Anxiety Therapy

As experts in addiction anxiety therapy, our licensed professionals at NorthStar Regional understand that mental health problems are difficult to face.
man in purple suit sitting across from red-haired woman

Anxiety Therapy

As experts in addiction anxiety therapy, our licensed professionals at NorthStar Regional understand that mental health problems are difficult to face.

Introduction

Anxiety Therapy

About 40 million adults will experience an anxiety disorder in any given year, which is commonly treated with anxiety therapy. Everyone gets anxious, worried, and has occasional fears. Anxiety disorders are different. Anxiety disorders refer to a wide range of difficulties characterized by disabling levels of dread, worry, and anxiety that is not brief or passing. In co-occurring disorders, as anxiety increases, the need to escape the discomfort propels the addict to use alcohol or drugs to reduce the tension and stress and cope with the anxiety.

The primary traits of all anxiety disorders include subjective feelings of anxiety, stress, worry, fear, emotional distress, negative thinking, muscle tension, sleep disturbance, feeling out of control, avoidance patterns, and interruptions in daily life. Negative thought patterns continue the cycle of distress, followed by attempts to avoid the anxiety-producing situation or circumstance.

Anxiety Types

Common Types of Anxiety Disorders

Separation Anxiety

This disorder refers to excessive fear or anxiety about separation from parent figures or one’s home. Children with separation anxiety may cling to their parents or caregivers and have trouble when they are separated. Adults with this disorder may be uncomfortable when traveling independently or being away from their children, spouses, or attachment figures.

The primary traits of all anxiety disorders include subjective feelings of anxiety, stress, worry, fear, emotional distress, negative thinking, muscle tension, sleep disturbance, feeling out of control, avoidance patterns, and interruptions in daily life. Negative thought patterns continue the cycle of distress, followed by attempts to avoid the anxiety-producing situation or circumstance.

Specific Phobia

A phobia is an unreasonable fear associated with a specific object or experience. Clients with phobias have unwarranted fear and facing a feared object will immediately make him or her feel tense, nervous, and panicky. This is known as anticipatory anxiety, meaning as the person looks ahead, they become increasingly more anxious. A phobia is considered severe when it interferes with life. Common specific phobias include flying, heights, snakes, closed spaces, crowds, insects, and dogs.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety is best defined as an excessive fear of social situations and affects 2-13% of the US population. About one in five clients with a social anxiety disorder also suffers from an alcohol or substance use disorder. Social anxiety disorder is anxiety about and in social situations that goes beyond shyness. It often includes a fear that one is being watched and judged by others. They are often afraid of several situations, rather than one specific thing, and may have trouble speaking in public, interacting with others, or giving a report in a group.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is an abnormal fear of being trapped, helpless, or in a situation with no easy means of escape. This disorder may be accompanied by anxiety or panic symptoms, or the anticipation of those feelings. Trigger situations may include being in public spaces, shopping malls, public transportation, or simply being outside one’s home.

Substance / Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder

When anxiety symptoms are produced by using, or withdrawal from, alcohol or other drugs, substance-induced anxiety disorder may be diagnosed. Symptoms may include nervousness, agitation, restlessness, panic attacks, and apprehension. Use of prescribed medications, alcohol, and illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and others can contribute to the disorder’s severity.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Everyone worries and feels anxious sometimes. When worry is manageable, we can connect it to realistic problems and take steps to solve those problems and worry subsides. But when worry goes beyond the everyday concerns of life and you are anxious all the time, for no apparent reason, you may be dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and need anxiety therapy to help relieve these symptoms. There may be no panic attacks or high states of anxiety, but symptoms may be relatively low-key and chronic, happening more than half the days for at least six months. Worrying constantly, anticipating disaster, having difficulty concentrating, staying focused, or making decisions, being uneasy, and experiencing trouble relaxing or sitting still are signs of GAD and can make it hard to function normally at work or within relationships.

Panic Disorder

Everyone worries and feels anxious sometimes. When worry is manageable, we can connect it to realistic problems and take steps to solve those problems and worry subsides. But when worry goes beyond the everyday concerns of life and you are anxious all the time, for no apparent reason, you may be dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and need anxiety therapy to help relieve these symptoms. There may be no panic attacks or high states of anxiety, but symptoms may be relatively low-key and chronic, happening more than half the days for at least six months. Worrying constantly, anticipating disaster, having difficulty concentrating, staying focused, or making decisions, being uneasy, and experiencing trouble relaxing or sitting still are signs of GAD and can make it hard to function normally at work or within relationships.

Moving Forward in Hope

Anxiety is Treatable with Our Personalized Anxiety Therapy

Anxiety keeps one focused on fear and failures, rather than success and progress. But anxiety can be treated and managed. Resist the urge to avoid stressful and anxiety-provoking situations. Instead, break each task or event into small pieces, then calm yourself using the skills mentioned. NorthStar Regional’s anxiety therapy can help you change your thinking, teach anxiety management techniques, and conquer your fears. In this way, you get stronger with each time you become mildly anxious, rather than getting weaker and more fearful. Practice these techniques in easy scenarios. Build your strength and tolerance and continue to resist the urge to avoid things that make you anxious. As you lower your general level of stress and anxiety, and build anxiety management skills, you will move forward with increased self-assurance and confidence. Our goal is to help you. If you would like more information and to talk to one of our professionals, contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your anxiety through our anxiety therapy. The primary traits of all anxiety disorders include subjective feelings of anxiety, stress, worry, fear, emotional distress, negative thinking, muscle tension, sleep disturbance, feeling out of control, avoidance patterns, and interruptions in daily life. Negative thought patterns continue the cycle of distress, followed by attempts to avoid the anxiety-producing situation or circumstance.

Additional Information

Our experienced anxiety therapy staff will:
  • Provide individualized treatment
  • Utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to address anxiety
  • Help you make informed decisions regarding your mental health
  • Provide individualized treatment
  • Utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to address anxiety
  • Help you make informed decisions regarding your mental health