Therapy for Anxiety in Halifax, Nova ScotiaStruggling with anxiety in the Halifax area?
Help is available in Nova Scotia. Anxiety is commonly confused with fear but in fact, the experience of being anxious is very different from being afraid. Fear is typically focused toward a tangible object, person, or situation. For example, someone may be afraid of giving a public talk, being interviewed for a job, or failing an exam. |
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In contrast, when someone is anxious they often cannot specify exactly what it is they are worried about. In this sense, anxiety feeds on the perception that “danger is out there…somewhere”. It is focused on one’s internal experience whereas fear is generally focused on an external object or situation.
Some people may even worry about losing control of their actions (although in actuality, this is not something that being anxious really does). Others may have ever-present feeling that something bad is about to happen.
Some people may even worry about losing control of their actions (although in actuality, this is not something that being anxious really does). Others may have ever-present feeling that something bad is about to happen.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a subjective state of apprehension, uneasiness, and / or worry. It affects the entire person – physiologically, behaviourally, and psychologically. In an extreme form, someone with an anxiety disorder may feel detached from him / herself or may feel that they are going to die even in the absence of a physical illness.
In addition to psychological symptoms, the experience of anxiety almost always includes physiological symptoms. Common bodily reactions include sweating, dry mouth, upset stomach, muscle tension, and a rapid heartbeat.
It is important to point out that anxiety is, quite frankly, an inevitable part of being alive. There are many situations we encounter in which anxiety is both a normal and an appropriate response! In fact, if we did not experience anxiety in response to stressors, dangers, or challenges, this would be abnormal.
Unhealthy anxiety occurs when the level of anxiety is disproportionate to the object or situation that is triggering it, or when healthier coping strategies are not used to cope with stressful or challenging situations.
In addition to psychological symptoms, the experience of anxiety almost always includes physiological symptoms. Common bodily reactions include sweating, dry mouth, upset stomach, muscle tension, and a rapid heartbeat.
It is important to point out that anxiety is, quite frankly, an inevitable part of being alive. There are many situations we encounter in which anxiety is both a normal and an appropriate response! In fact, if we did not experience anxiety in response to stressors, dangers, or challenges, this would be abnormal.
Unhealthy anxiety occurs when the level of anxiety is disproportionate to the object or situation that is triggering it, or when healthier coping strategies are not used to cope with stressful or challenging situations.
What are the types of anxiety disorders?
The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) defines a number of different anxiety-related disorders including:
● Panic Disorder
A sudden wave of intense fear and physiological arousal which happens "out of the blue" and usually lasts for a few minutes.
● Agoraphobia
Intense fear of being in situations from which escape might be difficult (or help unavailable) if one suddenly had a panic attack. Often the fear is related to what others may think if they see the person having a panic attack. Avoided situations and environments may include grocery stores, movie theatres, highways, etc.
● Social Phobia
An unreasonable fear of embarrassment or humiliation in situations where one may be judged by others.
● Specific Phobia
A strong fear and avoidance of one particular situation or object. Even though the person recognizes that the fear is irrational, it results in significant distress and interferes with normal school, work, and/or relationship activities.
● Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Persistent and out-of-proportion anxiety and worry about many issues without panic attacks, phobias, or obsessions.
● Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessions are recurring ideas, thoughts, or images which seem trivial but are repeated over and over again in one's mind. These obsessions are accompanied by behaviours or rituals which are performed to reduce the anxiety created by the obsessions. For example, compulsive hand washing may occur as a response to obsessions about germs or becoming sick.
How is anxiety treated in therapy?
Given the variety of anxiety-related difficulties, it is not surprising that the methods used to treat them are quite varied. Still, as a general rule, most treatment methods for anxiety do involve:
1) Learning (and practicing) stress-reduction methods to reduce physiological tension and promote relaxation.
2) Slowly reducing the avoidance behaviour which is maintaining the anxiety. That is, safe and gradual exposure to the feared or anxiety producing situation or thought (while remaining calm, grounded, and relaxed) is a critical part of most treatments for anxiety.
3) Identifying and changing unhealthy "self-talk" patterns (e.g., "I can't handle this", "I'll die from embarrassment", etc.) to more realistic appraisals of the situation and one’s coping abilities.
The good news?
Anxiety and panic are treatable.
A century of research on the causes of anxiety, the risk factors, and the thoughts and behaviours that maintain anxiety (most of which we are not even aware of) have produced many effective treatment methods.
1) Learning (and practicing) stress-reduction methods to reduce physiological tension and promote relaxation.
2) Slowly reducing the avoidance behaviour which is maintaining the anxiety. That is, safe and gradual exposure to the feared or anxiety producing situation or thought (while remaining calm, grounded, and relaxed) is a critical part of most treatments for anxiety.
3) Identifying and changing unhealthy "self-talk" patterns (e.g., "I can't handle this", "I'll die from embarrassment", etc.) to more realistic appraisals of the situation and one’s coping abilities.
The good news?
Anxiety and panic are treatable.
A century of research on the causes of anxiety, the risk factors, and the thoughts and behaviours that maintain anxiety (most of which we are not even aware of) have produced many effective treatment methods.
How can I get help for anxiety in Halifax?
We provide empirically validated therapy for anxiety in Halifax at my clinic Green Leaf Psychological. Please read more about therapy and counselling, my treatment approach, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or if you would like to set up an initial consultation.
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