Managing Anxiety is more Effective when you Ask for Help

Anxiety disorders can affect anyone of any race, religion or economic status. Almost 20 percent of American adults suffer from this type of mental health condition. High levels of anxiety impact the person’s performance, and social interactions.  Via individual psychotherapy, the person can learn positive coping strategies for managing anxiety, like recognizing triggers and becoming more able to deal with the symptoms, according to Sara Paredes, Advantage Care Health Centers’ bilingual-Spanish Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Recognizing a Potentially Disruptive Problem

Although it is normal to feel anxious sometimes, anxiety disorders tend to be more intense and sometimes debilitating. Whether the problem is social anxiety, panic attacks or more generalized anxiety, Ms. Paredes says that many patients do not realize they have anxiety. In some cases, the person focuses on the physical symptoms thinking that they are experiencing a heart attack, but in reality it is a panic attack.

Many people who are dealing with anxiety still lack a real understanding of the disorder. The stigma associated with mental health problems sometimes causes individuals to try to manage anxiety issues on their own. This has been seen frequently in the Latino population.

Managing Anxiety with Psychotherapy

An anxiety disorder does not have to stop anyone from living a fulfilling life.

Most types of these disorders can be treated in individual therapy. In private sessions, trained professionals help patients talk through personal issues to help them overcome emotional difficulties.

Clinical Social Worker Paredes uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to assist individuals in managing anxiety.

These two types of treatments can help you to:

• Understand that negative or distorted thoughts may trigger anxiety
• Live in the moment
• Cope with stress
• Regulate your emotions
• Improve relationships
• And more

What to Expect from Individual Therapy

Individual therapy has been known to help with managing anxiety disorders. In a comfortable setting, a licensed therapist helps to explore personal issues, which include (but are not limited to):

• Expression of thoughts and emotions
• Behavior patterns
• Problem solving
• Conflict resolution
• Strengths and weaknesses

Individual therapy may be short-term (focusing on immediate issues) or long-term (dealing with more complex problems). The number of sessions and the frequency of appointments depends on an individual’s situation and the recommendations of the therapist.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker Sara Paredes Specializes in Mental Health

Fortunately, there is an alternative to dealing with anxiety alone.

If you would like help with improving mental wellness, you can make an appointment to see Sara Paredes, LCSW-R  or one of our other medical professionals.

Ms. Paredes is an accomplished bilingual-Spanish Clinical Social Worker with experience in the areas of Mental Health, Collaborative Care, Human Services, Substance Abuse and Developmental Disabilities. She has strong knowledge of evidence-based practices, assessment, and crisis intervention. Ms. Paredes is experienced in working with socio-culturally diverse, and under-served populations in mental health centers and FQHCs.

Contact us to request an appointment today.