Anxiety2024-03-07T12:05:29+00:00

Therapy and Treatment for Panic Attacks, Social Anxiety, and More in Dallas, TX

Anxiety or Trauma Healing is Just a Few Sessions Away

Anxious mother consumed by worry holds baby while staring blindly into the distance. Supportive husband looks upon his wife with concern.

Our trauma therapists are specialists, offering a full range of anxiety counseling services for Children, Teenagers, Adolescents, and Adults and our patients often start feeling better right after the first session.  Learn about the different forms, signs, and symptoms of anxiety and explore effective treatment options for anxiety disorders. Don’t let anxiety rule your life. Get into therapy, exercise, eat right and experience life to its fullest!

Anxious mother consumed by worry holds baby while staring blindly into the distance. Supportive husband looks upon his wife with concern.

Our Dallas Anxiety Therapists Are Available Now Serving Ft Worth, Arlington, Uptown, North Park areas.

Dallas Anxiety Therapy Overview

Learn about anxiety, common anxiety disorders and symptoms, and which anxiety treatment options are right for you.

Black couple sitting on couch in an emotional embrace. Anxiety-ridden woman speaks with palms facing upwards while attentive husband provides understanding and support.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal human emotion commonly expressed as feelings of nervousness and worry. It generally concerns an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Encountering a problem at work, preparing for a test, or making an important decision, are situations that could provoke normal anxiety. However, when anxious thoughts and behaviors are prolonged and the distress begins to cause a negative impact of daily life and functioning, anxiety disorder has developed.

Anxiety: The Unseen Monster
by Evelyn Wenzel, LCSW

Does it seem like an unseen monster lurks around the corner? Does fear and worry weigh you down? Frustrated because you feeling like nothing will ever change? Everyone experiences anxiety as it is a normal response to threatening situations; however, for some people it becomes a disabling response to life. Irrational responses to everyday situations seem to cripple the 40 million Americans who suffer from anxiety disorder each year. In fact more people suffer from anxiety than depression! What differentiates everyday anxiety from an anxiety disorder? The key words with everyday anxiety are appropriate and reasonable. “Butterflies” in the stomach is a common physiological response when someone experiences anxiety before giving a speech or entering a competition. If a burglar tries to break into your house, fear is a normal response to the situation. So challenges in life that involve lose or failure, and unexpected or unknown situations all cause normative anxiety responses.

What Are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are characterized by feelings of excessive worry and fear that is both overwhelming and debilitating. These disorders can often lead to, or be accompanied by secondary issues such as low self-esteem, dysfunctional relationships, substance abuse, and depression.

What are the most common anxiety disorders?

The four most common anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Other common anxiety related disorders include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

People with this disorder have persistent levels of anxiety involving unrealistic or irrational worries and tension. The symptoms of this disorder can appear with little to nothing done to provoke them.

Symptoms of GAD include:

  • Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
  • Being easily fatigued
  • Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension, headaches, stomach aches, or unexplained pains
  • Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
  • Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
  • A: Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
  • B: The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
  • C: The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children.
  • D: The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a Panic Attack (as in a Panic Disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia), being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder), or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES

  • The essential feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (Criterion A).
  • The individual finds it difficult to control the worry (Criterion B).
  • The anxiety and worry are accompanied by at least three additional symptoms from a list that includes restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and disturbed sleep (only one additional symptom is required in children) (Criterion C).
  • The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of another Axis I disorder such as having a Panic Attack (as in Panic Disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia), being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder), or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Criterion D).
  • Although individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may not always identify the worries as “excessive,” they report subjective distress due to constant worry, have difficulty controlling the worry, or experience related impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (Criterion E).
  • The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (i.e., a drug of abuse, a medication, or toxin exposure) or a general medical condition and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Criterion F).
  • The intensity, duration, or frequency of the anxiety and worry is far out of proportion to the actual likelihood or impact of the feared event. The person finds it difficult to keep worrisome thoughts from interfering with attention to tasks at hand and has difficulty stopping the worry. Adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder often worry about everyday, routine life circumstances such aspossible job responsibilities, finances, the health of family members, misfortune to their children, or minor matters (such as household chores, car repairs, or being late for appointments). Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder tend to worry excessively about their competence or the quality of their performance. During the course of the disorder, the focus of worry may shift from one concern to another.

PREVALENCE

In a community sample, the 1-year prevalence rate for Generalized Anxiety Disorder was approximately 3% and the lifetime prevalence rate was 5%. In anxiety disorder clinics, approximately 12% of the individuals present with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

COURSE

Many individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder report that they have felt anxious and nervous all of their lives. Although over half of those presenting for treatment report onset in childhood or adolescence, onset occurring after age 20 years is not uncommon. The course is chronic but fluctuating and often worsens during times of stress.

Panic Disorder:

Feelings of severe apprehension and impending doom or terror are often described. Those suffering with this disorder typically have free-floating (or persistent) anxiety along with anxiety attacks, which are recurrent. Anxiety attacks, also known as Panic attacks, typically involve a physical reaction such as sweating, strong heart palpitations, choking or feeling like throat is about to close up. In some severe cases, people have confused this feeling with having a heart attack.

In the midst of a panic attack, individuals might experience:

  • Intense or rapid heartbeat
  • Perspiration
  • Shaking or tingling sensations
  • Discomfort in the chest
  • Overwhelming sense of impending doom
  • Sensation of losing control

Social Anxiety Disorder:

Social anxiety is one of the most common types of anxiety and is marked by an extreme fear of being embarrassed in a social setting. People are often concerned with being judged or humiliated publicly. The most common type of social anxiety disorder is performance anxiety, such as public speaking. Panic disorder seems to occur without any apparent cause and is characterized by an episode of apprehension and intense fear.

Individuals with social anxiety disorder might experience the following symptoms:

  • Blushing, perspiring, or trembling
  • Intense or rapid heartbeat
  • Stomach discomfort
  • Stiff body posture or speaking in an excessively soft tone
  • Challenges in making eye contact or interacting with unfamiliar individuals
  • Feelings of self-consciousness and apprehension about negative judgment from others

Phobia-related Disorders:

Phobias are the most common mental health disorder in the United States. A phobia is a focused, strong, persistent, and irrational fear of some specific object or situation. Some common phobias are:

  • Social Phobia: Intense fear of being studied in a social setting (see Social Anxiety Disorder). Performance anxiety and fear of public speaking are most common.
  • Specific Phobia: Specific Phobias, also referred to as simple phobias, entail individuals experiencing intense fear or heightened anxiety surrounding particular objects or situations. Examples of specific phobias may include the fear of:
    • Air travel
    • Elevations
    • Certain animals, like spiders, dogs, or snakes
    • Receiving injections
    • The sight of blood

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Characterized by repetitive, unreasonable thoughts and fears, such as contamination or odd numbers, that provoke anxiety (obsessions) and ritualistic activities such as excessive hand washing over guilt behavior that reduce anxiety (compulsions). It is possible to only have only obsessions or compulsions and still have OCD.

Common obsessions consist of:

  • Anxiety about germs or contamination
  • Worry about forgetting, losing, or misplacing items
  • Fear of losing control over one’s behavior
  • Aggressive thoughts towards others or oneself
  • Unwanted, forbidden, or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, or harm
  • Desire for symmetry or perfect order in things

Common compulsions may include:

  • Excessive cleaning or handwashing
  • Ordering or arranging items in a specific, precise manner
  • Repeatedly checking things, such as ensuring the door is locked or the oven is off
  • Compulsive counting
  • Engaging in prayer or silently repeating words

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

Develops in response to extreme psychological or physical trauma, which produces feelings of terror and helplessness.

Symptoms include but aren’t limited to:

  • Re-experiencing the traumatic event in dreams or memories
  • Avoidance of activities associated with trauma
  • Heightened emotional arousal.

How can Anxiety Therapy Help?

Therapy can help by providing individuals with coping mechanisms, tools for managing anxiety symptoms, and a safe space to explore underlying causes of their anxiety.

The goals of anxiety treatment:

  • Identify distorted thought patterns or triggers that provoke anxiety.
  • Overcome and breakdown irrational fears and worries.
  • Learn the difference between unnecessary worry and normal anxiety.
  • Replace and reframe anxious thoughts and behaviors with non-anxious ones.
  • Desensitize fearful emotions associated with objects or situations.
  • Presence of anxiety signals a cue for coping and relaxation techniques, instead of panic.
  • Regain control of emotions, thoughts, and life!

Anxiety Treatment Options in Dallas, Texas

Getting Help: Which Anxiety Therapy or Treatment Method is Right for You?

Anxiety or Trauma healing is just a few sessions away. Our trauma therapists are specialists and you can start feeling better often right after the first session. Call for a complimentary phone consultation to find out which of the below therapies is best for you!

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Experience a Total Difference

Don’t let anxiety rule your life. Get into therapy, exercise, eat right and experience life to its fullest!

At TLC because we look at the whole person, clients experience symptom relief sooner by incorporating exercise, dietary adjustments, supplements along with therapy. TLC Dallas serves the Ft Worth, Arlington, Uptown, North Park areas for anxiety disorder and anxiety therapy.

Woman demonstrating EFT tapping points

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

The Name Says it All. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also referred to as “tapping”, is a relatively new technique that’s been gaining popularity amongst therapists. EFT is similar to acupuncture minus the needles. So how does it work? By tapping on your body’s meridians (specific points on the body through which energy flows) while stating positive affirmations, emotional blockage releases allowing healing to occur.

The meridians used for EFT include the top of the head, the inside of the eyebrows, the temples, under the eyes, under the nose, the chin, the collar bones, just under the arm pit, and the outside of the hand. The positive affirmation usually consists of acknowledging a specific problem and accepting the self for having this problem. For example, let’s say you feel really anxious before a job interview. While tapping on the designated meridians you might say, “Even though I feel anxious about this big job interview I have coming up, I deeply and profoundly accept myself.”

Schedule a consultation to determine whether or not EFT is right anxiety treatment option for you.

Closeup of patient eye receiving closeup of patient eye receiving EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy using bilateral stimulation (alternately stimulating the left and right sides of your brain) with eye movement to process and alleviate trauma. This technique has been highly successful in applications for Military Veterans in freeing them from the intense trauma they have endured in war. EMDR is also commonly used for other traumatic events such as auto accidents, dog bites, substance abuse, addictions and more!

EMDR applications may include:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Alleviates symptoms resulting from traumatic experiences.
  • Anxiety Disorders: Helps individuals manage and reduce anxiety symptoms.
  • Phobias: Addresses and alleviates intense fears and phobias.
  • Depression: Complementary in treating depressive symptoms linked to past traumas.
  • Pain Disorders: Can be applied to manage and mitigate chronic pain conditions.
  • Addictions: Used as part of therapy for individuals with addiction issues.
  • Performance Anxiety: Aids in managing anxiety related to performance or specific situations.
  • Grief and Loss: Assists individuals in processing and coping with grief and loss.
  • Dissociative Disorders: May be used to address symptoms associated with dissociation.
  • Childhood Trauma: Applied to help individuals process and heal from childhood traumas.
Codependent couple walk hand in hand bound together by chains.

CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely used therapeutic approach that focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It aims to identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors contributing to psychological distress. CBT is structured, goal-oriented, and often involves practical strategies to help individuals develop healthier coping mechanisms. It’s employed to treat various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, phobias, and stress-related disorders. The collaborative nature of CBT encourages individuals to actively participate in their own healing process through self-awareness, skill-building, and behavioral changes.

Common applications of CBT include:

  • Anxiety Disorders: CBT helps identify and manage anxious thoughts and behaviors.
  • Depression: Targets negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with depressive symptoms.
  • Phobias: Systematically addresses and desensitizes irrational fears.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Targets obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Assists in processing traumatic experiences and managing associated symptoms.
  • Eating Disorders: Addresses distorted thoughts and behaviors related to food, body image, and self-esteem.
  • Insomnia: Targets and modifies behaviors and thought patterns contributing to sleep difficulties.
  • Substance Use Disorders: Helps individuals identify triggers, cope with cravings, and develop healthier habits.
  • Anger Management: Teaches strategies to recognize and control anger in a constructive way.
  • Chronic Pain: Assists individuals in managing pain through changing thought patterns and behaviors.
Circular color band around head conveying hypnosis

Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT)

Rapid Resolution Trauma Therapy is a method of therapy that pinpoints and addresses an inner issue through clinical hypnosis. Similar to traditional hypnosis the counselor guides the client through their sub-conscious to find the root of their issues. Depending on the issue at hand the counselor will guide each client differently. Rapid Resolution Therapy is the quickest form of therapy for those trying to move on from traumatic events.

Trauma Focus: RRT is often utilized for individuals dealing with trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is designed to help clients move forward from traumatic events.

Common applications of  RRT include:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): RRT is frequently employed to help individuals rapidly process and move beyond traumatic experiences, reducing the impact of PTSD symptoms.
  • Anxiety Disorders: RRT may be applied to address and alleviate symptoms associated with various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety and specific phobias.
  • Depression: Some practitioners use RRT to help individuals overcome depressive symptoms by addressing underlying issues and promoting positive cognitive changes.
  • Phobias: Rapid Resolution Therapy can be applied to treat specific phobias by efficiently targeting and resolving the root causes of irrational fears.
  • Grief and Loss: RRT may assist individuals in processing grief and loss, enabling them to move through the grieving process more rapidly.
  • Trauma Resolution: Beyond PTSD, RRT is often used for general trauma resolution, helping individuals overcome the lingering effects of distressing events.
  • Relationship Issues: RRT may be incorporated into therapy to address underlying issues contributing to relationship difficulties, facilitating positive changes in communication and behavior.
  • Emotional Distress: RRT is sometimes applied to alleviate emotional distress stemming from various sources, providing a rapid and targeted therapeutic intervention.
A woman smiles having changed her thinking patterns with DBT

DBT – Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Targets skills deficits as well as the cognitive beliefs that maintain the avoidance. The ultimate goal is for you to learn more strategic behavior skills that once acceptance of those feelings occur. Both CBT and DBT incorporate relaxation and stress reduction techniques into their treatment of anxiety, including mindfulness techniques. Often they both make use of exposure therapy.

The most common applications of  DBT include:

  • Anxiety Disorders: DBT, especially its mindfulness components, can be beneficial in managing symptoms of various anxiety disorders.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): DBT was originally developed to treat BPD and is considered the gold standard for this disorder.
  • Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviors: DBT is widely recognized for its effectiveness in reducing self-harming behaviors and suicidal tendencies.
  • Substance Use Disorders: DBT is frequently integrated into substance abuse treatment programs to address emotional dysregulation and impulsive behaviors.
  • Eating Disorders: DBT skills, particularly those related to emotional regulation, are applied in the treatment of eating disorders.
  • Depression: DBT is adapted for individuals with chronic or treatment-resistant depression to improve emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
Woman peeking between fingers of hands covering her face

Exposure Therapy

Exposure Therapy gradually acclimates a person to situations that previously triggered anxiety. This desensitization process helps people confront their fears in a controlled environment. Once phobias are no longer “rewarded” by escape and avoidance, they tend to diminish and fade away.

The most common applications of Exposure Therapy include:

  • Specific Phobias: Addressing irrational fears of specific objects or situations.
  • Social Anxiety Disorder: Gradual exposure to social situations to reduce anxiety.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Systematic exposure to trauma-related stimuli to process and alleviate distress.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Exposure to obsessive thoughts combined with response prevention.
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Wellness & Supplements

Interestingly, twenty minutes of aerobic exercise per day is thought to be an effective weapon against anxiety. Good nutrition is essential and adding supplements such as B Vitamins, calcium, amino acids, and Vitamin C may be important but the quality of the supplements are paramount. We can direct you to the right health food stores to get the right brands that often work immediately. Caffeine and cigarettes aggravate anxiety and should be eliminated or decreased. Often with your treatment for anxiety the cravings to smoke or drink caffeine are reduced considerably.

Are you interested in learning how to modify your diet and learn more about supplements to help you overcome your anxiety? Contact TLC Dallas today!

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Our Dallas counseling, therapy, camps, group, coaching and career services are conveniently located at 6060 N. Central Expressway in Dallas, TX

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