Symptoms of Anxiety
How do I know if I am suffering with anxiety? Some common symptoms of anxiety are:
- Feeling nervous or insecure
- Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
- Feeling like you don’t fit in
- Inability to stop persistent thoughts of worry, negativity, or fear
- Sleep problems such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Chronic Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
The Winter Garden Wellness Approach
to Anxiety Counseling
Everyone will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Different things cause anxiety for different people. It is important to differentiate a healthy level of anxiety from a moderate to severe anxiety that can be debilitating. Occasional mild anxiety is not something that requires treatment. If you are unsure where you fall on this spectrum it is ok, we will listen to you with an open mind and provide honest feedback on your situation.
At Winter Garden Wellness, we utilize several approaches to help you get to the root cause(s) of your anxiety and learn to manage it.
Approach 1 – We rule out health issues
Some symptoms of anxiety can be caused by the body. For example, high blood pressure, blood sugar fluctuations, and food intolerances can cause you to feel “off”. It is important to check with your primary care physician to determine if a physical condition is the root cause unless you know you are in good health and have something else causing the anxiety.
Approach 2 – We listen to you
It may sound overly simplistic, but often having a trained professionals undivided attention as you discuss your concerns will help you to zero in on the cause(s) of the anxiety you feel. This will also help us develop a plan tailored to your situation that may include things like homework, recording thoughts/feelings and reviewing them weekly, and learning tools to reduce your anxiety.
Approach 3 – Whole body health
Did you know that serotonin, one of the brain’s feel-good chemicals is produced in the gut and can be affected by what you eat? Beyond the standard mental health approach for treating anxiety, we also have a dietitian available to meet with to ensure you are covering every area and giving yourself all the tools available to overcome your anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ll Answer
In non-clinical terms anyone who feels anxiety at a level that interferes with their ability to enjoy participating in day to day life could be considered to have an anxiety disorder.
There are several types of anxiety disorders including social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and more. Some of these may be moderately inconvenient, while others are so extreme to the point that leaving the home is a daunting challenge.
Anyone who is losing, or has already lost, their ability to participate in daily life due to anxiety. Also, if you have concern for a family member you may want to talk with a counselor about the situation to determine if more help is needed.
A counselor will listen to you, learn your situation, and help you find ways to work through issues, address specific triggers, and regain your ability to feel normal.