Anxiety Treatment in Kansas City, MO
Your brain just doesn’t stop.
You’re exhausted, yet your mind will somehow run on empty and keep you spiraling for what feels like years. Part of you knows that these rabbit holes are illogical, and you still continue to fall down them. Maybe you’re to the point of avoiding different things and experiences just for the possibility of not spiraling. But it doesn’t work. You feel like you are being hunted for sport. If only you could just relax like all of the unsolicited advice you’ve received has suggested. Is it like this for everyone? Is this just how it is? If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing anxiety.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotional response to a perceived threat that is preparing us to act. Historically, anxiety was an extremely helpful tool. Along with other emotions and reactions, anxiety helped us make it through evolution. As cavefolk, it was imperative for our survival to have a timely reaction to a threat. Sometimes this was running away (commonly referred to as ‘flight’), sometimes this was facing the danger head on (‘fight’), sometimes this was staying still so the threat didn’t notice us (‘freeze’), and sometimes this was trying to act as least threatening as possible (‘fawn’).
Our anxiety response being highly active during these years was super helpful since we encountered life-threatening danger, like wild animals, fairly regularly. The problem, though, is that our brains are not up with the times. Our brains have not realized that we aren’t usually facing life threatening danger everyday. Our brain is filtering information through the lens of survival. The result is that situations that are stressful or even mildly inconvenient yield the same reaction as fighting a bear in the woods.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety feels different for everyone and sometimes depends on the situation. Sometimes our systems of anxiety can show up more in our thoughts, and other times it manifests physically. Here are a few common symptoms of anxiety that some people feel:
Sweating,
Increased heart rate,
Feeling shaky,
Feeling physically tense,
Potentially having an upset stomach or a headache,
Feeling like your brain won’t turn off,
Fixating on something and/or not being able to concentrate,
Feeling irritable,
Having a feeling like something really bad is going to happen, but you’re not sure what it is.
“You’re afraid of surrender because you don’t want to lose control. But you never had control; all you had was anxiety.”
— Elizabeth Gilbert
Is it bad to be anxious all the time?
For many people, anxiety is a fairly normal part of life that doesn’t have a significant negative impact. They experience anxiety in certain situations, then can move pretty easily. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for everyone. For those of us that experience anxiety often, it begins to have negative impacts on both our physical and mental health. If anxiety persists for an extended period of time, you can expect to experience many issues relating to cardiovascular and digestive health, respiratory and nervous system functioning, as well as sleep and energy level along with many impacts. Untreated anxiety can lead to a multitude of dysfunction that can wreak havoc on our life and sense of well-being.
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength."
— Charles Spurgeon
Anxiety Treatment in Kansas City, MO can help.
Battling anxiety can feel like an uphill battle you’re not prepared for. Thankfully, you’re in the right place. Our therapists are experienced with assisting folks to learn to manage, and often lower their anxiety and to create a life worth living. Our therapists can assist with lowering anxiety in a variety of methods, including Internal Family Systems Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Exposure Response Prevention Therapy.
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IFS for Anxiety
IFS, internal family systems, is a type of therapy that focuses on noticing our internal drives. IFS prioritizes understanding what motives drive our behavior, as well as our thoughts. IFS is a helpful intervention if you struggle to identify why you do certain things, especially things you don’t necessarily want to do. With IFS, you and your therapist will focus on finding balance to restore internal trust and identify new patterns that make the most sense for you.
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DBT for Anxiety
DBT, or dialectical behavioral therapy, is a form of therapy that aims to bulk up our abilities to face a variety of challenges. Among other areas, DBT focuses on emotion regulation skills to aid us in preventatively regulating our emotions as well as learning how to incorporate logic when our emotions are running high. Additionally, DBT focuses on building awareness through mindfulness practice so that we are much more aware of our external and internal surroundings.
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ERP for Anxiety
ERP, or exposure response prevention therapy, is a behavioral therapy that aims to lower anxiety by systematically increasing our tolerance. What this looks like in real life is to slowly expose ourselves to things and situations that we feel anxious in. This is done in an intentional way over a period of time with the help of our trained therapists. By engaging ERP, many people find that they are able to work through their anxiety and participate in their life in ways they haven’t been able to before.
Begin Anxiety Treatment in Kansas City, MO
Try to get through life with anxiety can feel exhausting and isolating. Luckily, we can help. Our therapists are compassionate and experienced in helping folks navigate anxiety. We’re able to assist you in our centrally located therapy office in Independence, MO, or anywhere in the state through online therapy in Missouri. When you’re ready to begin your journey, follow these three steps:
Fill out our easy to use online questionnaire to schedule a free consultation.
Get to know our team of trauma therapists.
Regain control of your mind.