How to overcome anxiety

Hello! First I would like to thank you for having the courage to reach out with your question. It is not always easy to ask for help with the things which we are having intimate struggles. It takes courage and self-awareness to identify that there is something that needs to be addressed and then to take the steps necessary to get that help. You have already taken that first step!

Anxiety is a many layered thing and there are so many different types that play off of one another and give fuel to other areas of concern. Social anxiety, and the inability to engage in a functional way can lead to problems in academics, career and interpersonal relationships. Often, when I approach anxiety with the members that I work with, I first try to take a look at what exactly triggers the anxiety. Is there a catalyst? Is it predictable? Is there no obvious trigger and is the anxiety more of a constant? Then, we work on how the anxiety actually manifests. You mentioned in your question that you create distance when the anxiety comes on and you are struggling in general with the ability to stay consistent in a job position. Your anxiety may then manifest in avoidance, isolation and withdrawing from work or other areas of life that cause you stress. It can take time to really tease out these first few steps and process what the cause and effect of the anxiety is. But once we are able to truly understand it, we can begin to work toward coping with it and managing the symptoms so they do not disrupt our day to day.

Coping with anxiety looks different for everyone and you may find that works well for 99% of the population seems to do nothing for you. But that’s okay! There are a number of ways to address anxiety and work toward a more functional life. We will discuss various ways of coping, self-care and other protective strategies. There may be need for healthy boundary setting or scheduled time for mindfulness and meditation. By making efforts in these areas and setting small, attainable goals, it is possible to develop a routine that helps you to, over time, overcome the anxiety you are struggling with.