Do you constantly fear something is going to go wrong?
Do you care too much about what other people think of you?
Do you ruminate on the past and stress about the future?
If you have anxiety, chances are you constantly have a nagging thought in the back of your head that something is going to go wrong. You are in survival mode whether you realize it or not when you are preparing yourself for the worst. You feel like you can't help it, and that no matter what you're always going to feel nervous and afraid.
Maybe you even have physical symptoms from your anxiety such as: upset stomach, headache, acid reflux, fast heart rate, sweaty palms, and rapid breathing. This is just proof that the way we think can actually affect our physical well being.
You do not have to live your life feeling anxious
My name is Mallory Beckwith and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in the state of Texas, supervised by Angel M. Hoodye, M.S., LPC-S, CART. I know first hand what it is like struggling with anxiety day in and day out. I understand how much of a burden living this way is, and I am here to tell you it is okay to reach out for help.
How will Therapy with Mallory help you?
I use powerful therapeutic techniques in my sessions that will help you overcome anxiety and build new neural pathways in your brain to actually change the way you think. I teach mindfulness skills that are scientifically proven to help lower anxiety levels and help activate the parasympathetic nervous system which is the nervous system that promotes relaxation and healing.
I also use cognitive behavioral therapy in my sessions. Using this technique I will help you become more aware of your anxious thoughts and how they are affecting you. Together we will work to :
a) rate your anxious thoughts
b) reframe your anxious thoughts using logic
c) rate your new logical thoughts to see if you feel less anxious about your situation
We will also talk about your cognitive distortions (irrational thoughts) together and see which ones you are struggling with the most. It is hard work forging new pathways in the brain and changing the way you think but with my help you will be on your way to kicking your anxiety to the curb.
Last but not least I offer yoga therapy for my in person sessions. Yoga therapy is incredibly useful for getting in the present moment, grounding in your physical space, and activating that parasympathetic nervous system.
What is General Anxiety Disorder?
General Anxiety Disorder is a mental illness that affects roughly 6.8 million adults in the US. Individuals with General Anxiety Disorder have very active amygdala. This is the region of the brain that triggers the fight or flight response in the body. When the fight or flight response is triggered, physically the body prepares you to either run for or fight for your life. While this may have been helpful back when humans were being chased by saber tooth tigers, it is not as helpful any longer in the present day.
For example: Imagine you are looking at a bill may begin to feel anxious over having to pay for it. This activates the amygdala and your body begins getting prepared to run or fight. Your heart may start racing, you might begin sweating or breathing fast. This is actually just making things worse because you do not need to run or fight the bill you are looking at. If the physical reaction leads to a panic attack or even further worry, you know anxiety is interfering with your life. While some anxiety can be motivating and make you perform better, if it gets to the point where it is debilitating it is no longer helpful. When you think about something that makes you anxious it can trigger strong physical reactions in the body which is why you may feel tense, sick, or winded.
This occurs frequently with people who have General Anxiety Disorder. Are you tired of constantly worrying and your brain triggering the fight or flight response? Are you always ruminating about the past or fearing over the future? Is your anxiety stopping you from living your life? In Therapy with Mallory you will learn ways to reduce the physical fight or flight response due to anxiety, calm your nerves, and live in the present moment when you are safe and taken care of. Take your life back, and begin working with me.