Anxiety

John is an accountant. As head of his department, his days are spent making sure that each account is managed with precision; that every financial report is accurate and provided in a timely manner. It is a high-stress position. Aside from the normal stress of his career, he also worries excessively. He worries that despite his decades of service to the firm, he may one day find himself out of work. He knows this is very unlikely, but for some reason cannot shake the feeling. It haunts him daily and he simply cannot understand why.

Anxious Corporate leader stares out window.

What is happening with John?

John is experiencing what is commonly termed General Anxiety. The proper term is Generalized Anxiety Disorder and in the United States, nearly 1-in-5 people suffer from this or another form of anxiety each year. Of these, only about a third will seek treatment. Why?

In part, because of the erroneous belief that anxiety is simply stress.

Stress is something we all face and it passes with time as the circumstances causing the stress pass. Many believe that if they just “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” or simply “try harder” the feelings will pass. If stress is the cause, it will. But if the feelings do not pass, anxiety is the issue.

Anxiety is more than simply stress, though it can be stress-related. Anxiety disorders are both uncomfortable and debilitating. In extreme cases, anxiety can even lead to death. Getting help for anxiety therefore, is vital.

What is anxiety and how can Lev Counseling help?

Anxiety vs. Stress

Anxiety happens when emotions, fears and painful thoughts become debilitating. An avalanche of symptoms can disrupt job performance, impede relationships at home or work and lead to the onset of self-destructive coping behaviors including alcohol and drug abuse.

To be clear, there is a very thin line between stress and anxiety, but knowing the difference can save your life or the life of someone you love.

Stress is usually caused by external factors like the loss of employment, someone we love, uncertainties in the economy, work deadlines, chronic illness or some other finite event. Even getting married is stressful as is divorce. Yet, these stressors eventually pass with no lasting harm.

Anxiety on the other hand is not caused by external forces. Instead, anxiety stems from internal forces that appear regardless of stressors. It involves persistent, excessive worries which have little to no rational basis. And while stress is not the same as anxiety, stress can easily add to feelings of anxiety already present. This makes coping that much harder.

Rarely does the person suffering from anxiety recognize there is no logic behind their fear. This lack of understanding often leads to further anxiety as they pressure themself to “get it together.” Yet, try as they might, without help their situation often worsens. This is why a professional therapist provides the psychotherapy needed to understand the cause of the anxiety. Only in this way can relief be found.

Are you ready to ease anxiety? Call Wendi Lev Counseling at (312) 899-1120 today.

Types of Anxiety

Social Anxiety/Performance Anxiety:

Social anxiety is fueled by extreme fears of social or performance situations. Fears of being criticized or rejected socially can severely restrict an individual from leading a fulfilling life. Such fears are amplified in the age of Coronavirus.

I help busy professionals, corporate heads, business leaders and entrepreneurs cope with social anxiety.

With everything happening in the world, with the extreme shifts in how we socialize, there is little wonder many are finding it difficult to cope. Fears related to Coronavirus are many, from how to safely conduct business free from contagion to potential lawsuits to whether our children or parents will be safe.

Humans are social creatures, yet in the age of Coronavirus we are unable to socialize as we would like. This impacts everything from our personal relationships to our business dealings and only serves to amplify social anxiety.

For help with Social Anxiety, contact Wendi Lev now.

Generalized Anxiety

Fear plays a key role in generalized anxiety, but one of the most important elements is uncertainty. When we are unsure about the future, when we simply cannot seem to gather enough accurate information to make an informed decision, general anxiety easily grows. When this happens, we become in a sense paralyzed, unable to move forward in any significant way.

Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder excessively worry – all day, every day. Dominant thoughts include fears about health, employment and relationships. People who suffer from general anxiety also may worry about normal everyday situations. As their fears and anxieties escalate, they begin to experience difficulties managing even ordinary tasks.

Without treatment, the very fears from which the anxiety manifests can lead to self-fulfilling events like being fired or the breaking off of important relationships. This, in turn, causes more stress and anxiety. Breaking free from this cycle is not easy, but counseling will help.

In the age of coronavirus, generalized anxiety is on the rise. Wendi Lev Counseling can help. Reach out now for assistance.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD develops after a severe trauma like natural disasters, accidents, crime, military combat or something similar. Yet, PTSD can also develop slowly over time. This most often occurs in sexual and emotional abuse victims, where the abuse is carried out over a long period, slowly.

Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks of the traumatic event, nightmares and frightening thoughts. These severely interfere with the daily routine months, even years after the event.

Learning to cope with this form of anxiety disorder is complicated and takes time, but numerous techniques have been developed to help. The trauma is in the past and while nothing can remove the memory, careful, compassionate counseling can help alleviate the pain. At Lev Counseling, we provide clients with the tools needed to manage PTSD.

Panic Disorder

Nearly 5% of the population will experience a panic disorder at some point in their life. Panic disorder is characterized by repeated, unexpected episodes of intense fear termed Panic Attacks. These attacks include physical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, heart palpitations and abdominal pain.

The worst part of panic disorder is that the episodes appear suddenly, out-of-the-blue, with no clear connection to a stressor. When these recurrent attacks begin, first-time sufferers begin to believe they are ‘losing their mind.’ Nothing could be further from the truth.

Yet, few seek professional help right away. Many try to manage their panic attacks themselves, often hiding the episodes from others. Many will begin to restrict normal activities and become less social in an effort to manage their condition.

Suffering in silence is common among those who suffer from panic disorder but this need not be the case. Lev Counseling can help. Call us at 312.899.1120

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Most people over 40 have seen the Jack Nicholson movie As Good As it Gets. A rom-com, the movie exposed millions to the anxiety disorder known as OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. In fact, many of the symptoms displayed by the Nicholson character are commonly felt by millions daily.

OCD is marked by rituals known as compulsions and obsessive thoughts. Combined, the obsessions and compulsions work to keep a sufferer trapped in a lifestyle that is cumbersome, at times embarrassing and difficult to manage.

Yet, with proper counseling, people with OCD can live reasonably normal, productive lives.

Phobias

Famed writer Stephen King became the king of fear novels for one good reason: His books play on the most common fears most of us have. But phobias are more than the simple fears we all possess. Phobias are excessive fear, debilitating fear, a form of anxiety.

While the list of specific phobias is virtually endless, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) puts all phobias into five categories. These are:

Fears related to animals (i.e. spiders or dogs)
Fears related to nature (i.e. heights or the dark)
Fears related to medical issues (i.e.needles or going to the doctor)
Fears related to situations (i.e. flying or riding elevators)
Other fears (i.e. drowning or loud noises)

Regardless of the exact fear, if it causes disruptions in your life, is a source of significant suffering or otherwise causes problems, you should discuss your phobia with a licensed counselor who can help.

Just as every person is unique, every situation is unique. The goal of therapy is to help you as an individual cope. However, anxiety is always tied in some way to relationships.

Counseling cannot remove the exterior stressors which add to anxiety, but it can help you manage your feelings. This will lead to increased happiness and productivity. When others are just surviving, you will be thriving. This will provide you with a competitive edge despite what is happening today.

Anxiety can take many forms and effect sufferers in different ways. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder which impacts the lives of many, especially those who have lived through traumatic events. Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Phobias are also forms of anxiety.

Just as every person is unique, every situation is unique. The goal of therapy is to help you as an individual cope. However, anxiety is always tied in some way to relationships.

How I help with anxiety

Wendi Lev

LCSW, ACSW, CADC

Hi. I am Wendi Lev. For over a decade I have successfully helped hundreds of clients learn to cope with stress and reduce anxiety.

Using sound, proven therapeutic approaches, I help people struggling with even the most extreme forms of anxiety including PTSD, specific phobias, panic disorders and more. Even in severe cases, anxiety can be treated.

Yet, the first thing I do is get to know YOU. You are unique. There is no one on the planet like you. And your situation is unique. The people in your life are unique. And the relationship we will develop will also be unique. Unique and productive.

If you are still reading, congratulations! Your willingness to expand your knowledge leads to self-awareness, which is a huge asset. Perfect. You have taken the first step towards healing.

The next step is for us to talk. I create a safe environment that is conducive for honest dialogue. During our first appointment, we will assess your situation and discuss possible treatment plans. There is no one-size-fits-all path to healing anxiety, so we will consider options based on your unique situation. Learn about the Therapeutic Approaches I use here.

Finally, unlike most counselors, I do not restrict you to a certain time frame during our sessions. The fact is that if you need more time, you need more time. Rather than stop the clock at 45 minutes, if you need to continue, we continue. The goal is to be as productive as necessary so you can quickly heal.

If you are ready to take the next step towards healing, contact me here or call now (312) 899-1120

CONTACT ME

Get Started Today by Calling (312) 899-1120