Anxiety Disorders Therapy

We all experience some amount of anxiety in our day to day living. Anxiety can be an adaptive emotion since it can help up plan, motivate us to work hard, perform at our best and even alert us to any potential danger in our environment. Although, having some anxiety can be helpful in situations, at other times you may find it difficult to brush off your anxious feelings and have trouble coping with your anxiety. If you are experiencing high level of anxiety which you find distressing and it is interfering in your functioning in areas such as work, school, family and social relations, it may be helpful for you to speak with a psychologist.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a broad term to describe an emotional state of nervousness, apprehension, dread, worry, or uneasiness which leads to significant distress and interference in one’s daily life. Feeling anxious is accompanied by thoughts of perceived danger or a negative prediction in a situation. For example, while experiencing anxiety you may have had thoughts such as “what if I loose my job and I can never find a job”?, “if I don’t’ wash my hands I will catch a disease?, “if my relationship ends and I will be alone for the rest of my life”, “my colleagues will make fun of me and I will be humiliated by speaking in a meeting at work”, “my racing heart is a sign that I am losing control”.

As a result of anxiety, people often engage in certain behaviours such as avoidance of situations or places which provoke anxiety. Other people find themselves repeatedly checking and seeking reassurance from family and friends to help feel better (e.g., asking the same question again and again to hear from that all will be okay).

Does Anxiety have Physical Sensations?

Yes, anxiety is often accompanied by physical sensations. If you are struggling with anxiety, you may also be experiencing palpitations, pounding heart, accelerated heart rate, sweating, shaking, Shortness of breath, nausea, abdominal distress, feeling light-headed, chills or heat sensations, and tingling. You may also be having difficulty with concentration, fatigue, muscle ache and sleep. Overall, anxiety can make us feel restless and our bodies feel tired and run down. Often when people experience these sensations “out of the blue” they begin to feel fearful or apprehensive of these sensations. Speaking with a psychologist can be useful to learn strategies focused on coping and managing these physical sensations and teaching you skills to prevent the “misinterpretation” of these physical sensations.

Is it Common to have Anxiety Problems?

Anxiety disorder are commonly experienced psychological issues in Canada. A recent statistics has reported that approximately 12% of Canadians in a given year are impacted by anxiety related concerns.

Common Anxiety Disorders

Treatment For Anxiety Disorders

Highly effective and brief interventions are available to provide you with the skills and strategies to manage your anxious thoughts, physical sensations so that you can participate in the activities and situations that you may be avoiding. Taking the first step towards seeking help for your anxiety difficulties can be challenging. However, research based psychological interventions, such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) have been found to be an effective form of treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Participating in psychological services can help you learn to overcome your anxiety and allow you to get back to enjoying your life instead of worrying about it.

Dr. Ahmed & associates provide their clients with services that are customized based on the goals they are hoping to achieve from the sessions. Their approach to psychological interventions relies on scientific-based approaches such a cognitive behaviour therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, schema focused therapy and client focused therapy. Dr. Ahmed & associates offer a supportive and non-judgmental environment to explore your concerns.

Contact Dr. Ahmed & associates for a consultation and inquire further about the process.