If you are reading this page it is possible that you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety. We are very glad you have come to us for information about anxiety and the how it can be successfully treated with counseling. At Suffolk Counseling Services, our compassionate, dedicated team of licensed therapists specializes in helping individuals suffering from anxiety. Continue reading to learn more information about anxiety and the counseling process.

Do I Have Anxiety?

Anxiety is a broadly defined word with a variety of meanings and connotations. Did you know that certain forms of anxiety are healthy? Healthy anxiety plays an integral role in our lives by helping us stay safe, adapt, and prepare for potentially stressful life situations.

Anxiety can also be used to as an all-encompassing term, describing a wide array of intrusive emotions, ranging from unhealthy stress to acute panic disorders.

Anxiety may or may not be linked to specific triggers. There are also several different names for specific anxiety disorders. These include:

  • General Anxiety Disorder
  • Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Acute Stress Disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Panic disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Why Am I Feeling Anxious?

Most importantly, experiencing anxiety is not your fault. You are not the cause of your anxiety and do not deserve to be suffering from it. Impacting nearly 1 out of 5 Americans, you are also not alone in this experience. Fortunately, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel!

Many factors can contribute to why you may be experiencing anxiety. Explored further in therapy, some of these factors include: 

  • Underlying physical health issues
  • Genetics
  • History of trauma
  • Being a highly sensitive person in a chaotic world of uncertainty

Common symptoms of unhealthy anxiety:

  • Excessive worry, often anticipatory, about current or upcoming life events
  • The worry is extremely difficult to control

How this worry can affect you:

  • Causing feelings of restlessness or edginess
  • Becoming easily fatigued or feeling overly tired or lethargic
  • Problems concentrating
  • Increased irritability
  • Feelings of anger
  • Muscle tension, often causing neck and back pain or headaches
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Distress in relationships with:
    • Classmates
    • Coworkers
    • Family
    • Friends
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What Is a Therapist/Counselor?

A qualified therapist is someone who has earned a masters degree in a mental health field and is licensed to practice as a therapist by the state they are practicing in. NYS licensed therapists can effectively diagnosis and treat most types of mental health disorders, however they do not write prescriptions; if necessary, your therapist can recommend a trusted psychiatrist.

How Can a Therapist Help Me? What Am I Supposed to Talk About?

Our team of licensed therapists all believe in and help promote the individual’s ability to heal. Your therapist will never judge you, and will always provide a safe, accepting environment, approaching your individual situation with empathy, compassion, and professionalism.  You do not need to worry about what to discuss as your therapist will begin by thoughtfully guiding your sessions with questions that build genuine trust while attaining a better grasp on what it is you are experiencing. During each successive session you will find it easier to bring up topics, concerns, victories, and struggles that help you and your therapist work together to achieve the positive results being sought after.

Your therapist will work with you directly and help you with the following:

  • Education about what you are going through in order to understand what is happening with your emotional health, and how your physical health may be actually be impacting it
  • Techniques, skills, and coping mechanisms that help you effectively manage your stresses and anxieties
  • Assistance with processing and understanding difficult life experiences which may impacto how you are feeling
  • Comprehending the role your environment plays in your emotional wellness
  • Evaluating the need to collaborate with other trusted care providers (nutritionists, MDs etc.)
  • And much more…