Your anxiety is lying to you. You are loved and going to be okay.
Counseling for Anxiety in Milwaukee
Anxiety…sucks. If you’re feeling anxious, you’re not alone.
Everyone experiences some amount of stress. Your work demands a lot, your schedule is always full, and you try and spend time with those you love.
But normal stress can turn into anxiety, and that can become overwhelming. The “what if” thoughts bounce around in your head, and never stop. They spiral. Sometimes they make you freeze up, making relationships at work and home a nightmare. Small talk can even trigger anxious feelings. The worry is something you just can’t shake and it’s weighing on you.
Common Anxiety Symptoms Include:
- Worrying all the time
- Feeling restless, nervous or tense
- Constantly feeling like something bad is about to happen
- Physical symptoms such as tightness in your chest, rapid breathing, sweating or shaking
- Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than your “worry”
- Experiencing panic attacks, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite
Don’t Waste One More Day – Anxiety Therapy Can Help.
The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable. With anxiety therapy, you can go from a highly anxious state to a life that isn’t plagued by worry or stress. At Hillary Counseling, our team of therapists work with both teens and adults to explore and address anxious thoughts. Your therapist will help you understand where the anxiety is coming from as well as teaching new ways of coping to help you manage your anxiety both inside and outside of the therapy room.
Types of Therapy That We Use to Treat Anxiety, Include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Therapy (OCD)
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
- Self-Compassion and Resilience Training
If you’re ready to stop struggling with anxiety on your own, reach out to our team of anxiety experts to help you find calm again.
Are anxiety and stress the same thing?
No, anxiety and stress are not the same thing.
Stress is typically triggered by external events, such as challenges with finances or problems at work. It’s a natural response to a specific situation and usually subsides once the situation is resolved.
Anxiety, however, is more internal. It’s characterized by a persistent sense of dread or apprehension, often about situations that might not seem anxiety-inducing to others. Unlike stress, anxiety tends to linger, even after the external triggers are gone, making it harder to shake the feeling.
What causes anxiety?
There are many potential triggers for anxiety, and they can vary from person to person.
Stress: Although stress and anxiety are different, stressful situations — like work pressure, financial concerns, or relationship issues — can often lead to anxiety.
Trauma: Past trauma or a history of difficult life events can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety.
Personality: Certain personality traits, such as perfectionism or being highly self-critical, can make someone more prone to anxiety.
Family History: Anxiety can run in families, so if relatives have struggled with anxiety, you might be more likely to experience it too.
Health Issues: Chronic health conditions, illness, or even hormonal imbalances can sometimes trigger or worsen anxiety.
Environmental Factors: Major life changes, like moving to a new place, starting a new job, or experiencing a loss, can also trigger anxiety.
Social Situations: Social anxiety is common and situations involving large crowds or unfamiliar people can be overwhelming for some individuals.
Substance Use: Alcohol or drug use can contribute to feelings of anxiety, either during use or withdrawal.
You may find that one or more of these triggers resonate with you. Anxiety is a complex experience, and it’s important to discuss your unique symptoms and triggers with your therapist.
At what point does anxiety become a problem?
If you’re reading this, anxiety may have started to impact your life more than you’d like.
When anxiety begins to disrupt your daily life, it’s a good idea to seek support. Do any of these sound familiar?
- You struggle to sleep at night due to anxious thoughts.
- You’ve skipped social events because of overwhelming anxiety.
- Your relationships are feeling strained because of your anxiety.
- You often feel physically unwell, exhausted, or on edge to the point that everyday tasks become harder.
- You have difficulty concentrating or thinking about anything other than your “worry.” If any of these resonate with you, it may be time to reach out for professional help.
How does anxiety counseling work?
Anxiety counseling typically consists of 50-minute one-on-one sessions designed to help you address your concerns and work through challenges. Our counselors combine active listening with insights from research to help you understand what’s happening and explore the thoughts, feelings, family history, and environmental factors contributing to your anxiety.
Here’s what you can expect:
- A Safe, Supportive Space: From the start, we create a welcoming, non-judgmental environment where you’ll feel comfortable sharing your struggles.
- Understanding Your Story: By hearing about your life history and experiences, we begin to gain a clear understanding of your unique challenges.
- Tackling Immediate Concerns: We’ll start by helping you manage difficult emotions and navigate challenging situations you may be facing right now.
- Identifying Your Goals: Together, we’ll explore what you want to achieve in therapy and in life, helping you set meaningful goals.
- Building a Roadmap for Progress: With your personal goals in mind, we’ll develop a plan to help you reach them, using proven therapeutic techniques.
- Ongoing Improvement: Over time, you’ll begin to notice positive changes in how you think, feel, and behave.
Research shows that anxiety counseling can lead to lasting changes in your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors, helping you overcome what’s holding you back from living a more fulfilling life.
What can I expect from anxiety treatment?
Anxiety treatment combines practical coping strategies with exploring the root causes of your anxiety.
At Hillary Counseling, we teach mindfulness and meditation techniques, providing you with tools that can be used in your daily life. Along with these practical strategies, we also dive deeper into the underlying issues contributing to your anxiety, such as family dynamics, relationships, work stress, life transitions, and struggles with gender or sexual identity.
We believe that effective anxiety therapy addresses all aspects of who you are. Since we see the whole you as being connected to your anxiety, we focus on treating every part of your experience to help you find relief.
Can anxiety treatment eliminate symptoms?
While anxiety may not always be “cured” in the traditional sense, treatment can significantly reduce symptoms and help you manage them more effectively. Many people experience a considerable decrease in their anxiety over time with the right strategies, such as therapy, mindfulness techniques, and sometimes medication.
Treatment helps you develop coping skills and better understand the triggers of your anxiety, allowing you to lead a more balanced and fulfilling life. With ongoing care and support, you can often achieve long-term relief and learn to manage anxiety in a healthy, sustainable way.
How long does anxiety therapy usually last?
We recommend that clients begin with weekly sessions for the first 12–16 weeks. This consistent approach helps build a strong foundation for exploring your history, understanding the origins of your anxiety, gaining insight into yourself, and developing a personalized plan with effective coping strategies.
After that initial period, depending on your progress and the severity of your symptoms, the frequency of sessions may be adjusted.
Some clients may reduce to bi-weekly sessions, while others may continue with weekly sessions if needed. Your therapist will work with you to tailor the treatment plan based on your needs and goals.
Do you prescribe mediation for anxiety?
No, we do not prescribe medication for anxiety at Hillary Counseling. However, if medication is something you’re interested in, we will offer referrals to a medical professional, psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, who can assess your needs and discuss medication options.
Our primary focus is on providing therapeutic approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), mindfulness techniques, and other strategies to help manage anxiety.
