Do you experience overwhelming worry in normal, everyday situations?
Is it difficult for you to focus and stay present because you are always anticipating the next move or replaying past experiences in your head?
Do you suffer from panic attacks?
Anxiety may be severely impacting your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as you struggle with persistent worry. Instead of feeling confident in your decisions, you may overanalyze every possible outcome, causing you to doubt yourself further.
You might feel that every single detail of your life warrants urgency, making it increasingly difficult for you to handle distress and uncertainty. This naturally impacts your ability to stay close and connected with others, as you second-guess every interaction. It’s also possible that you suffer from symptoms of social anxiety. Social anxiety is characterized by an intense fear that others are judging you. As a result, you may find it difficult to manage relationships, complete your work, and navigate daily life.
Panic Attacks Are The Body’s Way Of Responding To Anxiety
Anxiety often elicits a physical response in the body, which is why you may experience muscle tension, digestive issues, and trouble sleeping. If you have episodes of chest tightness, dizziness, sweating, shortness of breath, and an impending sense of doom, it’s possible that panic attacks have developed from your anxiety.
Panic attacks can feel incredibly isolating, making you fearful of when and where the next one might strike. You may start avoiding certain situations or places, worried they could trigger another episode. This avoidance can create a cycle that feels impossible to break, further limiting your life.
Fortunately, anxiety disorders of all kinds—including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder—can be addressed in treatment. Working with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) or therapist at our practice, you can receive individualized medication management and/or counseling services to help you manage anxiety.
Anxiety-Related Disorders Are Incredibly Common
Uncertainty is something that we face often and throughout the course of our lives. While feelings of nervousness and fear are normal, it’s important to be mindful of how pervasive those feelings become over time. Anxiety treatment in Portland, OR may become necessary if anxiety disorders develop in a way that adversely impacts our ability to function and relax.
Furthermore, anxiety can present in different ways. Alongside generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), conditions like social anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias all fall under the umbrella of anxiety. Each of these conditions may involve unique symptoms and challenges, but they share a common thread: they limit your ability to feel at ease in your life. Like generalized anxiety, these conditions can be improved with treatment.
It Can Be Difficult To See Beyond An Anxious Mindset
Many people assume that anxiety is something that adults develop as they encounter significant life hurdles and important decisions. However, the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that most individuals with anxiety develop symptoms by age 21. The number of adults living with an anxiety disorder hovers around 20 percent. Making anxiety the “most common mental health concern in the United States.”
These statistics indicate that anxiety affects children at high rates and that adults living with anxiety are likely to have struggled with symptoms from an early age. This early onset often means that anxiety has been part of a person’s life for as long as they can remember, making it feel deeply ingrained and hard to overcome.
Many of those struggling typically see little to no possibility of escaping the cycle of fear, worry, and perfectionism that seems to have followed them throughout their lives. However, treatment can provide a path to help break free from these patterns.
Treatment for anxiety offers a meaningful opportunity to develop lifelong skills for coping with uncertainty and discomfort. By working with a therapist or PMHNP on an individualized treatment plan that encompasses effective therapy techniques, psychiatric medication management, or both, you can learn to adjust your response to anxiety and live with more peace.
Anxiety Treatment in Portland, OR at Mindful Mental And Behavioral Health PLLC
In sessions with your provider, you will be able to slow down and adjust your thought process. Instead of feeling constantly stressed and panicked, you can improve your mindset in a way that makes your worries more manageable.
Once your therapist or PMHNP has a strong idea of your specific anxiety symptoms and goals for treatment, they will incorporate customized counseling techniques to help you establish effective coping mechanisms. Elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be used to help you identify and adjust the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. On the other hand, relaxation and mindfulness skills will help you calm the nervous system. Through treatment, you will be able to recognize when you are becoming anxious or catastrophizing so that you can course-correct and self-soothe. You will learn to recognize patterns in your anxiety and make changes that align with your values and goals.
Medication May Be A Helpful Treatment Intervention
In addition to proven therapy techniques, psychiatric medication management may be a foundational element of anxiety treatment. Medications can provide relief from the intense symptoms of anxiety. This allows symptoms to feel more stable and allows you to feel more focused as you work through therapy. If you are interested in exploring medications, we will work to understand your short- and long-term goals for symptom reduction as we determine the proper medications and dosages for you.
It is possible to get through your day without excessive worry and feeling out of control. Through a combination of therapeutic techniques and, if appropriate, medication, you can regain a sense of control and stability. Through treatment for generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks, you can pave the way to a life that is not overshadowed by fear and self-doubt.
Still Not Sure If Anxiety Treatment Is Right For You?
Everyone deals with anxiety—why do I need treatment?
It’s true that we all encounter situations that trigger worry and stress. However, our responses should be proportionate to the situation. When our responses are disproportionate, it can significantly impair our ability to function and make decisions.
Treatment is an opportunity to address anxiety disorders of all kinds, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Moreover, treatment can significantly improve your overall mental health and well-being.
Talking about my anxiety with a therapist or PMHNP will just make my worries and ruminations worse.
This is a very common concern, but our providers at Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC have found that the opposite is true. Identifying and verbalizing anxiety is a huge step toward resolving symptoms. You may find that talking through your worries helps you understand and challenge limiting thoughts, reducing the power they hold over you. You are likely to see that the more you discuss and recognize specific sources of anxiety, the more you can manage the thoughts and emotions associated with your fears.
The idea of receiving anxiety treatment increases my anxiety. 
We understand that discussing your fears and worries with a provider you don’t know may be uncomfortable at first. As a result, our mental health professionals create a safe and nurturing space to explore your concerns. As you build a trusting relationship with your therapist or PMHNP, discussing your anxiety will likely feel less intimidating and more liberating.
We recognize that being exposed to challenging situations will ultimately help you reduce the experience of anxiety in your life. By stepping outside of your comfort zone with a gentle and highly trained therapist or PMHNP, you can begin to grow and identify your strengths.
Improve Your Coping, Reduce Your Symptoms
Our therapists and PMHNPs at Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC are anxiety disorder specialists who can help you find greater calm and comfort. We are committed to providing effective, compassionate care that empowers you to take control of your anxiety. If you’re seeking treatment for generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, or other anxiety disorders, schedule an appointment today. For any questions, please contact our office at (207) 316–2609.
- Contact us here or schedule an appointment with your preferred therapist.
- Discover more about anxiety relief by reading our blogs.
- Begin working with an anxiety therapist today!
Other Services We Offer in Addition to Anxiety Treatment
At Mindful Mental and Behavioral Health PLLC, we provide a range of services designed to support your mental health and well-being. In addition to anxiety therapy, our team of mental health professionals offers specialized treatments for bipolar disorder, depression, and trauma. We’re committed to creating a safe and understanding space where you can explore your experiences and develop effective coping strategies. For those who may benefit from a combined approach, our medication management services ensure a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your unique needs. Whatever challenges you’re facing, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
