Therapy for Anxiety on Long Island

Anxiety disorders are incredibly common on Long Island and across the country, but anxiety doesn’t have to hold you back from the life you want.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal, human experience. It’s your body’s natural response to encountering stress. You may know it as a feeling of fear concern about the future. Maybe it shows up when starting a new day at school, talking to someone new, or giving a speech in front of a crowd.

However, if anxiety interferes with your life and lasts longer than six months, you may have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety can cause a great deal of suffering in various forms. It shows up in a number of different disorders including separation anxiety disorder, specific phobias, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trichotillomania, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

While some of these are no longer listed under the category of anxiety disorder, they often involve high levels of anxiety. For instance, OCD now has its own category of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, but if you have OCD, you most likely are experiencing very high levels of anxiety.

Common Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety problems can show up differently in different people, or even at different times. Here is what to look for:

  • excessive worries
  • elevated heart rate
  • headaches
  • stomach upset or GI problems
  • feelings of dread
  • hypervigilance
  • muscle tension
  • irritability
  • worries
  • difficulty concentrating
  • sweating
  • difficulty sleeping

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Therapy for Anxiety in Long Island

While there are many people afflicted with various anxiety disorders, there is help. Frankly, there are many mental health issues that psychologists and therapists can’t treat very well. Fortunately, anxiety disorders are often very responsive to some scientifically supported treatments.

That doesn’t mean every kind of therapy or treatment works for anxiety disorders or that everyone suffering with an anxiety disorder will get better with therapy. But, there is overwhelming evidence that most people who participate in the full course of a scientifically supported treatment will experience significant reductions in their anxiety and will be able to function much better in their daily lives.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a term that includes a number of different therapies. For anxiety disorders, different kinds of CBT and Behavior Therapy (BT) have been shown to be effective for different kinds of anxiety. So someone with panic disorder and OCD will both receive CBT or BT, it will look a little different, even though there will be common elements.

What is important is that you are carefully assessed to be sure your cognitive behavior therapist really understands you and your symptoms. And it is critical that the CBT therapist is well trained in the right kind of cognitive behavior therapy that you need, and doesn’t simply say they do CBT.

Need Support from a New York Therapist?

My office’s expert Long Island therapists can equip you with the skills you need to move forward. To learn more about how we can help, complete our therapist matching form below.