Anxiety Treatment

Are You Finding It Difficult To Unwind And Feel At Ease?

Do you often feel consumed by racing thoughts, sudden bouts of panic, or overwhelming worry? Maybe you feel awkward or uneasy in social situations, as though everyone is watching and judging what you say or do.

Anxiety can feel like a constant companion that heaps mountains of stress upon you, making it nearly impossible to balance work, life, and your personal well-being. Even after trying relaxation techniques, like yoga or meditation, you might still feel restless or disconnected, unable to fully calm your mind or body.

Anxiety Can Disrupt Your Life In Subtle Ways

Anxiety doesn’t just affect your mind—it can show up physically and interfere with your daily life as well. You might experience muscle tension, fatigue, or persistent restlessness. Stress dreams and racing thoughts make it difficult to sleep, so you wake up feeling foggy and out of sync with yourself.

Anxiety may leave you feeling drained, as if you're constantly running on empty. It's also common to be irritable, unfocused, or always on edge. In some cases, anxiety can trigger headaches and digestive issues—or even panic attacks that can leave you feeling shaken, short of breath, and out of control.

Whether anxiety stems from daily stress or deeper unresolved trauma, it can make you feel like you’ve lost total control—over your work, relationships, or life in general. At Higher Self Psychotherapy, I offer anxiety treatment to help you regain a sense of balance and ease. With the support of a kind and caring therapist, you can manage anxiety and reclaim control over your life.

Anxiety Has A Protective Purpose, But It Can Take Over

At its foundation, anxiety functions as a built-in protective mechanism. It operates like an internal alarm, rooted in our body’s fight-or-flight instinct for survival.

That means stress isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, feeling some anxiety before a significant event—whether it's a big game or a crucial exam—can help you focus and mentally prepare. But when this natural survival mechanism gets stuck in overdrive, it can begin to control your life, limiting your potential for growth and making it harder to embrace new opportunities.

The Role Of Modern Life In Amplifying Anxiety

In today’s fast-paced society, anxiety has become almost unavoidable. We are constantly connected, with notifications and distractions that keep our minds buzzing. Social media amplifies anxiety by showcasing unrealistic images of success and perfection, leading many of us into a “compare-and-despair” mindset. We see others living seemingly perfect lives and feel inadequate in comparison, which only fuels more inner conflict.

Moreover, the expectation to achieve, driven by societal standards that equate success with wealth and status, leaves little room for relaxation. Many of us feel guilty for taking time off or believe we’re not strong enough if we can’t handle overwhelming workloads. This constant pressure to perform at all costs can make it nearly impossible to slow down and prioritize our well-being.

But there is hope. Through anxiety treatment, you can begin to slow down, manage stress, and regain control over your life. With the compassionate support of a kind and empathetic therapist, it is possible to navigate anxiety and find peace amidst the chaos.

Anxiety Treatment Can Help You Heal And Discover Your Higher Self

No matter how overwhelming or uncontrollable your anxiety may seem, it’s important to know that you’re not broken, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with you. Anxiety is a natural and protective mechanism that activates when your mind and body interpret something as being potentially harmful. It can stem from a genetic predisposition, stressful life events, or unresolved emotional wounds and traumas stored in the nervous system over time.

My holistic approach to therapy not only equips you with tools to manage anxiety but it also dives deeper to address its root causes. By resolving these core issues, you can experience lasting peace and relief. Here’s how I can help:

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) For Anxiety

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy delves deeper than just addressing anxious thoughts—it explores how anxiety manifests within your physical body. By observing muscle tension, breathing patterns, and your heart rate, we can uncover past emotional wounds that may be contributing to your anxiety.

For example, if you tend to freeze or hold back in the presence of authority figures, this physical response may be linked to early feelings of being judged or feeling unsafe.

Together, we’ll work through different physical postures and movements to help release any trauma, emotions, or negative energy stored in your body. If anxiety makes you hold your breath and disconnect from your body, we’ll practice grounding techniques that will help expand your breathing, build a sense of stability, and restore and strengthen your connection to yourself.

EMDR Therapy For Anxiety

EMDR therapy is a powerful treatment method that addresses both the mental and emotional aspects of anxiety while incorporating physical exploration. In a treatment session, I will guide you to focus on emotions, thoughts, bodliy sensations, and images related to your anxiety.

At the same time, I’ll use gentle techniques like tapping or eye movements, which stimulate both hemispheres of the brain. These techniques naturally guide your brain toward healthier, more adaptive thinking and help ease the physical discomfort associated with anxiety.

I may also integrate somatic interventions during EMDR to help release physical tension that’s been stored in your body due to unresolved trauma. This process includes working through areas of your life where you may feel stuck, hesitant, or conflicted about moving forward and letting go of the past.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) For Anxiety

Internal Family Systems (IFS) sees your personality as a blend of distinct parts, each with its own unique habits and ways of thinking. These parts, often working from a place of fear, can give rise to anxiety as they try to protect you from perceived harm.

In this therapeutic model, IFS helps you explore how these individual parts interact, and how their protective strategies can sometimes cause more stress than relief. By understanding and addressing the needs of each part, you can reduce internal conflict, cultivate greater emotional balance, and learn to navigate this world with greater ease.

These three therapeutic methods work together to help you foster a more compassionate connection with yourself, discover effective ways to manage anxiety, and release the past traumas stored in your body. My aim is to guide you toward a lasting sense of calm and balance, helping you tap into new opportunities for personal growth and a more peaceful, fulfilling life.

You May Have Some Concerns About Anxiety Treatment…

How Can I Tell If I Have Anxiety?

Anxiety can manifest in many ways, affecting how we think, feel, behave, and even how we see ourselves. It can also show up on a physical level, appearing as muscle tension, digestive issues, or a racing heart.

Feeling anxious during major life transitions—like starting a new job or moving to a different city—is completely natural. However, if you experience things like nightmares, panic attacks, social avoidance, or difficulty managing painful memories due to overwhelming fear or self-doubt, anxiety treatment can be tremendously helpful.

What Causes Anxiety, And What Is The Best Treatment Method?

Anxiety can arise from a variety of factors, including unresolved trauma, genetic predispositions, imbalances in brain chemistry, or the pressures of daily life. When anxiety becomes disruptive, counseling combined with medication can be a powerful treatment option for some.

However, there are also many non-medication-based approaches to managing anxiety. These strategies include maintaining an active lifestyle, connecting with nature, incorporating adaptogenic herbs, focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet, and balancing your hormones.

Why See An Anxiety Therapist If I Can Talk To Friends And Family?

While friends and family genuinely want to help, their advice can sometimes be influenced by their personal views or involvement in your life. Because of this, they might unintentionally guide you in a direction that reflects their desires instead of yours.

As an anxiety specialist, I offer an objective, non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and emotions freely. Rather than giving advice, I support you in finding your own clarity and making decisions that feel right for you.

Stephanie Post treats Anxiety in the San Francisco Area

Anxiety Treatment Can Help You Cultivate Peace And Restore Balance In Your Life

While anxiety is a common reaction to the demands of modern life, it doesn’t have to dictate how you live. With the right support, you can break free from the cycle of fear and self-doubt. If you're ready to take the first step, reach out to me to set up a complimentary 20-minute video consultation and explore how anxiety treatment can help.

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