Famous fear writer Stephen King revealed that his greatest tool for creating terror in readers was getting their imagination to fill-in-the-blanks. In other words, fear of the unknown is his most powerful tool as a fear writer.

 

 

Not surprisingly, fear of the unknown ranks very high among people who experience anxiety. And few things have caused as much anxiety as the novel coronavirus, largely because so much about it is unknown.

Mental health issues amid the COVID pandemic are of such concern, that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posted a series of articles specifically related to anxiety. The CDC noted,

 

“The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a new disease and what could happen can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, can make people feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.”

 

Thus, aside from the newness of this disease, we must also contend with feelings of isolation and loneliness because of social distancing.

 

And if that were not enough, the very thing we use to keep in touch with those we care about, is adding to COVID-related anxiety. As noted in the Harvard Gazette, there is a misinformation pandemic on social media. This misinformation is adding to the stress and anxiety many already feel because misinformation feeds into our fear of the unknown.

Aside from various ways to cope with anxiety in general, how can we combat COVID19-related anxiety specifically?

 

Forbes noted that social media users are more likely to believe false information than those who do not use social media. And despite attempts by social media companies to stem the tide of misinformation, success is spotty at best. A post containing false information may be viewed and shared by millions before the media fact checkers can have it flagged or removed.

 

Hence, the easiest way to avoid false coronavirus info is to simply stay away from social media. Rather than using social media to stay in touch with friends, why not call, text or use a free web conference service?

 

Another way to make sure that the information you get about COVID19 is accurate is to listen to non-political, expert sources. The CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are government organizations which provide the most up-to-date, reliable information on public health issues like the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Research hospitals like Johns Hopkins University and the Mayo Clinic are also well-established as reliable sources for current and ongoing health issues.

 

Another great way to get accurate pandemic information in your area is to check with your local public health agency. The National Association of County Health Officials provides an interactive map directory for just that purpose.

Finally, those who have suffered the loss of a loved one at this time or have contracted the disease may suffer from anxiety or depression. Further complicating matters may be natural fears of going out into public again.

 

If this applies to you, know that help is available. Lev Counseling offers in-office or remote therapy services via web conference. Sessions are scheduled the same as any other, but we can meet online if you prefer.

 

If you would like to make arrangements for COVID-related counseling for anxiety or depression, click here or call now (312) 899-1120.

We all want our lives to be picture perfect. Everything we do – we want to do it in the best way possible and to the best of our abilities. However, most of us also understand that everything cannot always be on point. Flaws and errors are also an important part of life. This understanding helps us achieve inner peace and stay positive even when things are not going our way.

 

So, does this mean that striving for perfection is a bad thing? Well, not necessarily. In fact, healthy perfectionism is often seen as a positive trait that keeps you motivated and working towards your goals in life. However, this very same trait can turn your life into a never-ending test. To understand how perfectionism may be ruining your peace and happiness and how therapy for perfectionism can help you, first, it is important to understand what it is.

Perfectionism can be described as a need to be perfect at all times. It entails the belief that it is possible to achieve ultimate perfection in life. You can think of it as a personality trait that is characterized by the need to strive for flawlessness. People with perfectionism set very high-performance goals for themselves.

 

Now, that doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Well, while it may seem like a positive trait, most people fail to see how perfectionism may be holding them back from success.

 

The problem is that perfectionism is also accompanied by critical self-assessing behavior. Moreover, it is important to understand that perfectionism is not the same as trying to be your best. It is a need to be perfect. When that’s not possible, people with perfectionism beat themselves up over the inability to achieve their goal. What they fail to realize is that the goal may be unattainable to begin with! Regardless, critical self-evaluation leads to problems like low self-esteem and even depression.

Perfectionism is a downward spiral of dissatisfaction. People with perfectionism are never fully satisfied or content with where they may be in life. Their need to be perfect keeps them running from one goal to another. As a result, they are often able to achieve some or most of their goals, which is why perfectionism is more prevalent in high-achieving professionals. Regardless of what they achieve, they don’t think it is enough to keep them satisfied for long and they lead an unhappy life.

 

All in all, the long-term effects of perfectionism can be devastating! However, there’s no need to worry if you think you struggle with perfectionist behavior. With therapy and self-awareness, it is possible to live a fully satisfactory life. This is why therapy for professionals and therapy for high-achievers is a popular way of avoiding the negative aspects of perfectionism. With therapy, you can use this trait to improve your life in a healthy way!

Since perfectionism has positive aspects as well as negative aspects, it is often characterized as a multidimensional characteristic. There are different types of perfectionism. Let’s take a look at them.

 

• Self-Oriented Perfectionism: Self-oriented perfectionists expect themselves to be perfect. They will set very high achieving goals for themselves and then be super critical about themselves if they fail to achieve those goals.
• Socially Prescribed Perfectionism: Socially prescribed perfectionists believe that they are expected to be perfect. They are not extremely self-critical, but they believe others will judge them if they are unable to fulfill high achieving goals. These perfectionists have low self- esteem and self-deprecating behavior.
• Overt Perfectionism: Overt perfectionists fear failure more than everything. If they feel they may fail at a job, they will avoid it at all costs. If they don’t perform the job, they can’t fail and stay perfect. They fear failure and crave control.
• Other-Oriented Perfectionism: Being extremely critical of other people’s performance, these types of perfectionists are never fully satisfied with the people around them. They have impossibly high expectations of others and criticize them when they don’t perform accordingly.
• Covert Perfectionism: Covert perfectionists can be hard to identify. They have low expectations of the people around them. Outwardly, they prefer to be average. However, internally they wish to succeed.

If you think you are struggling with perfectionism, you are not alone. The number of perfectionists is on the rise all around the world, especially among the younger generation. It is noted that young people hold irrationally high standards about how they should look, their personal and academic achievements, their possessions, etc.

 

If this is ruining your peace of mind and keeping you from leading a happy life, it may be time to seek help. It is also important to understand that your need to be perfect may be the very thing that’s keeping you from achieving success. It’s time you look beyond perfectionism and turn your life around. I can help you learn not only how to deal with perfectionism but also how to use it to your advantage.

 

Here are some methods that you can learn with me to battle perfectionism.

Attaining self-awareness is the first step in managing perfectionist tendencies. The journey to leading a happy and satisfying life starts with getting to know yourself better. I can help you understand your behavior. You will learn why you do what you do, why you can’t let go of faults and errors, and how you can better your thoughts and actions.

People with perfectionism often struggle with fixed perspectives. They see life as a race that they must win at all costs. However, gaining an alternate perspective may be the solution to the problem.

Perfectionism often arises out of conditional parental love. Whether intentionally or unintentionally parents can make children feel they’ll be loved only if they behave a certain way. This can later manifest in the personality as perfectionism. I can help you get to the root of the problem. From there, we will work together to battle perfectionism.

Low self-esteem, lack of self-worth, and lack of confidence are some of the negative aspects of perfectionism. I can provide evidence-based skills to help you get over these issues. You will learn how to practice mindfulness to live in the moment instead of worrying about succeeding in the future or beating yourself up about your past errors. We will also work on clarifying values to help you assess the most important things in life. Finally, through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), you will be able to alter negative thinking and control how you react to situations.

 

These are some basic steps that we will explore together to help you get rid of perfectionism. Don’t let the illusion of a perfect life keep you from happiness. Remember, therapy for perfectionism, especially therapy for professionals and therapy for high achievers are highly effective. Don’t lead an unsatisfactory life when you can be truly happy!

It’s time you take control of the situation, find the root cause of your perfectionism, and target the underlying problem. A better life is just around the corner. So, seek help today and allow me to help you lead a life full of love and happiness!

Do you avoid social situations purposefully? Is the fear of rejection keeping you from achieving your full potential? Do you experience overwhelming anxiety when you need to give a presentation at work? Are you highly self-conscious, especially in a social setting? Do you often find it hard to think of the right things to say in a gathering? Do you beat yourself up about the things you do say? Do you dread being the center of attention? Do you feel judged or negatively evaluated? Are these feelings keeping you from mingling with friends, family, and acquaintances?

 

If you answered yes to most or all of these questions, you are probably struggling with social anxiety. But there’s nothing to worry about – it is possible to manage social anxiety and lead a happy life. All you need to do is learn how to deal with social anxiety!

Everyone gets self-conscious every once in a while. But does that mean you have a social anxiety disorder? Well, if your anxiety is keeping you from living your life to the fullest, it is probably more than everyday stress and anxiety – you may be suffering from a social anxiety disorder. This disorder can lead to psychological distress and a number of other problems. Let’s take a look at what a person with social anxiety feels on a daily basis.

Social anxiety is more than just a nagging feeling. It has very real, physical and psychological impacts. Let’s take a look at an example to understand what a person with social anxiety goes through every day and how it may affect their life. Imagine a student who struggles with social anxiety. Their anxious behavior will bring down their confidence, keeping them from participating in academic activities – even when they can excel in it. They will also experience low self-esteem, which will have a direct impact on their social life.

 

Now, this combo of lack of confidence and low self-esteem can be deadly. It will keep them from mingling with fellow students. They will feel anxious to be part of a conversation, fearing they will say something silly that may lead to other’s disapproval. Many people will even mistake their social anxiety for rudeness or proudness!

 

However, even when this is not the case, people with social anxiety tend to over-analyze their behavior, resulting in frequent negative thoughts about themselves.

 

Why am I like this? Why can’t I say what’s inside my head? I hate it that I freeze in social situations. My friends probably hate me now. I am good for nothing!

 

Such thoughts run through their mind every day. Unable to share their troubles, they often feel judged, misunderstood, and alone. Moreover, repressing these feelings and living with fear, apprehension, and pain for years may eventually lead to depression, which is the same as opening a Pandora’s box.

 

In short, living with social anxiety is not easy at all. A psychotherapist, like myself, understands how frustrating social anxiety can get, which is why seeking help from a professional is the best option for people struggling with a social anxiety disorder. A professional therapist like me will be able to get to the root of the problem and help you identify the symptoms of social anxiety so that you are better equipped to manage and elevate it.

It is important to understand that everyone experiences social anxiety differently. It is worse for some people than others, which is why physical symptoms of social anxiety also vary from person to person. Here’s a list of some common symptoms that people with social anxiety may experience in social settings.

 

• Rapid heartbeat
• Lightheadedness
• Dry throat
• Muscle tension
• Stomach ache or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath

 

You may start getting anxious days before the event. Plus, this anxiety doesn’t end with the event. Instead, most people with social anxiety disorder spend days after the event critically analyzing their words, actions, and behavior at the event. This can cause some serious psychological distress, impacting the overall quality of life. For all these reasons, it is important to know how to deal with a social anxiety disorder if you want to lead a content and happy life.

One of the biggest concerns for people with a social anxiety disorder is appearing anxious. They worry excessively about acting visibly anxious, especially around friends and family. This makes them want to avoid social interactions, and when that’s not possible, they feel anxious and uncomfortable. They don’t want anyone to know how they feel out of fear of rejection. It can be deeply traumatic to feel stressed, anxious, and uncomfortable every time you are in the company of others!

 

It affects not only your personal but also your professional life. For instance, going for a job interview may seem like a nightmare for a person with a social anxiety disorder. They may dread official meetings as colleagues are expected to discuss work and socialize in these meetings. Plus, the level of anxiety that they may experience during such social interactions is so high that they don’t even remember half the things being said.

 

All this can be extremely frustrating, especially when you are well equipped to perform the job flawlessly but your social anxiety disorder keeps you from reaching your full potential.

Social anxiety is much more common than you may have imagined. This is mainly because many people with social anxiety are extremely good at masking it. Moreover, a lot of people confuse it with shyness. Even psychologists and counselors question the premise that this disorder is the same as shyness or not.

 

According to research by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, social anxiety disorder affects nearly 15 million adults in the US alone! However, the good news is that anxiety disorders are treatable, which means that people with anxiety disorder can overcome their fears and lead a happy and healthy life. The success rate of anxiety therapy is quite high. Unfortunately, around 36% of the people with social anxiety disorder suffer silently for 10 years or more before getting help.

 

Make sure you don’t make the same mistake. If you are struggling with social anxiety and it is affecting your way of life, it’s time you take a stand for yourself. Control your anxiety instead of letting it control you. Let’s learn how!

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anxiety 

The basic premise of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is that it is our internal thoughts, not external events, that affect our behavior. So, if you can learn to control your thoughts and train your brain, you will be able to control how you react to a situation. As the name suggests, CBT involves two main components.

 

• Cognitive Therapy: It involves examining and understanding how negative thoughts contribute to anxiety in a social setting.
• Behavioral Therapy: It involves examining how you react to situations that trigger social anxiety. From there, you can learn how to deal with social anxiety and better yourself.

 

However, keep in mind that CBT for anxiety should be extensive and must cover all aspects of anxiety to be fully effective.

• Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness teaches us to be reflective instead of reactive. In simple words, you will learn how to stay focused on what’s happening in the present rather than worrying about the past or the future. Research shows that practicing mindfulness can help relieve social anxiety. By practicing mindfulness, you will become aware of emotions. Instead of acting on them instinctively, you will be able to take a more adaptive approach to difficult situations.

• Build Mental Strength

Just like physical strength is essential to keep the body fit and active, mental strength is important to keep your mind working like a well-oiled machine. The more mentally strong you are, the easier it will be for you to deal with social anxiety. You will learn various methods to build mental strength and calm your mind in stressful situations.

 

These are just a few methods that we can explore to help elevate your social anxiety. Remember, social anxiety disorder is common and manageable. So, don’t let it dictate your life.

It’s time you take control of the situation, find the root cause of your social anxiety, and target the underlying problem. A better life is just around the corner. So, seek help today and allow me to help you lead a life full of love and happiness!