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Anxiety services offered in Canonsburg, Washington and Philadelphia, PA
Anxiety is a natural coping mechanism for surviving daily stress. But when it becomes overwhelming, constant, or interferes with your life, it’s time to seek help from the experienced team at Pioneer Counseling and Consulting. Their mental health clinicians offer personalized support and treatment, helping you to learn coping skills and restore balance. Call the Canonsburg, Washington, or Bala Cynwyd (near Philadelphia), Pennsylvania office, or use online booking to request an in-person or telehealth appointment today.
Anxiety Q & A
When should I seek help for anxiety?
Everyone experiences anxiety; it’s the body’s natural and uncontrollable response to fear, dread, and stress. Anxiety arises whether you’re worried about a first date or find yourself in a life-threatening situation.
In these (and other) situations, anxiety is beneficial. In response to anxiety, your body releases hormones that give you focus and energy. After you deal with the problem, calmness should return as your anxiety eases.
Anxiety becomes a mental health concern when you frequently or persistently feel anxious, and calm seldom returns. Seek help when your anxiety is overwhelming, or you feel anxious when there’s nothing to fear or dread.
Could I have an anxiety disorder?
Several key differences separate everyday anxiety (the stress response) and an anxiety disorder, including the following:
Outcomes
Normal anxiety helps you take action, while an anxiety disorder typically interferes with your ability to function.
Duration
Anxiety that arises from stressful situations has a beginning and an end. Anxiety disorders cause ongoing anxiety that isn’t mild or manageable.
Out of proportion
Anxiety disorders cause excessive worry and dread that are out of proportion to the circumstances.
Without a trigger
Normal anxiety occurs in response to a trigger. People with anxiety disorders can react to a trigger or feel overwhelmingly anxious even when they don’t face a current or upcoming event.
The trigger depends on the type of anxiety disorder. Here are a few examples:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
GAD causes relentless anxiety over common problems (finances, health, children’s behavior, and more).
Social anxiety disorder
If you have this disorder, anxiety arises when facing social events and meeting new people.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia causes severe anxiety over leaving home or being in a place you can’t leave.
Specific phobias
A specific phobia is an intense fear of an animal, object, or activity.
Separation anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is triggered by being apart from family or caregivers. While this type of anxiety is associated with children, it can also affect adults.
Whether you have uncontrollable anxiety or an anxiety disorder, it gets worse without treatment.
How is anxiety treated?
Many people overcome anxiety with stress management or talk therapy. One type of therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is proven to help people manage anxiety disorders by teaching them to identify and change the negative thoughts that cause fear and worry.
Your Pioneer Counseling and Consulting healthcare provider might recommend medication management if you have severe anxiety, panic attacks, or another comorbid condition, like depression.
You can overcome anxiety with help from the experienced team at Pioneer Counseling and Consulting. Schedule an appointment by calling the nearest office or requesting an appointment online today.