Anxiety

Living with anxiety can feel like trying to tune a radio that just won’t quite settle on a clear station. The static is always there—sometimes louder, sometimes quieter—but it never fully fades away. Anxiety is not just a feeling of worry—it’s an all-encompassing experience that can affect your thoughts, your body, your relationships, and your sense of well-being. At Cypress Counseling & Wellness, we understand how overwhelming it can be to deal with anxiety, and we are committed to helping you find strategies that work for you. Our approach to treating anxiety is as unique as you are; there’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to mental health.

Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety comes in many forms. It could be a constant, gnawing worry about everyday things, a sudden surge of panic that feels like it comes out of nowhere, or the relentless need to control what feels uncontrollable. Panic and anxiety attacks can be some of the most overwhelming aspects of anxiety, leaving you feeling helpless and physically drained. These episodes often come with intense physical symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath, making it feel like you’re in real danger even when you are safe.

Our bodies are wired to pick up on cues of danger or safety, which can trigger anxiety or help calm it. Anxiety often results from the nervous system being stuck in a state of hyper-awareness, misinterpreting cues as threats. At Cypress Counseling & Wellness, we draw on principles from polyvagal theory to help you understand and regulate these cues. We are dedicated to creating a safe space for you to do the work, helping your nervous system feel safe enough to begin the process of healing and recovery.

Our Approach to Anxiety Treatment

Our approach to treating anxiety is integrative, drawing on evidence-based practices to meet your specific needs. Some of the modalities we use include:

• Polyvagal-Informed Therapy: We incorporate polyvagal theory to help clients understand their autonomic nervous system responses and develop tools to shift from states of danger and dysregulation to feelings of safety and calm.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT helps individuals learn to accept their thoughts and feelings rather than fight against them, encouraging a values-driven approach to life even in the presence of anxiety.

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): EFT is particularly effective for anxiety that affects relationships. By understanding and transforming emotional responses, EFT can help individuals and couples create secure, supportive connections.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT combines mindfulness with strategies for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It’s a powerful approach for managing intense emotions and reducing anxiety.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is an effective approach to help manage anxiety by identifying and challenging unhelpful thought patterns. Together, we will work to reframe these thoughts and develop healthier ways to respond to them.

• Mindfulness-Based Approaches: Anxiety often pulls you out of the present moment, leading to worry about the future or rumination about the past. Mindfulness techniques help ground you in the here and now, reducing the power of anxious thoughts over your day-to-day life.

• Neurofeedback: Anxiety can be linked to dysregulation in the brain, and neurofeedback works to retrain the brain to regulate itself more effectively. By promoting balance, neurofeedback helps reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and restlessness.

• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP): Anxiety often puts the nervous system in a state of constant alert. SSP helps calm the nervous system, creating a foundation of safety that allows you to approach other treatments more effectively.

• Breathwork and Somatic Techniques: Anxiety doesn’t just live in your mind—it often affects your body as well. Breathwork and somatic practices help you reconnect with your body and release the physical tension that anxiety can cause, helping you feel more grounded and at ease.

Personalized Care for Anxiety

At Cypress Counseling & Wellness, we know that anxiety is different for everyone, and we are committed to providing care that is tailored to you. Our team has depth and breadth of training and expertise in treating anxiety, allowing us to bring specialized care to every session. Whether you are struggling with social anxiety, panic attacks, or generalized anxiety, we work with you to understand your specific challenges and integrate the best approaches for your situation. Together, we will find ways to make anxiety more manageable, helping you feel more connected, confident, and in control.

Take the Next Step

If anxiety has a grip on your life, know that you don’t have to face it alone. Cypress Counseling & Wellness is here to help you understand and manage your anxiety in a way that feels right for you. Reach out to us today to learn more or schedule an appointment. We are ready to support you in finding balance, peace, and a renewed sense of well-being.