of stress-hormones that, while useful for fighting/fleeing in response to danger, is very damaging to our brain and body.

In the face of this, many of us develop obsessional worry, ruminative thinking, or compulsive behaviors/thoughts in an attempt to regulate our distress. In an unfortunate twist of fate, these same strategies only exacerbate our struggling and do not offer us the control we seek.

Barlow refers to anxiety as the “shadow of intelligence” (2004); that is, it is a necessary function of survival and motivation. As such, the most effective treatments of anxiety do not aim to rid us of tit but to develop a different relationship with our bodily and cognitive experience of it.

If anxiety, panic, phobias, obsessions, or compulsions are getting in the way of your ability to lead a meaningful life, you need someone who truly understands your unique experience and can help you establish a positive, empowering relationship with your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
Life can be different and treatment is effective. We’re here to help.