Therapy in Calgary for Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety negatively impacts your quality of life and makes even the simplest tasks overwhelming.
You’re sick of feeling like something is wrong with you. Your thoughts race, sometimes out of control, and you don’t know what to do.
You feel nervous and uncomfortable, even panicked. You’re restless, on-edge, and tired all the time. You want to sleep, but the moment your head hits your pillow, your mind begins to spin.
Your constant thinking and worry are uncontrollable.
You can feel the nerves rushing through your body. That feeling of panic in your chest drives more overwhelming thoughts and feelings. It’s brutal some days!
The truth is, anxiety is our body’s natural alarm system that alerts us of potential threats. It plays an essential role in keeping us safe but often negatively impacts our lives when left unmanaged. When anxiety starts to affect your day-to-day life, it becomes a problem.
For men, anxiety often shows up in different ways. As men, we tend to hide and suppress our feelings. Or, we resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol, drugs, work, or sex/porn to escape the discomfort of anxiety symptoms.
The physical symptoms of anxiety can be very uncomfortable and often accompanied by overwhelming thoughts and emotions. Anxious states can cause havoc in your life and impact your decisions and behaviours.
Anxiety Symptoms
- Feeling nervous, restless, or tense.
- Having a feeling of panic, impending danger, or doom.
- Increased heart rate and breathing.
- Sweating.
- Trembling or shaking.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Mind going blank.
- Difficulty controlling your worry.
- Avoiding people and places that trigger your anxiety.
- Feeling socially awkward.
- Being overwhelmed.
- Physical tension in your stomach.
You might catch yourself thinking…
- I’m so nervous, and everyone can tell.
- No one wants to meet me.
- I am so awkward.
- I want to cancel my plans, so I don’t have to feel uncomfortable.
- I am anxious about getting anxious.
- I can’t even handle everyday stressors.
You may find yourself expecting things to go wrong or being overly pessimistic. You may also find yourself trying to anticipate what might happen so you can “prepare” yourself to deal with things. You may also notice that you are overly controlling and feel “safe” when variables are in your control.
Ultimately this leads you to do less and avoid people, places, and experiences—even things you used to enjoy. You may have less drive to pursue your goals which leads to a decrease in self-esteem. It becomes a vicious cycle.
You want to just feel normal. There is hope, and I can help!
I imagine dealing with anxiety has been an overwhelming and upsetting experience for you.
You may have tried many things in the past to deal with it. Some may have worked, and others may not have. Either way, I want you to know that I know what it is like to be in your shoes because I have been in them myself.
As painful and uncomfortable as anxiety can be, it is treatable. You can move from simply surviving to thriving!
Together we will identify the root of your challenges and determine the most effective plan of action. You will learn to identify the unhelpful patterns of thought that you find yourself in, and you will learn proven strategies for dealing with them.
As a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor in Calgary, I’ve worked with many clients who have experienced significant transformations with anxiety. You can make those same transformations, and you don’t need to do it alone!
Reach out today, and let’s tackle your anxiety together.
Book your Discovery Call below.
Dustin Hogan - Men's Counselling
Book Your Discovery Call
Ready to start counselling? Let’s connect for a complimentary 15-minute Discovery Call to chat about what you are looking for, answer any questions you have about counselling, and see if we’re a good fit.
