Therapy for anxiety that is fueled by persistent, negative thoughts.
Anxiety is making it hard for you to be happy, even when you feel you should be at your happiest. The thoughts run like a faucet that you can’t shut off. You would if you could. You know what you are feeling is taking over your life, but you can’t seem to stop yourself. At Evanston Counseling, we realize how hard it can be to feel this loss of control over your own mind and life.
Family and friends just don’t understand what it is like. They say: “Just change your thoughts or don’t think about that thing.” If it were only so easy to stop rehearsing every negative scenario. You can see how it will all go down in your mind. And it feels awful.
Along with the anxiety comes loneliness, hopelessness, and depression. Some days are so bad that you just don’t feel up for seeing anyone or going out. School, work, and fun feel just too much. And it feels like it will never get better, that you will never again have a day without worry and physical discomfort. The anxiety can be all-consuming and make you feel even physically sick.
If you’re feeling anxious about college life, your future, career, family, or relationship, and are ready to feel in control of your life and your thoughts, call us at (773) 983-8444 for a free 15-minute phone consult. We will listen. Next, we’ll match you with a therapist who can help you with your specific type of anxiety and take charge of your life. Our Evanston anxiety therapists specialize in therapy for anxiety. Or you can schedule a time to chat with us.
When you are anxious, you feel scared that you are losing control. You’re afraid of looking like a fool out in public. You have a nagging feeling that something bad is about to happen.
Living with anxiety can make you feel very alone. No one can understand what it means to worry and feel on edge all the time or continually be physically uncomfortable.
Worry is a constant companion. The racing thoughts are almost always negative. I can’t imagine things getting any better and am sure they will probably get worse. I worry about what I said or did, and I obsess over what others think of me. I wonder why I can’t get things right and why everything just feels so hard. I can’t seem to relax or enjoy things because my brain just won’t be quiet.
I don’t understand why my body also feels so out of control. I get a tightness in my chest, and sometimes I feel like I can’t catch my breath. I can’t get rid of the stress, and then it starts to affect my sleeping and eating. I lie awake obsessively thinking about the next bad thing that will happen. It’s weird. I either don’t have an appetite or I’ll overeat to make myself feel better.
If you feel like this, our anxiety therapists at Evanston Counseling can help you figure out what is normal and what is fear caused by anxiety. We want you to feel better. You don’t have to go through life feeling nervous and physically uncomfortable.
You’re right. Almost everyone worries at one time or another. It’s part of the human experience. But anxiety is different and with the right help with therapy for anxiety, it can be easily treated. Life doesn’t have to be about fear.
Our anxiety therapists will help you with the Anxiety that is fueled by persistent, negative thoughts. Your body hops on the roller coaster with your thoughts and takes you for a ride. Your body goes into fight or flight mode in response to a thought. Life is a constant state of high alert. Yet, there isn’t anything to be afraid of at the moment.
Then your brain interprets the body’s response as proof that there really is a reason for concern. And the cycle continues.
You can feel like a hamster running on a wheel. Your brain and body keep running at a high speed thinking the same thing over and over again but you can’t stop yourself.
Yet, the situation is not as serious as the level of concern you’re giving it. You feel on edge at all times. What will happen in the future? Will you be able to find a new path in your life? Will you get fired even though your boss thinks you’re amazing? Will you ever find a good relationship? Will your loving partner leave you? Will your children be okay? Will you succeed in life? (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
You feel like you will pass out or do something stupid and suddenly be the center of attention. Your heart starts to race as if you’ve just done a HIIT workout. You can feel the tide of emotions rising, but you can’t do anything to stop it. You try to take deep, slow breaths to stop breathing so quickly. Then you begin shaking uncontrollably. You can’t predict when a panic attack will happen, so it’s not like you can prevent it. If it happens in public, you just want to crawl under the floor. (Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks)
Will I get COVID-19 from someone on the purple line and die? I will never know who passed it on to me. I’ll pass it on to my fragile grandmother, and her death will be all my fault. (Health Anxiety Disorder)
Every time you’re out in public, you feel like people are judging you. You feel so uncomfortable starting a conversation with someone. It just makes you want to hide or drink to take the edge off. (Social Anxiety Disorder)
You are sure you’ve left your hair straightener plugged in, the kitchen lights turned on, or forgot to feed your furball. You must go around your home repeatedly to check all appliances and your pet’s bowl. And the obsessive hand washing is driving you crazy. (Obsessive Compulsive Anxiety Disorder)
You’d rather have 15 cavities drilled than speak in class or give a presentation at work. Final exam days are unbearable for you. (Performance Anxiety Disorder)
You would love to visit the Costa Rican rainforest. The beauty of the animals and plants would be incredible to see. You know it will never happen, because there is no way you would ever get on a plane. Just seeing a plane on TV makes your heart start racing and you begin to tremble. (Phobias)
Most people think of vets returning home from service in a war zone when the topic turns to trauma and PTSD. But you are sure you feel similar symptoms. The memories and flashbacks of the sexual abuse or other trauma that you experienced as a child send you into a panic. It’s like it is happening all over again. (PTSD from Trauma)
We know that anxiety can leave you feeling scared when it hits. Or it can make you irritated. Just when you think the stress is over, it isn’t.
In therapy for anxiety at Evanston Counseling, we can help short-circuit the constant negative emotions-physical response cycle. You’ll learn to calm the nervous system down. Our therapists will show you how to reassure yourself and your body that you are safe. We will help you stop the stream of negative voices in the back of your head. There is no need for intense worry at the moment. Everything is ok.
We help anxious and lonely men, women, and adolescents take all of those worries and thoughts that they can’t put to rest and help them calm their minds. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches you how to discover better thoughts than the ones that stress you out all day. Through specific, evidence-based techniques, you will learn how to change what you think and do—long after therapy is over. Our clients experience huge shifts in how they feel and how they relate to others.
What’s the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
Normal anxiety comes and goes. An anxiety disorder is when anxiety gets in the way of you doing what you want to do, and makes you do things you don’t want to do, on a regular basis. You might find yourself thinking through all the permutations and dynamics of a situation over and over again until your head is spinning. It can feel almost out of control.
An anxiety disorder often comes with physical, visceral symptoms, too. Stomach aches, a pounding heart, sweating, shallow breathing, lightheadedness, and a feeling of not being present in your body, sometimes called dissociation, are all common. At Evanston Counseling, we help you work with what you are experiencing so you can live your life the way you would like.
What are the signs I should see a therapist for anxiety?
If you find yourself thinking about things and worrying to the point where it is starting to take over your life, or overthinking things to the point where you can’t stop, this could be a sign that you should see a therapist for anxiety. Pay attention to if those thoughts are interfering with your social life, your eating, your sleep, or your relationships.
For some people, anxiety shows up as avoidance, staying away from people, places, or situations because they make them anxious. For others, it goes the opposite direction, needing constant reassurance or seeking a feeling of emotional safety in a way that does not quite make sense given the situation.
Physical manifestations of anxiety are worth paying attention to as well, such as stomach aches, pounding heart, sweating, shallow breathing, lightheadedness, or a feeling of not being present in your body. These symptoms are often your body’s way of telling you something your mind hasn’t caught up to yet. And if anxiety is getting in the way of what you want to do, or making you do things you don’t want to do, that matters too.
Black-and-white thinking is when you decide that an event you are not looking forward to is going to be an entirely negative experience, with no room for anything good. If you are anxious about leaving for college, for example, you might be convinced the whole thing is going to be terrible, when in reality, there are probably going to be some good moments mixed in, too. Catastrophic thinking is when you expect the worst to happen, almost like the world is going to end. It can show up as extreme perfectionism, a fear of failing at school or in your career, or constant worry about the people you love. If this sounds like you, Evanston Counseling can help you understand what is driving your anxiety and help you relax and feel more in control of your life.
What types of anxiety disorders are there?
Anxiety disorders are very common, and there are so many different things that can make a person anxious. We always tell people that anxiety disorders are not only common, but they are also one of the most treatable mental health concerns out there. Here is a list of the most common anxiety disorders:
Generalized anxiety disorder is a fear that does not go away, a sense that something bad is going to happen, even when it is usually not linked to anything specific. You feel that way most of the time, and it feels like you cannot make it go away.
Social anxiety is when you worry about meeting new people or spending time with people you already know. You feel uncomfortable in social settings and worry about what to say or how to interact with others. A lot of it comes from a fear of not being liked or accepted, or from low self-esteem. It can be overwhelming, and it can also show up in physical symptoms such as extreme nausea, sweating, and heart palpitations. Some people worry so much about it that they will not go out with others or put themselves in social situations where they feel they will be judged.
Health anxiety is an extreme fear that something bad is going to happen to your health, whether that means getting sick, being in pain, or dying. You might find yourself afraid that something seriously wrong is happening inside your body, like cancer, a heart attack, fainting, a brain tumor, an autoimmune disease, a neurological disease, or a serious infection or virus. Sometimes the fear is less specific, just a sense that something disabling, uncomfortable, or contagious is happening.
Specific phobias are intense fears tied to one particular thing or situation, such as flying, elevators, needles, blood, or vomiting. They often lead to avoidance, along with extreme panic, a racing heart, sweaty palms, nausea, or a feeling of being faint or dissociated.
Selective mutism, most often seen in children, is an inability to speak in certain situations, like at school, even though you talk freely at home.
A few related conditions are not technically classified as anxiety disorders, but anxiety plays a major role in driving them, and we treat them as well at Evanston Counseling.
OCD involves intrusive thoughts, called obsessions, that show up over and over and cause a lot of distress. To try to ease that distress, people often turn to compulsions, repetitive behaviors, or rituals like checking, counting, or washing, that bring short-term relief but tend to keep the cycle going.
Skin picking and trichotillomania involve compulsive picking or hair pulling, often driven by that same underlying anxiety.
Whatever you are noticing in yourself, Evanston Counseling can help you feel more relaxed and in control of your life.
What is CBT and how does it help with anxiety?
CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, helps you look at the thoughts that are making it hard for you to move on. It helps you notice how those thoughts are keeping you feeling stuck or anxious. Thoughts drive how your body responds, and your body’s response then influences your thoughts, which in turn influences your feelings. CBT interrupts this ongoing cycle.
In a CBT session at Evanston Counseling, we help you examine your thoughts and identify patterns like negative thinking, irrational thoughts, and catastrophic thinking. Once you can see those patterns clearly, the next step is learning to reframe them and looking at the same situation from a more balanced point of view. If you can change how you are thinking about things, you will start to feel better.
What happens in an anxiety therapy session?
If you are anxious, you are probably also anxious about what happens in anxiety therapy. Will this help me? Who will my therapist be? Will they understand how hard I have it? Will they even be able to help me when it feels like nothing else has?
In an anxiety therapy session at Evanston Counseling, we want to understand what is making you anxious and how it interferes with your life. We also want to know about all the symptoms you feel when you are anxious and when they started. In the beginning, it is mostly about gathering information and getting to know you. Once we have created a good understanding together, we will build a plan with you to help you manage your anxiety.
Once we have a plan, the actual work of sessions starts to feel different depending on what you need most. Some days that means slowing down to notice a thought before it spirals, since your thoughts drive how your body responds, and your body’s response feeds right back into your thoughts and feelings. Catching that cycle early, with CBT, is often where real change starts. Other times it means coming back to what is actually happening in the room right now, using mindfulness to notice what is real and concrete instead of getting pulled into the anxious feeling itself, and learning to use your thoughts and relaxation to calm your nervous system so you don’t have to feel so on edge. And for some people, the work is more about loosening anxiety’s grip rather than getting rid of it entirely, which is where ACT comes in, helping you keep moving toward what matters most in your life even when anxious thoughts are still there.
Together, these tools give you a way to feel more in control.
How long does anxiety therapy take to work?
How long anxiety therapy takes depends on what is driving your anxiety in the first place. If you are dealing with a specific fear, like flying or public speaking, you may feel better after just a handful of sessions. If your anxiety is more woven into how you think, how you relate to people, or how you see yourself, therapy will take longer, since you are untangling something that has built up over a long time, not just addressing one trigger.
At Evanston Counseling, we talk with you about your goals from the start, and we check in along the way to make sure the pace still feels right for you. There is no set timeline. It truly depends on what your goals and needs are.
Should I do therapy, medication, or both for anxiety?
We sometimes recommend doing both therapy and medication together. Medication takes the edge off while therapy helps you make changes that are going to last. Whether medication makes sense for you usually depends on how severe your anxiety has become. If panic attacks are interfering with your ability to function, you are having trouble sleeping, your appetite has changed, or it is becoming hard to work or socialize, medication might be recommended alongside therapy.
If medication feels like the right fit for you, your Evanston Counseling therapist will help you find a psychiatrist or doctor to work alongside your therapy. We will help you figure out what is best for you to feel better and stay feeling better.
Can therapy help with panic attacks?
Yes, absolutely, therapy can help with panic attacks. Panic attacks happen when your body misinterprets a scary thought as a real threat and goes into reactive mode, almost as if there were actual danger to run from. This can bring on a racing heart, chest tightness, or a feeling like you cannot catch your breath. The panicky feeling is real, but it is not the same as actual danger.
At Evanston Counseling, therapy helps you examine and identify your triggers, so you can adjust how you are thinking about the feeling, and it does not have to feel so scary. We will give you concrete strategies to stay rooted in the moment and reality, so you can let your mind and body reset and relax, and help you manage the anxiety over time.
Can therapy help with social anxiety?
Yes, therapy can absolutely help with social anxiety. Social anxiety often comes from a fear of not being liked or accepted, or from low self-esteem. It can really interfere with your life, whether that means avoiding people altogether, rehearsing what you are going to say before a conversation, or replaying something you said for days afterward, cringing every time it crosses your mind. It can also coincide with physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, or feeling sick to your stomach once you are already in a social situation.
At Evanston Counseling, therapy helps you understand the source of your fear and provides concrete tools to feel more comfortable being yourself around others. With therapy, it will get easier. You will worry less about being judged and about feeling awkward or left out. Conversations and interactions with other people will start to feel less stressful, too.
Can anxiety be treated without medication?
Yes, anxiety can be treated without medication. You do not necessarily need medication, though it can help take the edge off for some people. Many people manage their anxiety well using therapy alone, with tools like CBT, mindfulness, and ACT.
CBT helps you notice unhelpful thoughts that drive your anxiety and gives you a way to challenge them. Mindfulness anchors you in the present moment, in what is actually happening right now, rather than what your mind is telling you might happen. ACT helps you allow for anxious thoughts without letting them run the show, so you can keep working toward how you want to lead your life.
At Evanston Counseling, we will help you figure out which of these tools fits you best, without medication ever being a requirement to start.
You don’t have to keep white-knuckling your way through the worry and the racing thoughts. Anxiety therapy in Evanston, IL at Evanston Counseling can help you break the cycle, calm your nervous system, and finally feel like yourself again. Take the first step by following the steps below:
Anxiety therapy in Evanston, IL is just one of the many ways Evanston Counseling shows up for the people in our community. We offer specialized support across a wide range of needs, including Therapy for Moms, Therapy for College Students, Therapy for Young Adults, Teen Therapy, Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling, Therapy for Depression, and Therapy for Chronic Pain. Our therapeutic approaches include hypnotherapy, pet therapy, online therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Whatever you are navigating, we are here to help. Reach out today to find the right support for you.
