Center for Growth / Anxiety and Panic Disorder Treatment in Santa Fe, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Philadelphia - Knowing When It’s More Than Worry We all feel nervous sometimes – before speaking in public, when getting ready to invite a crush out on a date, and while studying for a big exam. These are normal times to be nervous, because these are situations where feeling a little nervous can actually help you focus. Being a little worried means you will practice that speech in front of a mirror, choose your words carefully when talking to your crush, and really buckle down and study for that exam. Nervousness is how our mind and body prepares us for demanding tasks.
These are examples of when and why the average person feels worry. Knowing when it is more than worry is important because for some individuals, the feeling is much more intense than just “a slight case of nerves.” For these people, the feelings of fear, worry, and anxiety are overwhelming and come in episodes that last for months or more. The ever-present and intense sensations of worry may lead these individuals to avoid activities they once enjoyed and alter the pattern of daily life. Someone dealing with this prolonged high level of anxiety may even experience panic attacks; episodes where the fear is so strong that they cannot act or think clearly and are literally frozen in terror.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in America. Many people experience this crippling problem, and unfortunately, many of them suffer in silence. They feel that they are weak, they feel embarrassed by what they perceive as a lack of self-control, or they think that they just happen to be a person who worries a lot. None of these is a good reaction to the situation, and none of these reactions will help the person overcome their disorder. To make the steps toward recovery, a person must first admit that their condition is not a personality flaw – it is a real, medical condition. The good news is that anxiety and panic disorders are entirely curable, and many patients make a full recovery with treatment. You don’t have to live with constant worry and fear. But to make changes and begin living a happier life, you must first look at yourself and be able to recognize the symptoms that identify an anxiety order. By using the questions below, you can ask yourself:
Knowing when it's more than worry - Could it be something more?
* Do I find myself constantly worried, even when nothing has happened to provoke that worry?
* Do I find it hard to pinpoint the specific source of my worry, instead worrying about many generalized things?
* Do I feel that my level of worry is higher than most people would have for the same situation, or that it is disproportionate to what is going on?
* Am I worried more days than not for six months or longer?
* Does my worry feel smothering?
* Do I have physical symptoms, such as shaking hands, twitching, nervous tics, headaches, or nausea?
* Am I easily startled?
* Do I have difficulty sleeping?
* Is my nervousness so strong that I go out of my way to avoid seemingly normal situations or things?
* Has worry lead me to change my daily routine or activities?
* Has anxiety had a significant negative effect on my performance in school, at work, or on my social life?
* Am I sometimes immobilized by fear?
* Do I have persistent fears of being crazy, being out of control, or that I am going to die?
All of these questions address the common symptoms of mild to severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should seriously consider that you are dealing with something more than just having a shy or nervous personality – you should consider seeing someone who can talk to you about anxiety disorder in Philadelphia. Your first step should be a trip to your doctor. He or she will be able to talk to you about anxiety disorders, and rule out physical causes for the feelings you are experience. He or she can also most likely suggest a therapist, which should be your next step. Therapy, sometimes in tangent with medication to control physical symptoms, is the most effective way to combat anxiety disorder. A therapist at the Center for Growth / Therapy in Philadelphia (or where ever else you may live) can help find the roots of your anxiety and help you create more beneficial, stable thought patterns. In addition, a therapist can teach you helpful relaxation and self-monitoring techniques that you can use in any situation to keep from feeling overwhelmed or out of control.
Knowing when it's more than just worry is important because once you have identified the problem, there are even things you can do on your own to help reduce your persistent, low-level anxiety and resulting symptoms. The most important part is to remember that you are not to blame for how you feel – anxiety disorder is a real medical condition and having it does not mean that you are weak or lack self-control. The next thing you can do is regularly practice activities your therapist teaches you, such as self-monitoring and using positive instead of negative thought patterns. In your own time, you may find deep breathing exercises, meditation, or slow exercises like Tai Chi or Yoga to be helpful in staying calm and focusing on the present instead of potential worries. If you feel comfortable with the social interaction, there are also many support groups available to people who are coping with or recovering from anxiety disorder. There are many things that you can do, both on your own and with the help of professionals, to alleviate your emotional unhappiness. Remember that there is treatment available, and people who are willing to help. You deserve a life where you feel relaxed, confident, and happy, but you have to start by recognizing how you really feel.
Working with a therapist specializing in anxiety can help you identify the type of anxiety that you are struggling with.
Here are some examples of the different types of anxiety. This list is not exhausted. Nor is this list designed to help you identify the level of severity. The goal of this list is to help you become aware of the range of anxiety disorders that our therapists are trained to help clients with.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry and tension about everyday events and activities.
- Panic Disorder: characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and a persistent fear of having another attack.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): characterized by a fear of social or performance situations, often leading to avoidance of these situations.
- Specific Phobia: characterized by a persistent, excessive fear of a specific object or situation.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts or compulsions to perform repetitive behaviors.
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): characterized by the development of symptoms, such as re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance, and emotional numbness, following a traumatic event.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: characterized by excessive and developmentally inappropriate fear of separation from an attachment figure.
- Agoraphobia: characterized by a fear of public places, open spaces, or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing.
OUR GUARANTEE: you deserve the best anxiety therapist possible. If you don't feel like the anxiety therapist that you met with was the right fit, then free of charge you can try out a different therapist. Being in a group practices allows for flexibility.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SELF SCHEDULE AN ONLINE OR AN INPERSON THERAPY SESSION. The Center for Growth has offices in multiple states. If you prefer to speak to a live therapist, call our intake department at 215 - 922 - 5683 x 100 or go to a therapist's biography page and call the therapist of your choice directly. Every therapist has their phone number listed on their bio page.
The Center for Growth Therapy Offices in PA, NJ, VA, GA, NM, FL
- Ocean City Therapy Office
360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226 - Mechanicsville Therapy Office
9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116 - Alpharetta Office
11720 Amber Park Drive, Suite 160, Alpharetta GA 30006 - Society Hill Therapy Office
233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106 - Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office
2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130 - Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
- Telemedicine: We have therapists who are licensed to work in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia New Mexico and Pennsylvania
Counseling & Therapy Services
Individual Counseling Individual counseling is a form of therapy that involves one-on-one sessions between a therapist and a client. The therapist can help the client work through personal issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and other mental health concerns. The therapist may use a variety of techniques, such as talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches, to help the client gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and develop strategies for managing them. The goal of individual counseling is to help the client improve their emotional well-being and overall functioning in their daily life.
Child Therapy & Teen Therapy Child and teen therapy services are designed to help children and adolescents who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health difficulties. These services can include individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy.
In individual therapy, a child or adolescent meets one-on-one with a therapist to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to develop strategies for coping with their issues. This can help them to understand and express their emotions, build healthy relationships, and improve their overall well-being.
Family therapy involves working with the child or adolescent and their family members to improve communication, build stronger relationships, and resolve conflicts. This can be particularly helpful when the child or adolescent's difficulties are impacting the family dynamics.
Group therapy allows children and teens to share their experiences and learn from others who are going through similar issues. This can be a supportive and empowering experience for them, and can help them to feel less alone in their struggles.
Couples Therapy Couples therapy is a form of therapy that helps couples improve their relationship and resolve conflicts. The therapist works with both partners to understand the dynamics of the relationship, identify areas of difficulty, and develop strategies for improving communication, intimacy, and trust.
Support Groups Therapeutic support groups are groups of individuals who come together to discuss and support each other with a particular issue or problem they are facing. These groups are led by a trained facilitator and may be focused on issues such as mental health, addiction, grief, or chronic illness. The goal of therapeutic support groups is to provide a safe and supportive space for members to share their experiences, gain new insights and perspectives, and learn coping strategies to help them better manage their challenges.
Therapeutic Topics that clients typically seek therapy services for
Anxiety, OCD, Panic Therapy Services
Anger Management Therapy
Babyloss Therapy / Pregnancy Loss
Depression Therapy Services
Eating Disorders Treatment
Grief & Loss Therapy Services
Personality Issues (Narcissism, Borderline...)
Shame Therapy Services
Sex Addiction Therapy / Porn Addiction / Internet Addiction Therapy
Sex Therapy: Sexual function & dysfunction treatment
Trauma Therapy Services
Relationship Problems
Again, we offer anxiety therapy treatment in Philadelphia, PA, Ocean City NJ, Mechanicsville VA, Santa Fe NM
