Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety can wall us off from our sense of well-being, confidence, and ease.
Left unchecked, it may even begin to limit our actions, creating an ever smaller circle within which we live.
A Difficult Messenger
We are hardwired to feel anxiety to alert us of potential dangers or challenges for which we may be unprepared. Anxiety can even play a role in personal growth, signaling that some part of life requires attention and change. Anxiety disorders result when this natural part of us starts to run on overdrive and eclipses other ways of being. Therapy can help return anxiety to its natural and useful role.
Befriending Anxiety
Together, we will discover if your anxiety is calling your attention to a real concern or it is simply crying wolf. Sometimes, understanding and addressing the underlying meaning and causes of anxiety will help relieve it. Other times, the over-focus on anxiety itself becomes a key part of the problem, leading to an overly restricted life. In such cases, mindfulness and acceptance based techniques allow for the pursuit of a meaningful, vibrant life even in the face of anxiety. In my work I draw upon experience treating anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and adults in outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and primary care clinics.
For Further Learning about Anxiety Disorders
- National Institute of Mental Health’s page on anxiety disorders
- American Psychological Association’s page on anxiety disorders
- Mayo Clinic’s page on Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder Association of America – A leading non profit dedicated to education about and treatment of anxiety disorders
- Freedom From Fear – A nonprofit mental illness advocacy group with articles on multiple anxiety disorders
- Triumph Over Phobia – A nonprofit organization with useful articles on phobia
Self Help and Support Groups for Anxiety
- Anxieties.com – a national anxiety self help site
- Portland area support groups for anxiety
- SocialAnxietySupport.com – a social anxiety website with listings for Portland social anxiety support groups