Stress, PTSD and Anxiety Therapists in Nisku, AB.

Oddly enough, being in touch with anxiety or stress can be an effective signal that something is "wrong in the system", and that change is called for to right it. Sometimes, however, anxiety interferes with daily functioning and leads to substantial discomfort, anguish, and even disabling fear. Beyond the recognition that this condition is sometimes best addressed with medication that reduces symptoms, it is important to explore anxiety's triggers and the factors that serve to empower it further in order to moderate its influence on us. Increased awareness, mindfulness, and honest challenges of anxiety's "right" to affect us in the way it does are all means of intervention.

We live in a high stress culture. Our bodies were designed to deal with short term threats, but in prolonged stress they are unable to recover properly. Furthermore, our bodies may be "programmed" to be more sensitive to stress based on our childhood experiences and even the stresses and traumas of our parents and grandparents. Dealing with prolonged stress and anxiety requires a multifaceted approach: understanding the true sources of the stress, changing patterns of thinking, and adopting lifestyle habits that support physiological recovery and contribute to health and well-being. With the right supports and habits, you can let go of stress and have a healthier and more satisfying life

As a psychologist I try to provide a safe, confidential environment within which my clients can explore their feelings and values. People seek therapy when they are in pain, when they feel overwhelmed by stress and when they are struggling in relationships. I try to help my clients to resolve these issues by looking within themselves and by allowing debilitating wounds to heal.

Stress and anxiety can be paralyzing and incredibly frustrating to live with, however there are tools that you can use to minimize your experience of stress and better manage the symptoms of anxiety. I use concrete, specific tools for individuals to incorporate into their lives that reduce their anxiety and allow them to live more fully engaging lives. Whether it be reducing the overall stress in your life or managing specific anxious thoughts, I am happy to offer my help.

Anxiety is, simply, put, unrelenting worry that continues after the thing or circumstance you are worrying about is removed or it is the exaggerated worry about something. In anxiety, the sheer size of the worry in relation to the concern, the realistic vs. non-realistic nature of the concern, and the frequency or level of control related to concern matter. OCD relates to obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. Social Anxiety is an intrusive, disruptive fear of people or certain social situations. Often, we see fears of judgement, body image, looking awkward or stupid, as being thematic in social anxiety thoughts. Just to name a few example of how anxiety can present itself.

Anxiety and stress are not the enemy - this emotional experience is natural. We will work on understanding how you conceptualize the internal physiological responses and practicing new ways of approaching, accepting, and experimenting with your worries, fears, and anxieties. The hard work of exposure therapy can sometimes be beneficial, and I can answer all your questions about this therapy and recommend if it may be helpful for you.

Learning how to effectively manage anxiety and stress is key to health and well-being. I will work with you to explore and identify key stressors as well as the source of your anxiety. Your personalized treatment plan will incorporate stress management strategies and resources that you can use daily. Staying on top of stress is important. You will learn how to be proactive in taking charge of your life. Stress is a part of living, but does not have to take over your life.

Using an Emotion Focused Therapy approach, I begin with the idea that all emotions, including anxiety, has a purpose. Difficulties come when the stress reaction to a possible danger is either too big (anxiety) or too small (depression). When people feel overwhelming anxiety, or stress that is out of proportion to the danger, it is often because there is something else that is causing the stress. Therapy is about listening to the voice of the anxiety and finding appropriate reactions.

Anxiety, fear and stress are all natural human responses that are supposed to be helpful but sometimes they get in the way. They may feel overwhelming or appear when they are not needed. Learning to cope with these emotions involves understanding their purpose, triggers and I help you build coping strategies to manage stress and anxiety or even overcome it so you can live your life on your terms.

Although anxiety is a natural part of life, it can escalate and begin to interfere with functioning. In these cases, I assist clients to learn ways to gain more control, such as by learning to relax the body, think in ways that do not create additional anxiety, process past experiences that contribute to the anxiety, and identify triggers so that alternate coping strategies can be used. I also work with clients to establish healthy stress management strategies, through exercise, social support, self-care, assertiveness, healthy expression of feelings, and appropriate life balance, so that clients have an overall sense of calm and well-being.

Managing stress and anxiety is all about taking charge to develop a sense of control, or an understanding that ther are things you don't need to control. Taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems feels empowering. The ultimate goal to decreasing stress and anxiety is by developing a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun, having positive thinking – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

Anxiety and stress in healthy doses and can have advantages, but it can easily turn into a debilitating feeling. Some may experience serve physical symptoms as a result chronic unmanaged stress. I have successfully worked with people from a variety of backgrounds to treat a variety of anxiety and stress-based issues and look forward to working with you. Visit my website at www.prairieowlpsychology.ca from more details.

Anxiety and stress can negatively impact client's ability to deal with daily challenges and stressors. Anxiety is excess activation in the nervous system so helping clients to release the activation in turn reduces their anxiety and then they can experience a sense of calm and feeling settled. Toxic stress affects the way we think and perceive reality so addressing the anxiety allows us to retrain the brain to manage the stress and perceived threat which reduces fear, worry, and panic.