4 common misconceptions about anxiety and anxiety treatment.
As the topic of anxiety has entered the mainstream media, more myths and misconceptions around anxiety have developed. Though we generally have a better understanding of what anxiety is and talking about anxiety has become somewhat normalized, we are still are unsure about what anxiety treatment is and what actually helps with anxiety. Here we delve into 4 common misconceptions about anxiety and anxiety treatment that has become common in today’s society.
Misconception: Everything About Anxiety is Bad
Anxiety is our body’s way of letting us know that we have reached our limit. Though extensive and chronic anxiety can be debilitating and consuming, a certain amount of anxiety can be useful and informative. Often anxiety is our body’s way of keeping us safe. Issues arise when the system short-circuits and there is no longer a reason for the anxious response, causing an anxiety disorder to develop.
One-way clients have described anxiety to be useful is when they have a deadline or exam to study for. The right amount of anxiety can actually help them and force them to study, improving their performance on the assignment. Too much worry, and they might procrastinate or avoid the assignment.
Anxiety treatment can be helpful for people that feel they have gone past the threshold of their anxiety and feel that anxiety is no longer useful towards their goals. If you find that your anxious thoughts are taking over your life and you can’t focus or function in different areas of your life, then it might be time to seek anxiety treatment.
Misconception: There is a magic cure for Anxiety
Talking about anxiety treatment, I think it is important to discuss realistic expectations around your anxiety treatment. Anxiety is a systemic problem, meaning there are many factors that influence how your body understands and perceives stress. The job you have, the stress you experiencing, new changes in your life, having a new baby, can all influence your anxiety. A huge contributor to anxiety is our own perception of our ability to cope. If we feel we can cope with the tasks at hand, with our stressful job, with taking care of the kids and the home, then often our anxiety can lower. Yet, if we second guess ourselves or feel that we will not be able to handle it anymore, then our anxiety can increase. Anxiety treatment often targets our coping mechanisms and our perception of our ability to cope. It is not a quick fix, and often there are times in our life when anxiety is stronger than others, but with anxiety treatment you can learn better ways of coping.
Misconception: Meditation has to be a part of your anxiety treatment
When people think about anxiety treatment, people often think about meditation. If your body is in a heighten state of arousal, where you are in state of fight or freight, you will not be able to easily calm your mind and meditate. The thought of meditating as part of anxiety treatment can be frustrating and annoying. Though mediation can be a helpful tool for some people as part of their anxiety treatment, it does not have to be a part of you anxiety treatment. What is important is finding tools that actually work for you. In anxiety therapy, we often will explore tools and ideas that are generated with the client, vs. prescribing things for them to do. I don’t know about you, but I rarely do things exactly when I am told to do them. But, when I come up with the idea myself, through conversation or research, I am more like to stick to the routine.
Misconception: Researching on Google is Going to Help My Anxiety
Often, when we are anxious, we want to learn more around the issue we are having. If you are anxious around giving birth, you might want to read every birthing book, take every class on hypnobirthing and listen to every podcast you can get your hands on. Though knowledge can be valuable, it often does not help us feel any better. This is because a huge part of alleviating our anxiety is about us feeling like we are capable of handing the task. If we feel like we can handle giving birth, if we can take care of a newborn, then often our anxiety will lower. Our perception of our capabilities is a huge factor in our anxiety.
Anxiety Therapy in Miami, FL and Online Anxiety Therapy in Florida
People will often ask when is the right time to seek anxiety treatment. If your anxiety is impacting your life, in different areas of your life, then it might be time to seek more information about anxiety counseling. This means, that if your anxiety is impacting your relationship, your work and your home life (different domains), then your anxiety is impacting your quality of life. We offer anxiety treatment in Miami, Fl and online anxiety therapy in Florida for individuals, teenagers and couples.
Begin Anxiety Treatment in Miami & Online Anxiety Therapy in Florida:
You deserve to find like you are in control of your anxiety- and not anxiety controlling you. Our therapists would be honored to help feel better and confident that you can handle life’s challenges without anxiety. To begin online therapy in Florida, follow these steps:
Contact our South Florida counseling center,
Request an initial consultation appointment with an online therapist
Allow yourself the opportunity to heal and find peace through counseling.
Other Services Offered at The Heard Counseling:
The Heard Counseling offers mental health services tailored to meet the mental health needs teenager, adults and couples at our therapy center based in Miami, Florida. Our services are all via online therapy in Florida . In addition to anxiety treatment, they also offer postpartum anxiety and postpartum anxiety treatment, birth trauma treatment, therapy for dads, therapy for moms, infertility counseling and support, therapy for women and families who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss, and counseling for teens. Check out their blog for valuable mental health help. Contact their counseling office to learn more about the many ways they can you feel yourself again.