Treatment for Anxiety in Adults
Effective Psychotherapy For Adult Anxiety
Newport Beach | Orange County CA
Is Anxiety & Worry Interfering With Your Life?
What Does Anxiety In Adults Look Like?
Do your find yourself in a state of constant worrying? Do you struggle with relaxation? Do you or a loved one lay awake at night stressing about deadlines, health issues, or the future?
Anxiety is one of the most common struggles for adults in the U.S. (DSM-5; Baxter, Scott, Vos, & Whiteford, 2013). Just like fear, anger, disgust, or sadness, anxiety is an emotional state. Feelings of anxiety arise when we anticipate a threat or uncertainty to prepare us to respond. Clinicians divide anxious feelings into bodily symptoms (somatic) and mental symptoms (cognitive). Bodily symptoms include might include shakiness, edginess, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. Mental symptoms include worry, difficulty concentrating, and fixation on certain fears or thoughts.
Many of adults confuse anxiety and fear, seeing them as one state of being. Although very similar, fear and anxiety have a few important distinctions (DSM-5; Getz, 2014).
As you can see in the “Why It Happens” section, fear and anxiety both have a functional purpose. Fear helps us address immediate threats, and anxiety helps us feel motivated to preemptively address threats before they happen.
Yet, anxiety can become dysfunctional when it keeps us from living life in accordance with our values. The DSM-5 has many different classifications of anxiety, as the dysfunction can present in multiple life domains.
Here are a few of the most common examples:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
A long-standing prevalence of intense worry that is difficult to control
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Fearfulness, nightmares/flashbacks, and avoidance of certain situations
Onset is caused by a traumatic event (witnessing death, victim of abuse, etc)
Abuse victims are at the highest risk (Lindert, von Ehrenstien, Grashow, Gal, Braehler, & Weisskopf, 2014)
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Fixation with certain behaviors (e.g. cleaning, tapping), numbers, or other patterns that help the person feel safe
Panic Disorder
Frequent panic attacks (feeling a loss of control, racing heart, sensation of choking/ dizziness)
Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense anxiety regarding social situations, speaking or eating around other people, etc.
Can also include performance or competition anxiety
Left untreated, symptoms of anxiety can be extremely disruptive and harmful (van Beljouw, Verhaak, Cuijpers, van Marwijk, & Penninx, 2010), even for physicians and other health professionals (Yelin, Mathias, Beusching, Rowland, Calcucin, & Fifer, 1996).
Do not let anxiety rule your life. If you or someone you know struggles with anxiety, there is hope. Schedule your first meeting with me today to get the help you need.
Definitions
Fear: Emotional response to an actual and present threat (e.g. a bear is attacking you right now)
Anxiety: Emotional response to an anticipated threat (e.g. you think a bear is going to attack soon)
When It Happens
Fear: Typically occurs when the threat is present
Anxiety: Occurs when one believes a threat is oncoming or possible
How the Body Responds
Fear: Brief “Fight or Flight” response:
Threat is detected
Stress hormones (e.g. adrenaline and cortisol) flood the bloodstream
Blood vessels constrict, pupils dilate, heartrate increases
Body is prepared to address the threat by attacking (fight) or running away (flight)
After the threat is addressed, body returns to baseline and relaxes
Anxiety: Long-term “Fight or Flight” response:
Threat or uncertainty is anticipated
Stress hormones are released into bloodstream
Body become alert (hypervigilant) and prepared for threat
Body maintains state of alertness, but threat may not occur
Brain begins to associate alertness with safety, thereby making anxiety the default
Why It Happens
Fear: To survive immediate danger
Anxiety: To prepare for future danger
Treatment for anxiety
Clinical psychologists take a careful and direct approach to helping adults overcome anxiety. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been found to be one of the most effective treatment options for anxiety (Öst & Ollendick, 2017; Warwick et al, 2017).
In treating anxiety disorders, my process begins with a thorough intake interview and diagnosis. Based on the diagnosis and the goals you have for improving your life, I design an evidence-based treatment plan with a focus in symptom reduction.
Therapy can help adults with anxiety:
Identify roots of anxious feelings
Regulate emotions and self-soothe
Decrease avoidance
Tactics for coping with panic symptoms
Increase tolerance and management of anxious feelings
Augmenting social skills
Increase confidence and feelings of self-efficacy
Awareness of anxiety triggers
Therapy is the fastest, most effective way to address your anxiety. Adults may also wish to discuss options for medication, which can help people with severe symptoms make rapid progress. These options will be discussed in our first meeting if desired.
Sometimes anxiety can keep people from seeking the help they need. Take the first step towards regaining control of your life, and schedule your first session today.
Interested? Let’s connect!
If you or your child are interested in therapy services, contact me as soon as possible. I would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about my practice.
It is never too late for your child to receive treatment. I believe I can help make a difference in your child’s life.
Together, we can help them reach their potential.
Dr. Montgomery holds dual certifications in Clinical Psychology (California Board of Psychology PSY28475) and Family Therapy (California Board of Behavioral Sciences MFT49608). He has dedicated his professional and academic activities to understanding and addressing psychological, behavioral and interpersonal health in children, adolescents, and families.
Education:
Psy.D. Clinical Psychology
M.A. Clinical Psychology
M.S. Counseling Psychology
B.A. Psychology