How Psychotherapy Can Help With Your Anxiety

Does it feel like anxiety is ruining your life? Have you been taking medication, but it feels like you need something more? It might be that psychotherapy can help you get past the blocks that are preventing you from maintaining a healthy baseline, so you can live the life you have been striving for.

As a board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Ifeanyi Olele of Genesis Psychiatric Solutions offers psychotherapy services at his offices in Fairfax and Alexandria, Virginia, as well as in Washington, DC; Boca Raton, Florida; and Los Angeles, California. 

He also offers these services via telepsychiatry, so you can benefit from psychotherapy from the comfort of your own home.   

The many faces of anxiety

There isn’t just one type of anxiety, just as there isn’t a set list of symptoms. An anxiety disorder can lead to acute episodes of panic in moments of stress or simply feel like an overwhelming and pervasive feeling of unease all the time. 

Types of anxiety disorders 

There are many types of anxiety disorders, including specific phobias that can make it difficult to get through your day if they become thought-consuming.

• Generalized anxiety disorder (being anxious or worried about everything)
• Agoraphobia (fear of going outside, experiencing new things, or visiting strange places)
• Social anxiety disorder (worry about judgment when in public or with a group of people)
• Separation anxiety (common in those with strong attachments to or reliance on others)
• Panic disorder (often causes complete shutdown or hysterical behavior)
• Phobias about spiders, airplanes, clowns, or other animate or inanimate things

Symptoms of anxiety can include but aren’t limited to:

• Feeling nervous all the time
• Having trouble concentrating  
• Increased heart rate and/or hyperventilation
• Sweating, shaking, or trembling
• Fatigue or muscle weakness
• Constant fidgeting (nail biting, hair twisting, hand wringing)
• Gastrointestinal problems 
• A tendency to catastrophize normal events

Dr. Olele finds out what kind of anxiety disorder you’re experiencing and can help you with a range of therapies, including psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy for anxiety

Psychotherapy is a term referring to mental health treatment delivered by a professional who uses talking about issues to help patients work through them and develop healthy, effective coping mechanisms.

For example, if Dr. Olele can identify panic attack triggers in psychotherapy, he can help you recognize them when they are occurring. You would then be able to head off an extreme reaction by removing yourself from the situation or practicing other forms of self-care. 

Triggers might be tied to a specific event, like trauma from your childhood, an assault, or the loss of a loved one. It can also be from a less obviously stressful situation, such as a work change, the arrival of a new baby, or a move to new living quarters.

You may experience strong emotions during psychotherapy. This is expected, and you are in a safe place during your sessions with Dr. Olele. It may take multiple sessions, but over time, you’ll notice your anxiety is more controllable and your life becomes easier.

Dr. Olele provides for your mental health needs both in person and via telehealth. If you’re interested in exploring what psychotherapy can do for your anxiety, get in touch with us by visiting our contact page.