Anxiety is characterized by numerous emotions and physical reactions reflecting fear, panic, distraction, and even experiences of increased heart rate, muscle tension, and hyperventilation. Visually, anxiety can manifest itself with symptoms of sweating, trembling, and dizziness. These can have immediate and lasting effects on the body that can be harmful if left untreated.
People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations (isolation) or tasks (procrastination) as a result of their anxieties. Anxiety can be mild or debilitating, limiting someone from taking a small risk or a large opportunity as a part of their own growth. Through therapeutic support, anxieties can be clearly identified and understood, supporting long-term results rather than temporary relief.
We worry because we need to
Anxiety is a disorder that relates to many of the coping skills that we were taught throughout our lives (childhood, adult relationships, etc.). We have been conditioned to support anxiety because it serves a purpose — to protect us from threats. That is until there isn’t one. When anxiety controls our behaviours, it no longer serves to protect us but can torment us. Through therapeutic support, anxiety can be understood and managed long-term.
Fear?
Anxiety is not the same as fear, but they are often used interchangeably. Anxiety is considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a possible/irrational threat. In contrast, fear is an appropriate, present-oriented, and short-lived response to a clearly identifiable and specific threat. Courtesy of American Psychological Association.
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
One of the most common anxiety disorders. Canadian data suggest that one out of every 12 individuals will suffer from GAD at some time in their life. It can be mild, or it can contribute to unemployment and serious family and social problems. Courtesy of the Canadian Psychological Association.
We offer complementary 15-minute consultations to support you
This consultation session will enable our practitioners to understand your needs and ensure we are an ideal fit for you. Much like dating, we want to make certain a ‘connection’ with your practitioner is created and encourage all prospective clients to have a free consultation prior to booking an entire session.