My clients come to me all the time in hopes of understanding anxiety. It’s so confusing, so difficult to comprehend. It doesn’t really matter where my counseling clients come from, who they are, or the type of lives they lead, they are all perplexed by the overwhelm of their symptoms. I understand how difficult it is for someone with anxious panic attacks to deal with the physical symptoms and racing thoughts. I know how alone you feel.
The truth of the matter is, though, that almost 20% of adults suffer from anxiety, and the number is said to be double that in children. That means that one in every four or five people you see around you deals with some form of ongoing anxiety. Whether they are an artist from West Hollywood, a producer in Culver City, a lawyer from Century City, or, yes, even a therapist in Beverly Hills, people are struggling, just like you, with understanding anxiety.
There are a million articles about understanding anxiety, and since I have faith that you know how to Google, I’ll leave that basic inquiry up to you. I’d rather explore with you the questions of why… If you are less concerned with what an anxiety attack is, and more interested in why you are having them, then I’ve got your answer:
Anxiety is nothing more than a message.
Your body is trying to tell you something. You’re dealing with something; you’re struggling with something; you’re avoiding something. Whatever it is, your body realizes that there is something there you need to deal with, but you haven’t figured out what it is or how to deal with it.
I know, I know…it sounds hokey… “Messages from my body,” right? But they come all the time. Remember the butterflies of that first kiss, the sweaty palms during your audition or interview, or the stiff neck when you fall behind in your responsibilities? Those are all forms of anxiety, manifesting to let you know that something is going on, and you’re going to have to deal with it.
The pounding heart, the racing thoughts, and the sense of impending doom are no different than the butterflies you long for. Granted, they’re more intense and much less desirable, but they are just messages nonetheless.
One of the specialties of my Beverly Hills therapy practice is that of uncovering the messages that manifest as anxiety. If you’re getting these anxious messages from your body, but haven’t been able to figure out what the meanings behind them are, feel free to call me. I can offer you a free 20-minute consultation, where we can discuss your anxiety symptoms, and work to find a way to overcome the anxiety.
