Anxiety Counseling

Do you feel constantly on edge or tense?

Do you have difficulty shaking fears you know to be irrational?

Does your worry interfere with your daily activities and responsibilities?

Anxiety Counseling and Anxiety help in Charleston

You may be experiencing an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder is more than our appropriate biological responses to dangerous situations, challenges, or threats (fight or flight). Moderate levels of anxiety can increase alertness and focus. It can help motivate you to take action and solve problems. It becomes a problem, however, when it becomes overwhelming and a constant companion. Fortunately, this is a highly treatable disorder.

What Does an Anxiety Disorder Feel Like?

All anxiety disorders generate irrationally high levels of worry, but they often look different to each individual. Here are a few common symptoms:

  • Sudden anxiety attacks

  • Uncontrollable, intrusive thoughts

  • Panic over social situations

  • Disabling fear of normal daily activities, such as driving

  • Constant tension or jumpiness

  • Trouble concentrating

  • Anticipating the worst

  • Irritability

It’s common for sufferers to experience physical symptoms, which can compound the problem. You may feel that your symptoms are a sign of a medical concern instead of an anxiety disorder. Here are common physical manifestations:

  • Insomnia

  • Shortness of breath

  • Dizziness

  • Upset stomach

  • Sweating

  • Trembling or shaking

  • Twitches or muscle tension

  • Headaches

  • Pounding heart

  • Diarrhea or frequent urination

What Are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is like an ongoing panic attack resulting from a life-threatening or traumatic event. Symptoms usually include nightmares or flashbacks, startling easily, hypervigilance, avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic experience, and avoiding others.

Those with panic attacks and panic disorders experience repeated, unexpected panic attacks and fear of the next episode.

Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a debilitating fear of public humiliation and being viewed negatively. This can include extreme shyness and performance anxiety, and it can lead to social avoidance. 

Generalized anxiety disorder sufferers often have a constant sense of impending doom. They commonly have physical symptoms, including upset stomach, fatigue, insomnia, and restlessness.

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder struggle with unwanted behaviors or thoughts that seem impossible to stop. Fears become obsessions, such as routinely worrying that the oven is off. OCD may also cause uncontrollable compulsions, such as turning lights on and off.

Those with phobias encounter unrealistic or heightened fear of an object, situation, or activity that poses little to no threat of harm, such as flying, heights, or animals. Sufferers usually go to great lengths to avoid the object of fear, which only strengthens the fear. 

When Do You Get Help?

If your fears or anxiety attacks are causing distress and disrupting your day-to-day life, it’s time to discover the tools to ease your symptoms. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation with one of our expert anxiety therapists today to take back control of your life.