Do You Feel Overwhelmed by Nervousness and Worry?
Have excessive worrying, increased irritability, concentration difficulties and low self-confidence created distance in your relationships and challenges at work? Perhaps family demands, job responsibilities, financial concerns, health issues and a pervasive sense of inadequacy have you feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to get through the day, let alone pursue your goals and dreams. Maybe you find it difficult to make decisions because you fear you will make a mistake or get the short end of the stick. It may be that interpersonal interactions leave you on edge and regretful, and you frequently feel as though you’re being blamed, criticized or judged. Are worry and self-doubt interrupting your ability to engage in the present moment, focus on your re
sponsibilities and enjoy daily experiences? Do you wish you could find ways to relieve stress and feel more secure in your decision-making, at ease in your interactions with others and confident in your abilities and intelligence.
Self-criticism, obsessive thinking, fear about the future and other symptoms of anxiety can make it difficult to feel in control or experience any joy and hope in life. It may seem as though your career success defines your worth and sense of self. From the moment you wake up in the morning (likely following a night of restless sleep), you may feel exhausted, high-strung and stressed about all the things you have to do over the course of the day. As you repeatedly go over your to-do list, you may envision every worst-case scenario and become increasingly on edge and certain that something will go wrong. In order to feel more in control and confident about your work, you may revise projects and documents over and over, driving yourself to meet often unrealistic or unattainable standards of perfection. Or, to prove yourself to others, you may take on more responsibilities than you can handle, only to feel frantic, fatigued and inadequate when you can’t complete the work on your own. Maybe you’ve experienced the symptoms of a panic attack, such as a racing heart, shaking hands and shortness of breath, and now you fear those around you will think of you as weak. Alternately, you may have experienced a sense that your mind was shutting down, collapsing under the weight of so much pent-up nervousness and tension. Perhaps coping with anxiety feels impossible, and you don’t know how to balance your high expectations for yourself with your desire to live a balanced, fulfilling life.
Many People Struggle With Anxiety
Anxiety is incredibly common. Whether you are just getting your professional start or are already established in your career, if you are consumed by worries about your future, you are far from alone. In today’s culture, individuals dedicate a great deal of time to their careers. From a young age, you are encouraged to think about “what you want to be when you grow up” and begin to participate in activities, clubs and classes that will serve your future career. Add to this the pressure to achieve individual success and economic security, and it’s easy to see why many people—especially those who struggle with low self-esteem—feel defined by their jobs and attempt to find meaning and purpose through career advancement.
In addition, especially since the rise of social media, modern culture seems to value material wealth and self-promotion over helping people, forming meaningful relationships and truly connecting with others. Looking through the pictures and posts on your friends’ feeds can lead to increased feelings of inadequacy and isolation. You may worry that you can never be enough. And, while that worry might push you to work hard, it can also lead to distress, procrastination and a sense of paralysis, especially when it seems to you have to excel in many different areas at once.
In truth, however, you are enough. No matter what fears are weighing you down, with the help of skilled anxiety therapist, you can slow your racing thoughts, quiet your inner critic and find true balance, purpose and peace in your life.
Anxiety Counseling Can Help You Gain a Sense of Calm and Control
Therapy offers a safe, compassionate environment for you to investigate and express your fears, worries and desires, without fear of judgment. As you work with Peter and develop a trusting therapeutic relationship, you can feel truly supported, accepted and heard. Peter will offer you the caring support and skilled guidance you need to get in touch with your emotions, better understand the root of your current symptoms of anxiety and develop tools to cope with symptoms as they reoccur and find relief.
In sessions, Peter will work with you just as you are, adapting his approach to best suit your particular experience, personality, needs and therapy goals. Drawing from his training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as other evidence-based treatment approaches, Peter will determine and implement interventions that can help you. As appropriate, he will offer mindfulness techniques, guided visualizations and progressive relaxation exercises to help you feel grounded in your body and clear in your mind.
Peter is an engaged, proactive therapist, but he will not tell you what to do or push you to find the perfect solution to each and every problem. If you wish to problem-solve during anxiety counseling, he will collaborate with you to seek solutions that foster practical, positive responses to challenges, along with increased self-awareness, self-compassion and self-acceptance. Because stress and anxiety are so deeply intertwined, he will also help you learn to recognize and better understand which situations cause you to feel stress and develop the stress management strategies needed to effectively adapt and cope. You can learn the difference between situational and chronic stress, feel supported to practice self-care and make positive lifestyle changes and learn to be more kind to yourself.
You, as an individual, are at the core of Peter’s therapy practice. During anxiety therapy sessions, you can learn to accept your thoughts as they arrive and recognize them as just that—thoughts. You can release the pain and worry that, in truth, has little to do with who you really are. With help, it is possible to quiet your mind and create the space needed to observe and process your thoughts and feelings. It is possible to feel balanced and in control, and to fully experience and enjoy the present moment. You are worth it, and you can begin living an empowered, passionate life.
You may have questions or concerns about anxiety treatment…
Will I need to take medication?
As a therapist, Peter cannot prescribe medication, and he doesn’t currently work with psychiatrists who can. However, if you are interested in pursuing medication, he can help you research and find a psychiatrist. While counseling can be transformational on its own, many people find using medication in tandem with therapy highly effective.
How long do I have to be in anxiety counseling until I feel results?
Everyone is different, and every person’s experience with anxiety and therapy is different as well. That said, in general, therapy is not a long-term commitment, and it is possible to learn coping skills to manage and reduce symptoms in a relatively short amount of time. If you wish, you and Peter can set goals and treatment objectives and check in over the course of your work together. All of this anxiety treatment planning will be based on your goals, and yours alone. It’s up to you to decide when you feel therapy has met your needs. And, the time you spend in therapy will be an investment in your long-term sense of stability, confidence and self-worth.
I worry that a therapist will talk over me or tell me what to do.
Some therapists focus on problem-solving and offering advice. In contrast, Peter is dedicated to helping you discover insights and solutions on your own. Although he’s trained and experienced, during anxiety therapy, he will not act like he has all the answers. Only you truly know what you’re thinking and feeling. With guidance, you can identify what you need to heal.
There Is Hope for Lasting Relief
Stress and self-doubt don’t have to hold you back forever. Peter invites you to call him at (734) 666-3887 or email him at peter.howell@comcast.net to schedule a free, 10-minute phone consultation. He welcomes any questions you may have about anxiety counseling and his practice in Detroit, MI.