Anxiety Therapy Calgary
Anxiety is a universal human experience. We all encounter moments of unease, worry, and apprehension. However, for some individuals, anxiety becomes a persistent and overwhelming force that significantly impacts their daily lives. The following delves into the multifaceted world of anxiety, exploring its definition, differentiating it from fear, examining its symptoms, categorizing its various types, and shedding light on anxiety therapy and anxiety treatment.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is both a mental and physical state characterized by negative expectation. Mentally, it manifests as increased arousal, apprehension, and distressing worry. Physically, it triggers activation across multiple body systems, preparing us to respond to an unknown danger—whether real or imagined. Unlike fear, which relates to a known or understood threat, anxiety arises from an uncertain, expected, or poorly defined danger.
Anxiety vs. Fear: Unraveling the Differences
While anxiety and fear share emotional and physical symptoms, they diverge in crucial ways:
Fear: Fear emerges in response to a specific, observable danger. Imagine someone pointing a gun at you during a dark street encounter—this immediate, real, and definite threat triggers fear.
Anxiety: Anxiety, on the other hand, stems from an imprecise or unknown threat. Walking alone down that same dark street, you might feel uneasiness—anxiety related to the possibility of harm, even if no immediate danger exists.
Symptoms of Anxiety
Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:
Rapid heartbeat (heart palpitations)
Excessive trembling and sweating
Nausea and dizziness
Chest pain and headaches
Weakness in the limbs and muscle tension
Compulsive worrying and irrational fears
Social withdrawal and difficulty branching out socially
Fixating on worst-case scenarios
Types of Anxiety
Anxiety can take different forms, and there are a number of anxiety disorders that exist:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent mental and physical anxiety about a wide range of concerns, even in the absence of a specific threat.
Panic Disorder: Severe panic attacks characterized by sudden and intense fear.
Agoraphobia: Fear of going out in public or being in situations where escape might be difficult.
Phobias: Irrational fears of specific situations or objects.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Intense anxiety related to being observed, judged, or embarrassed in social settings.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Anxiety symptoms following a traumatic experience.
Counselling for Anxiety
Seeking an anxiety psychologist in Calgary can be helpful in managing and healing anxiety in your life. An anxiety therapist can provide effective counseling options that can include:
Psychotherapy: Also known as talk therapy, it provides a safe space to express feelings, explore triggers, and develop coping strategies. Psychotherapy can be individual, family, couple, or group-based.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): IFS facilitates a dialogue between the person and their anxious part, seeking to understand why it behaves the way it does, the reason for it, and then helping it take on a new role.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): ART assists in processing and healing underlying trauma that manifests as anxiety in PTSD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps reframe negative thinking patterns and behaviors. It equips individuals with practical tools to manage anxiety effectively.
Medication: In some cases, anti-anxiety medications may complement therapy.
Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management contribute to anxiety reduction.
Why Choose Us?
At Wellness Psychology, we have anxiety counsellors who are trained in alleviating and relieving anxiety. Treatment for anxiety can range from symptom management and relief, to understanding the underlying beliefs and root causes that result in the anxious symptoms you may be experiencing today. Bringing healing to these areas of your life can result in new beliefs, new ways of thinking, and peace, calmness, and living life in a new way. We would be honored to support you in this.
