Takeaway: Anxiety can make you get in your own way. While its main purpose is to protect us, it often ends up blocking us from the things we value most.

Working with an anxiety therapist in NYC can help you change your relationship with anxiety. Together, we can find solutions that work for you and help you live a more fulfilling life.

What is anxiety?

A certain level of stress is typical and expected. You work a demanding job, have a busy schedule, and tend to your most valued relationships. But normal stress can turn into anxiety, and anxiety can turn into fear.

Sometimes, stress can become so problematic that it interferes with your daily life. Keep in mind that different anxiety disorders have different symptoms. However, some common signs of anxiety include:

• Constant worry
• Restlessness
• Decreased sleep
• Diet change
• A constant sense of “something bad is going to happen”
• Panicky feelings
• Avoidance of situations or groups of people
• Arguing with loved ones
• Anger
• You may cling to things that only provide temporary relief like drinking, over-working, or finding other ways to “numb out.”

These are just a few examples of the symptoms and struggles you might have if you experience anxiety. However, this is not an exhaustive list. Your feelings are valid whether or not they fit neatly into a category.

Types of anxiety disorders & related issues

I don’t provide diagnoses for my clients-I’m more interested in hearing about your unique experience and helping you find creative solutions that work for you. With that being said, anxiety can take on all different forms. If you experience symptoms of any of these anxiety disorders, you may benefit from therapy.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is a common form of anxiety-about 6.8 million Americans live with it. While each person’s experience with generalized anxiety disorder is different, some of the common anxiety symptoms include excessive worry, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms like muscle tension or sleep problems.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder is exactly what it sounds like: recurrent panic attacks that seem to strike out of nowhere. While in the midst of a panic attack, people experience intense anxiety or fear that something bad will happen-even that they might die. Like generalized anxiety disorder, people with panic disorder also have physical symptoms during panic attacks, like a racing heartbeat.

Social anxiety disorder

People with social anxiety have a fear of being judged or scrutinized by others. This can make navigating social situations, from parties to job interviews to even eating at a restaurant, extremely difficult. Social anxiety often leads people to worry about interactions both before and after they happen, or even avoid certain types of social settings altogether.

Obsessive compulsive disorder

People with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) experience intrusive, obsessive thoughts that are uncomfortable and unwanted. In an effort to make these thoughts go away, people with OCD engage in compulsions (repetitive actions).

OCD tends to center around certain themes that can be different from person to person. One person with OCD might have obsessions and compulsions related to different themes as well. Some examples include cleanliness, losing control, or orderliness.

Post traumatic stress disorder

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event. Each person’s experience with trauma is unique, though some potentially traumatizing events include abuse, housing instability, natural disaster, or racism.

Not everyone who experiences traumatic events will go on to develop PTSD. However, those who do experience symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, excessive anxiety, and feeling disconnected from themselves and others.

My approach to anxiety therapy in NYC

As a licensed creative arts therapist, I’m a firm believer in embracing the messiness of life. I treat anxiety by approaching it with curiosity and creativity, and I encourage you to do the same if we choose to work together.

Stress and anxiety can lead us to act from a place of fear. You might worry about what other people think, or if you’re doing “enough.” In our sessions, we’ll explore where these thought patterns come from and discover how you can align your actions with your values in order to live a fuller life.

I enjoy using art in session, and many of my clients do, too. Sometimes, words can fail to encapsulate our complex human experience. Using art forms like painting, drawing, sculpting, and/or collage can help you process feelings and express yourself in ways that words don’t always allow for.

With that being said, I empower each of my clients to take charge of their time spent in anxiety therapy. We’ll make a custom treatment plan that is tailored to your goals and needs. If that includes using art, excellent! If not, we have plenty of other tools at our disposal to help you break free from anxiety and feel more fulfilled.

If you’re curious to learn more about my approach as an anxiety therapist in NYC, I encourage you to schedule a free, 20-minute consultation. I’m happy to answer any of your questions and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about starting anxiety therapy together.

How NYC anxiety therapy can help

I help people find solutions to stress and anxiety that are custom-tailored to your needs. We start with the belief that anxious feelings are driven by the way that you think. If you’re feeling anxious, you’re having anxious thoughts-many of which aren’t true or based on unrealistic evaluations of your situation.

Anxiety is fueled by countless “what if?” questions with no answers, and frequently imagined worst-case scenarios. Anxiety therapy can help you change the way you think in order to change the way you feel.

I also use a healthy dose of mindfulness in my approach to treating anxiety. Sometimes, just by increasing your awareness of the anxious thoughts you’re having, you can get some instant relief. We teach you to notice your thoughts and observe them as nothing more. Many are surprised to realize how blown out of proportion their thinking can be!

At the end of your anxiety treatment, you’ll walk away with a stronger sense of confidence and feeling more assured in your abilities to handle whatever life throws at you. You’ll have tools that you can continue using well beyond the end of therapy.

Some stress is inevitable, but constant anxiety doesn’t have to be. Make an appointment for therapy today.

FAQs about anxiety therapy in Murray Hill

All questions are welcome. Here, I’ve answered just a few of the most common questions I hear as a therapist for anxiety in NYC. However, I encourage you to reach out if you have more questions or would like to speak with me directly.

How long will therapy take?

Mental health care is highly specific to each person. You are an individual with your own unique values, needs, preferences, experiences, and goals for therapy. Using a formula to determine your time in treatment wouldn’t be fair to you.

Many people experience some relief by simply scheduling their first session. While this isn’t a solution in and of itself, it can feel incredibly empowering to finally reach out for help when you’ve been struggling for so long.

Some people are helped by short-term therapy that only lasts a few sessions. Others engage in mental health services for several months, or even years. Still others engage in therapy on and off throughout their entire life.

When starting anxiety therapy in NYC, it’s important to keep an open mind. You have no way of predicting what your experience in therapy will be like. While that can be intimidating, it can also be incredibly freeing. If you open yourself up to the experience, life-changing transformation can happen-and I’ll be here to support you the entire way.

What causes anxiety disorders?

Like other mental health conditions, anxiety doesn’t have just one cause. Genetic or environmental factors may play a role. Medications and substance use may also be possible contributing factors.

Learning that there isn’t a singular cause for anxiety (or other mental health issues for that matter) can feel defeating at first. You may feel powerless at the idea that there is nothing you could have done to prevent your anxiety.

While all feelings are valid, I want to encourage you to remain hopeful. You may not have been able to entirely prevent your anxiety from happening, but you can choose how you want to move forward with it.

NYC anxiety therapy can give you the space you need to explore your thought patterns and process your emotions. Gaining a deeper insight into how you operate can be incredibly empowering. I’ve seen firsthand that healing is possible, so I encourage you to try.

How do I know if I need anxiety therapy?

While this is a common, understandable question, it is one that only you can answer. You know yourself best. If you think it’s time to try anxiety therapy, then why not give it a go? I suspect that you wouldn’t be looking into anxiety therapists in NYC unless you were strongly considering it.

Beyond your own intuition and inner wisdom, there are some general signs that might indicate you could benefit from anxiety therapy. Panic attacks, intense social anxiety or social phobia, noticing that you feel anxious most of the time, difficulty sleeping, and high stress levels are just a few common symptoms that encourage people to start therapy.

Everyone has different reasons and motivations for starting therapy. Whether you’re in significant distress, have emotional difficulties, want better relationships, or simply want to feel like yourself again, anxiety therapy can help.

Find a way forward with the help of a therapist for anxiety in NYC

Caring for your mental health is vital all of the time, but it’s especially important when you’re struggling. Anxiety therapy in NYC provides you with a safe place to land and heal amongst the pressure of day to day life.

Many of my clients already put a significant amount of energy into improving their mental health. From nutrition to physical exercise to spending time with friends, you do a lot. Starting anxiety therapy doesn’t mean that you’re not doing enough-rather, it’s simply the next step forward on your journey of growth and self discovery.

I would be honored to come alongside you and help you do the work of unpacking life’s experiences. To get started, please sign up for a free 20-minute teletherapy consultation here. I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you.