Anxiety Therapy Arkansas

Brookway Counseling Offers Anxiety Therapy In Northwest Arkansas

Anxiety Therapy & Counseling Services In Northwest Arkansas

Is Your Life Clouded By Constant Worry?

Do you have anxious thoughts that keep you up at night or distract you during the day?

Are you experiencing a fear of social situations?

Maybe you find yourself staying away from places you once were able to visit.

Maybe you experience fear at the thought of leaving the house, going for a drive, being separated from a loved one, or going about other daily routines.

Especially after the past few years of global distress, you may feel compelled to avoid people or everyday life situations—like going to the grocery store, getting gas, or eating at a restaurant—and worry that others may be able to sense that you are anxious.

Imagine if your days were no longer plagued by anxious thoughts or feelings of dread. How many times have you longed for the day when you didn’t have those feelings of heaviness or fear? When people are struggling with anxiety it can be isolating, sometimes even limiting. It can interfere with life and relationships. Anxiety counseling in Northwest Arkansas is available.

Our fears can sometimes protect us from threats, or help us notice something that just doesn’t feel right. However, many people experience anxiety and fear that seemingly stems from nothing. Some people cannot seem to stop worrying. Some experience fear or anxiety in response to something that appears harmless to others. Others have panic attacks regularly. Whether anxiety is like a constant noise or a flood of panic, there are effective treatments for anxiety. We have experience working with numerous types of anxiety issues, from generalized anxiety to panic attacks.

Experiencing too much anxiety too often can take a toll on our lives and treatment may become necessary. One in four adults will have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Females are twice as likely as males to experience Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The prevalence of GAD tends to peak in middle age and then usually decreases during the later years of life.*

Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorder Tend To Be Chronic

People diagnosed with an anxiety disorder often describe feeling anxious and nervous all their lives, with symptoms sometimes better or worse throughout their life. Most people try to “control” their anxiousness or avoid the people, places, and things which make them anxious. However, both of these strategies have a cyclical effect and end up only prolonging distress and discomfort.

Through counseling, you can learn to recognize the symptoms of anxiety, understand how it affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and learn how to respond to feelings of anxiousness more effectively. This results in symptoms being much more manageable and restores your freedom to live life to the fullest without being ruled by anxiety.

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Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety

Excessive worry. This is the low-level kind of anxiety that never seems to go away. Your brain is always asking ‘what if?’ and waiting for something to go wrong.
Worry that is difficult to control. If you can’t stop yourself from worrying, even when everything is going well, that can be a sign of anxiety.
Anxiety that interferes with life activities or responsibilities or relationships. Anxiety can also interfere with your career if it stops you from speaking up in meetings, taking on an important project, or working well with colleagues.
Restlessness or feeling on edge. This is the kind of anxiety that won’t let you rest or relax. Sometimes this anxiety stops you from sleeping well.
Being easily fatigued. If you feel that you don’t have enough energy, get tired easily, or can’t seem to ever feel rested this could be due to anxiety.
Difficulty concentrating or your mind going blank. Anxiety can get in the way of focusing on tasks or concentrating on schoolwork.
Difficult falling asleep or staying asleep. When you can’t turn your mind ‘off’ and it worries excessively, they disrupts sleep patterns.
Feelings of intense fear or panic in situations that are objectively safe. This can be a generalized anxiety or a panic attack (see below for more information on panic attacks).
Fear or anxiety about social situations. Also called Social Anxiety, this is the type of intense worry that crops up when we meet new people, go to a social event, or have to make a presentation. Social Anxiety can be so paralyzing that it stops some people from making friends or having a romantic partner.
Tightness or heaviness in your chest or feeling a “pit in your stomach”.

What is a Panic Attack?

Often in Anxiety therapy or counseling we talk about panic attacks, what they are, and how to control them or make them stop. Panic Attacks can be common. Many people have one or two panic attacks in their lifetime. If you have them more regularly, this is usually a sign of an anxiety disorder that can be helped with therapy. Although panic attacks are not life-threatening or harmful to your body, they are very upsetting and can be scary. Sometimes they are so intense people feel like they are having a heart attack and will go the the emergency department.

Signs of a Panic Attack:

Sense of impending doom or danger
Fear of loss of control or death
Rapid, pounding heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
Chills
Hot flashes
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Chest pain
Headache
Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
Numbness or tingling sensation
Feeling of unreality or detachment

You’re an individual, and deserve a completely customized approach to treat your anxiety. We meet you where you are. However, there are some common themes in Anxiety therapy. What we do in our office for anyone in Northwest Arkansas for anxiety often looks like this:
- We work together to deeply understand your anxiety. Where does it likely come from? Does it run in your family? How does it manifest in your life? When is it at its worst?
- We create a customized treatment plan and objective goals to reduce your anxiety. We want to know what success looks like to you. Maybe it is feeling more in control or having more peace.
- We learn and perfect the most helpful and practical tools for your anxiety. We know everyone is different and some coping tools work well for some, but not others. Our coping tools are always practical, accessible, and helpful for managing anxiety.
Anxiety is able to be treated very effectively with certain types of psychotherapy.
We use evidenced based treatments that include:
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) -Research has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be as effective as medication in treating Anxiety & Depression problems.
2. Mindfulness-based practices aimed at supporting health and wholeness. We will focus on helping you learn how to be present, in the moment, and accepting of your thoughts and feelings. Additionally, we will explore skills to reduce stress and reactivity to everyday life.
3. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), facilitates learning to accept the ups and downs of life, including your thoughts, feelings, and reactions and supports committing to making behavior changes based on personal values so that you can live the best life possible regardless of circumstance.
You don’t have to keep struggling with anxiety any longer. We offer individualized treatment for your anxiety to deal with your specific needs, and bring relief. At Brookway Counseling, all of our therapists offer you a safe space to identify your relationship with anxiety and explore possibilities for change. Anxiety is nothing to feel shameful about, and counseling can help you figure out what you can start doing differently so that you can look at life’s challenges from a new perspective and live a mindful life.

You Might Still Have Some Questions About Anxiety Therapy in Northwest Arkansas....

How can anxiety therapy help me? I feel like I am beyond help.

Therapy can help you identify the specific problems you are facing and develop a treatment plan to address them, no matter how overwhelming things may feel. The therapeutic process can help provide fresh perspectives, introduce new ways of thinking, and help you find solutions to your challenges by utilizing your strengths and resources.

I'm embarrassed about some of my anxious behaviors and afraid to talk about them.

Being honest can be scary, so when you begin therapy, take your time and trust your instincts. Therapy is a judgment-free space where you can share whatever behaviors or past experiences are causing you distress.

I am nervous about one-on-one in-person therapy. Do I have any choices to make me feel more comfortable?

We strive for our clients to feel supported and safe in their therapy sessions. What that looks like might be different for everyone.

If you feel uncomfortable attending sessions in person at our office, you may choose to have sessions by telehealth from your own home. (We also offer Telehealth sessions via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform) You could also choose to bring a trusted family member or friend with you to a session if that assists you in your therapeutic journey.

Let’s Tackle Your Anxieties Together

Deciding to seek counseling for anxiety is an act of bravery and an important first step on your way to healing. Please reach out to Brookway Counseling at 479-255-5414 or fill out the contact form if you are ready to take action to improve your relationship with anxiety.