About Anxiety

So what is anxiety really? Anxiety is our body’s natural response to danger or what me may interpret or perceive to be danger. There is an automatic alarm that goes off when you feel threatened, are under pressure, or a stressful situation leaving you to instinctually fight, run, or freeze. "Perceive" can be the magic word in many situations as it doesn't have to be actual danger, it just feels like it.

People experience and handle their anxiety differently. Some can become irritable and bossy, others go inward or isolate themselves, while some become super emotional and find it hard to explain how they are feeling. Regardless of what it looks like it can keep us from really enjoying our lives. 

As a parent of a child with anxiety, it can be difficult to understand what they are going through. Teens and young adults are bombarded with growing pressures at home, at school, and socially. It can be hard to navigate these areas and know how to support your children. 

If you are a teen or young adult, it can sometimes feel so overwhelming! It's hard to manage friends, school, and parents when you feel like you never have enough time. Who do you have to rely on for help or advice? More than likely your friends are just as overwhelmed, so they may not always be the best outlet. You love them, but often times it is apparent they feel as clueless as you do on how to manage your anxiety.

Why the Wait-and-See Approach with Anxiety is a Bad Idea

The ADAA estimates that only one third of people with anxiety disorders receive proper treatment. If left untreated, anxiety disorders tend to continue into adulthood and place children at increased risk for other problems, including poor academic performance, depression, and drug dependence. Don’t be the 33% who has to stumble through managing their anxiety on their own and missing out on life and opportunities you can’t get back!

Having successfully learned to manage my own anxiety that started as a young child, I specialize in treating teens and young adults. For the past 20 years I have been helping others understand and manage their anxiety so they can start leading the life they want to live and stop missing out on amazing experiences.