Jane and Tom were afraid that their 6-year-old daughter Ella had an anxiety disorder, but they didn’t know how to help her. At first they’d thought Ella was just shy because she didn’t like to meet new people. But on her first day of kindergarten, Ella refused to get out of the car outside school and began hyperventilating in the back seat when Jane said it was time to go to class. And when Ella seemed worried about something, she withdrew and began twirling her hair. Sometimes the hair-twirling episodes would last hours. Ella also experienced nightmares where she worried her family was going to get into a terrible accident. Jane and Tom were at their wit’s end and couldn’t stomach seeing their daughter in psychological distress for one more day. What should they do?
Jane and Tom should take Ella to see a licensed anxiety therapist at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA. The Thriveworks team contains top-rated specialists who can work with Ella to manage her symptoms of anxiety and help her find ways to cognitively overcome her anxious feelings. The therapists at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA can support clients of all ages as they work to achieve their goals.
Why Should I Treat My Anxiety?
If your anxiety is starting to disrupt your life and interfere with your goals, then it’s probably time to see a licensed anxiety therapist or anxiety counselor at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA. But oftentimes anxiety can manifest in physical symptoms, making it harder to know when a mental health professional can help. The following physical symptoms may cause someone to visit their primary care physician instead of a counselor or psychiatrist at Thriveworks:
- Headaches and migraines
- Major and mild depression
- Irritability
- Weight changes
- Sleep disruptions
- Gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Hypertension
- Compromised immune system
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Difficulty making decisions
- Hypochondria
Some of these physical conditions, like IBS, can produce more anxiety because the person suffering worries about their stomach. And then the worries cause more gastrointestinal distress, which causes more anxiety, and so on and so forth, ad infinitum. In a case like that, the person probably needs to address the psychological as well as the physical aspects of the condition.
What Are the Psychological Treatments for Anxiety?
There are a wide range of effective, evidence-based treatments for anxiety. It’s a highly treatable condition when managed by professional mental health providers like the licensed anxiety therapists at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA. Our top-rated team may use any of the following treatments for anxiety disorder and panic disorder:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Biofeedback
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Art and music therapy
- Medication prescribed by a Thriveworks psychiatrist
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
- Exposure therapy
- Relaxation techniques like deep breathing
- Lifestyle changes like regular exercise, following a routine, and dietary modifications
Natural “remedies” like meditation can be helpful tools in treating anxiety disorder, but people with underlying neurochemical imbalances shouldn’t put too much pressure on themselves to get better solely through lifestyle changes. A licensed mental health professional can walk people through all the treatment options.
What Should I Do If I’m Having a Panic Attack?
If you’re prone to panic attacks, anxiety therapy at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA can guide you through solutions, both to prevent future attacks and to manage attacks in the moment. For example, anxiety counselors may advise that you focus on your breathing to signal to your body that everything is okay. This can help get you out of fight-or-flight mode. A therapist may also advise you to find a focus object. If a Thriveworks psychiatrist has diagnosed you with a panic disorder, you may have medication that can help you calm your anxious responses.
Start a Relationship with an Exceptional Anxiety Therapist at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA
When you begin seeing a licensed mental health professional like an anxiety therapist at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA, you can choose to see your counselor online, in-person, or use a hybrid model. Our clients like to have options. We design all our services around the needs of the client. That means that when you enroll at Thriveworks, you get the benefit of email and phone access to your therapist between sessions. You also get an appointment fast, usually within 24-48 hours of your initial call to schedule. We are also flexible regarding cancelations and the need to reschedule, and we offer numerous other conveniences like our Therapy Buddy app. And our sessions start on-time or early over 97% of the time.
Because all the mental health providers at Thriveworks in Davenport, IA are fully licensed, they accept most health insurance. This means that you can convene sessions with your counselor without having to worry too much about out-of-pocket costs.
We look forward to helping you overcome your anxiety and achieve your goals. Call the Thriveworks office in Davenport, IA today!
