NJ Anxiety Therapy
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Anxiety Therapy New Jersey
Takeaway: If you feel swept up in worry and overwhelmed with tension, you might be experiencing anxiety. While anxiety can feel utterly exhausting, it’s highly treatable.
With the help of anxiety therapy in New Jersey, you can learn how to manage your anxiety symptoms and feel more in control of your racing thoughts.
What is anxiety?
It's totally normal to feel anxious from time to time-everyone experiences it. The feeling of anxiety is our fight or flight response being activated, which can keep us safe when something threatens our physical, mental, or emotional balance.
However, some people have a more sensitive anxiety response than others. Their fight or flight response is triggered by situations that do not present an actual threat to their safety or wellbeing.
If this sounds like you, you might have an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders differ from typical day to day stress or anxiety. People with anxiety disorders have more intense symptoms for longer periods of time, even when there aren't particularly stressful situations or life events happening. Their relationships, functioning, and overall quality of life are impacted by the anxiety disorder.
Types of anxiety disorders
There are different types of anxiety disorders depending on what symptoms you have. Some people are affected by one form of anxiety, while others have multiple anxiety disorders. While there are certain characteristics that define each disorder, each person's experience is unique.
Generalized anxiety disorder
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety is a common mental illness-6.8 million adults are affected by generalized anxiety disorder. With this form of anxiety, people experience a general sense of worry much of the time. In addition to near-constant feelings of anxiety, people with generalized anxiety disorder also experience anxiety symptoms such as irritability, muscle tension, stomach problems, difficulty concentrating, and sleep issues.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is a form of anxiety in which people experience worry around social situations. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) estimates that up to 12 percent of Americans have social anxiety. Social anxiety can significantly impact a person's day to day life. People with this disorder may avoid situations that cause anxiety, such as meeting new people or eating in public. Their core worry is being negatively perceived by others.
Panic disorder
People with panic disorder experience panic attacks, which are periods of intense worry and fear that come on unexpectedly. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the manual that mental health professionals use to diagnose mental health issues, panic attacks are marked by at least four of the following symptoms:- Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
- Feeling of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
- Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
- Fear of losing control or "going crazy"
- Fear of dying
- Paresthesia (numbness or tingling sensation)
- Chills or hot flashes
Related mental disorders
Post traumatic stress disorder
Traumatic experiences profoundly impact a person. While trauma looks different from person to person, some examples of traumatic experiences are abuse (whether in childhood or adulthood), natural disasters, car accidents, and war or combat.
Experts aren't exactly sure why, but some people who survive traumatic experiences develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others do not. While this isn't an exhaustive list, some symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding reminders of the experience, anxious feelings, isolation, and poor self image.
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is another mental health condition that is often lumped in with anxiety disorders. However, it is classified in its own category within the DSM. People with OCD have obsessive thoughts and engage in compulsive behaviors to soothe the distress that the obsessive thoughts cause.
Obsessions and compulsions can take on different themes. These can vary from person to person, and one person may experience one or multiple themes. Some common examples include contamination, perfectionism, identity, and religious obsessions and cleaning, checking, and mental compulsions.
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Our approach to anxiety counseling in New Jersey
Our therapists recognize how overwhelming anxiety can be. The thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms that come along with anxiety disorders can make you feel totally out of control, which can be scary, frustrating, and confusing all at the same time.
At Introspection Counseling Center, we respect the vulnerability it takes to ask for help. Our anxiety counselors cultivate a virtual therapy space that is accepting and nonjudgmental. We'll ask thoughtful questions to help you gain insight and get to the root of your anxiety.
From here, we'll identify solutions so you can build confidence and reach your goals.
We treat anxiety disorders using a number of different therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, solutions-focused therapy, and more.
You and your therapist will work together to determine which approaches might work best for you.
Meet our New Jersey anxiety counselors
If you're curious to learn more about anxiety treatment in New Jersey, we encourage you to reach out to us directly and schedule your free 15-minute consultation. You'll be matched with one of our anxiety therapists, who you can read more about below.
Dr. Dierdra Oretade-Branch, LCSW, BCD
Dr. Oretade-Branch is the owner and founder of Introspection Counseling Center.
She recognizes the courage and trust it takes to reach out for support, and she shows up to each session with professionalism, compassion, and respect.
Dr. Oretade-Branch's style is both down to earth and straightforward. She focuses on creating strong therapeutic relationships with each individual client, and she believes that introspection is the key to living the life you want.
Read more about Dr. Oretade-Branch here.
Holly Sragow, LCSW
Holly approaches all of her clients with kindness and curiosity. She recognizes that each person is the expert of their own experience, and she is here to offer guidance and reflections-not tell you what you need or what you "should" do.
Holly works with each client in order to make therapy a collaborative experience. She wants to empower you to take action toward your goals and make tangible changes to help you get there-and she'll be there the entire way to support you. Learn more about Holly here.
How working with an anxiety therapist can help
Each person's experience with therapy is different. With that being said, counseling is often effective in treating anxiety for many people. Here are just a few of the benefits you may expect from working with a therapist.
Gain awareness of the patterns that hold you back
Building insight is an important part of treating anxiety. Methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy can teach you how your automatic thoughts and actions can hold you back. Once you have more awareness of these patterns, you can start to create shifts that can help you feel more in control.
Reduce anxiety symptoms
Research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy is a highly effective treatment for anxiety, as are other forms of talk therapy. Counseling has been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms, particularly the excessive worry that is common across different anxiety disorders.
Learn stress management techniques
In therapy, you'll also learn helpful skills that can help you manage your symptoms outside of session. You and your therapist will discover which methods work best for you, though some common examples include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and breathing exercises.
These techniques can help you ground yourself when worry takes over, as well as soothe the physical symptoms that come along with anxiety, such as muscle tension.
FAQs about anxiety treatment in NJ
It's normal to feel anxious about starting therapy, especially if you're new to the process. Here, we've addressed some common questions about anxiety counseling in New Jersey to help you better understand what to expect. However, if you have more questions, we encourage you to reach out to us directly.
Finding anxiety therapists near you can feel daunting, especially when there are so many therapy options out there. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to get help, and there is often some trial and error that goes into finding a therapist who is a good fit for you.
Starting with a Google search can be a good starting point. Searching “anxiety therapist near me” will likely produce some options that can point you in the right direction. You can also use online therapy directories, such as Psychology Today, TherapyDen, and Clinicians of Color.
Asking for recommendations or referrals is another way to find a therapist. If you feel comfortable discussing mental health with people in your life, you can ask friends if they have therapist recommendations. Some medical providers and insurance companies are also able to provide referrals.
Yes! Introspection Counseling Center is an exclusively virtual practice. We offer online anxiety counseling to adults who live in New Jersey, as well as those in Delaware and North Carolina.
Online therapy helps us support a greater number of people like you. It also provides flexibility and convenience for all of our clients, as well as saving time and money.
All sessions take place via a secure HIPAA-compliant platform. This ensures that all your information stays confidential and allows you to access sessions from the comfort of your own home rather than commuting to and from a therapy office.
Get to the root of your worries with the help of anxiety therapy in New Jersey
While anxiety can feel all-consuming, know that you're not alone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), anxiety is the most common mental illness in the United States. There is no shame in asking for support-help is here.
Our team of thoughtful, experienced clinicians are passionate about helping people like you get to the root of your anxiety. Understanding the cause of your symptoms can help us better understand how to manage anxiety symptoms and help you feel more grounded in your everyday life.
We help people with generalized anxiety, as well as other mental health conditions, reach their goals and live a life they feel good about. If it sounds like we might be a good fit, we encourage you to reach out and schedule your free 15-minute consultation. We look forward to connecting with you!
