WHEN YOUR MIND WON’T TURN OFF
For a lot of my clients, anxiety looks like a constantly racing or overthinking mind that they have a hard time turning off. They replay conversations, imagine worst-case scenarios, worry about making mistakes, or feel like they always have to be prepared for something to go wrong because they can’t imagine that it won’t. Some avoid situations that make them uncomfortable, while others try to distract themselves from what they’re feeling. Over time, that constant noise can affect sleep, concentration, energy, mood, and relationships. The triggers may be different for adolescents and adults, but the sense of overwhelm and hopelessness can feel much the same.
LEARNING TO WORK WITH ANXIETY
We need anxiety to help keep us safe, but we can learn to understand and use it differently. I help clients better understand what’s happening in their minds and bodies, recognize the patterns that keep anxiety going, and practice tools such as grounding exercises, breathing, reframing, and challenging anxious thoughts. We also work on responding differently to those thoughts instead of automatically believing them, gradually facing situations they’ve been avoiding, and building confidence in themselves and their ability to handle discomfort, and feeling more in control of their lives instead of letting anxiety make the decisions for them and run their life.
