Anxiety Counseling in Athens, Georgia
Work With an Anxiety Therapist in Athens, GA for Anxiety, Worry, and Panic.
Anxious thoughts are constantly on your mind. You play out imagined conversations on repeat. You rehearse every potential response, but can never seem to prepare for every situation.
Your brain keeps replaying past anxious moments, second-guessing if you handled them right or made the best call.
Trying to get your mind off it, you end up mindlessly scrolling your phone for hours like a zombie. But no matter what you do, the worries always manage to creep back in.
There’s this constant feeling of dread hanging over you, a vague but gnawing sense that something bad is coming, even if you can’t put your finger on what.
Your thoughts start racing so fast it feels like you can’t catch your breath, and panic sets in that you’re running out of time. To cope, you do whatever you can to steer clear of big crowds and situations that might set off your anxiety. You always look for the safety of posting up against a wall.
This underlying pattern of anxious thinking makes you just avoid certain activities, people, and places altogether. Old arguments from years ago endlessly replay in your head. Rationally, you know they’re ancient history and shouldn’t still get to you...but they do.
You can’t shake the nagging feeling that things are about to go sideways at any moment. In your head, you know the odds are that nothing bad will actually happen and you should just chill the F out. But that persistent anxious voice in the back of your mind won’t shut up.
After going through this exhausting cycle for years, you’re totally spent. You never get a real shot at fully unwinding and enjoying the moment, even when you’re technically not dealing with any physical stress. Sometimes you’ll briefly forget about your anxious tendencies and start having a decent day.
But the second you realize you’re in a good mood, the worries kick in that an anxiety attack is going to hit and ruin the moment. And then just fearing that possibility is enough to trigger the anxiety attack itself — not because of anything that actually happened, but just because the thought crossed your mind.
Bottom line: the continuous undercurrent of anxiety has become debilitating.
That’s why you’re finally seeking help from an anxiety therapist in Athens.
Working With an Anxiety Therapist in Athens Can Help Quiet Your Mind.
The incessant worry has gone on for far too long. You’re ready to make a change and regain control over the unrelenting anxiety that has taken over your daily life. As you enter counseling for anxiety, you know there is so much you need to work through.
First, you need techniques to quiet the endless stream of worried thoughts and imagined scenarios that constantly plague your mind. You have to find ways to stay grounded in the present moment instead of getting perpetually caught up in hypothetical narratives you construct.
Learning to reframe your negative thought patterns into more positive self-talk is critical. As your therapist, I’ll teach you breathing exercises and relaxation methods to prevent and manage the panic attacks that are brought on by the cycle of catastrophic thinking.
Most importantly, you need to understand the root causes that have wired your brain to this constant state of unease. What experiences, beliefs or perspectives initiated these anxious tendencies? We’ll explore together.
Simply understanding the root causes won’t be enough, though — you’ll need to actively change some deeply ingrained habits and coping mechanisms, like the instinctive desire to avoid anything and everything that provokes anxiety instead of gradually facing your fears.
You have to stop the exhausting habit of ruminating and replaying past events and conversations over and over in your head. The compulsive need to seek reassurance and mentally prepare for every possible outcome has become unhealthy and counterproductive.
Perhaps most difficult will be changing the core belief that something bad is always right around the corner. Learning to tolerate uncertainty and not automatically jump to worst-case scenarios is essential for overcoming your anxiety.
As you progress through this process, your self-confidence and positive self-perception will improve. You’ll learn to trust that anxiety attacks are temporary and you can successfully cope through them until they pass.
Reducing the chronic mental and physical strain of persistent anxiety will allow your overall well-being to flourish. You’ll be able to re-engage in activities, relationships and aspects of life you’ve been avoiding due to your struggles with anxiety.
The work won’t be easy, but you’re finally ready to achieve the peace of mind you deserve. With commitment and the guidance of your Athens anxiety therapist, you can gain understanding and control over anxiety to live more freely and in the present moment.
CBT and Other Types of Therapy Can Bring Relief When You’re Experiencing Anxiety.
As your anxiety therapist in Athens, I will help you become aware of the triggers that provoke anxious thought cycles. During our work together, you’ll develop constructive coping strategies to implement when you start catastrophizing or getting trapped in the "What if?" loop of worst-case scenarios.
An important part of your anxiety counseling journey will be gradually facing the situations you currently avoid due to anxiety. You’ll build confidence in your ability to tolerate discomfort and overcome anticipatory anxiety.
We’ll deconstruct the anxiety-filled stories and negative self-narratives you’ve continuously reinforced over the years. You’ll begin to separate your true self from the singular narrative of anxiety that has defined your identity for too long.
Together, we’ll explore alternative narratives that showcase your core values, hopes, and positive traits outside of anxiety. You’ll work on authoring a new life story that enriches your experience and empowers you to take control over anxiety rather than vice versa.
During counseling, you’ll be using an integrated approach to target anxious thoughts, avoidant behaviors, and ingrained self-narratives from multiple angles. With commitment and my guidance, you can fundamentally transform your mindset, motivation, and life story.
FAQs About Working With an Anxiety Therapist in Athens.
I'm don’t know if I need anxiety therapy in Athens. Can’t I work through things on my own?
I understand feeling like you should be able to work through challenges on your own. Many people share that sentiment. At the same time, you’re clearly suffering and want your situation to improve. Just as we get help from professionals for our physical health, it makes sense to get support for our mental health too. When you break your arm, it usually doesn’t heal well if you ignore it. It’s the same with your mental health. I can offer tools and perspective to help you make changes that you may find difficult to do alone.
Will talking about my problems actually help? It seems like anxiety therapy is just going to make me more anxious.
It’s true that just complaining isn’t very helpful. Therapy for anxiety is a process of building insight, skills and understanding to create tangible change. Through exercises like identifying thoughts, practicing difficult behaviors, or rewriting unhelpful narratives about yourself, you can start to shift old patterns. I will challenge you during anxiety therapy to move beyond complaining into doing the necessary work. My goal is to help you transform your thoughts, feelings and behaviors so you can build the life you want.
What if I open up during anxiety therapy in Athens, but nothing really changes?
It’s understandable to fear that opening up won’t ultimately help you. True change requires some risk-taking, and effort from both of us. I will create a nonjudgmental space for you to share authentically during your time in anxiety counseling. In return, I ask you to commit to applying what you learn outside of our sessions. With consistent practice of new skills, you can absolutely create lasting change. I will be there to support you through both breakthroughs and setbacks.
Is anxiety therapy conducted online or in-person in Athens?
Anxiety therapy in Athens is conducted 100% online. You can meet with me from the comfort of your own home, your office, your car, or wherever is best for you. Counseling sessions are conducted on a HIPAA-compliant video platform.
To start therapy with an anxiety therapist in Athens, contact me today.
Emergency Mental Health Resources in Athens, Georgia.
Driving Directions to Athens, Georgia.
From the North (around Commerce, GA area): Start by heading south on US-441. Continue straight to stay on US-441 South for about 30 miles until you reach Athens.
From the South (around Watkinsville, GA area): Begin by heading north on US-441. Drive for about 30 miles, following US-441 North directly into Athens.
From the East (around Lexington, GA area): Start off by taking GA-10 W/US-78 W from Lexington. Continue to follow US-78 W for about 30 miles. As you approach Athens, you may need to merge onto the Athens Perimeter Hwy/US-29 N/US-78 W/US-129 N/US-441 N via the ramp to I-85. Take the exit toward the University of Georgia and follow signs to enter Athens.
From the West (around Monroe, GA area): Begin your journey heading east on GA-10 E/US-78 E toward Athens. Stay on this route for approximately 30 miles. Continue onto GA-316 E/US-29 N/US-78 E and follow the signs to enter Athens.
About Athens, Georgia.
Athens, Georgia, is located in Clarke County and is widely recognized for its rich musical heritage, vibrant arts scene, and the University of Georgia.
It’s famous for landmarks such as the Sanford Stadium, home to the UGA Bulldogs football team, and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.
People appreciate Athens for its eclectic mix of historical and cultural attractions, including the downtown area with its unique shops and restaurants, as well as its lively college-town atmosphere that includes a variety of live music venues.