Therapy for Anxiety - Boulder Colorado Therapy

What does anxiety feel like

Written by: Samuel Dunlap, LSW and Lance Hauge, MA. Lance and Samuel are both psychotherapists with a combined experience of over 40 years in the fields of mental health and personal development /performance/healing/awakening. They are the authors of the articles on bouldercoloradotherapy.com, and Lance hosts “The Dimension Approach Podcast.” AI tools were used to help us with our clumsy grammar and syntax. Click here to read about the authors. [Updated November 5, 2023]

What is anxiety? What does it feel like?

Anxiety is a complex mental, emotional, energetic state that is characterized by the hyperactive, sympathetic response of our central nervous system. Even when we acknowledge that we are anxious and realize there's no immediate threat in our surroundings, we still feel a sense of unease, fear, worry, or dread. Despite our rational understanding that everything should be fine, the energetic charge of anxiety seeks an outlet that our psyche is compelled to manage. Ignoring this energy is not an option; it demands some form of movement facilitated by specific psychological structures that can channel, receive, ground, or contain this energetic charge. Unmanaged anxiety operates like a persistent background application, constantly sapping our energy, even when we're not consciously engaged with it. This drain on our vitality can leave us feeling exhausted, defeated, and with diminished creativity and motivation, hindering our ability to enjoy life fully.

How do I know if I have anxiety?

Note: We commonly see clients whose affinity for anxious health researching—sometimes scouring the web for hours late at night— actually is counterproductive. Notice how/if anxiety shows up for you as you read this article. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent mental health issue in the United States, affecting an estimated 40 million adults, which is about 18% of the population, with symptoms typically emerging before age 21. In a broader scope, approximately 31.1% will encounter an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Approximately one in four teenagers experience anxiety, a growing trend.

Specifically, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) impacts 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, with only 43.2% receiving treatment. Women have a double the risk of experiencing anxiety compared to men. Symptom severity data from 2019 reveals that 9.5% of adults suffered mild anxiety symptoms, while 3.4% experienced moderate symptoms, and 2.7% experienced severe symptoms.

Calming down from anxiety

While a certain level of anxiety can be a natural response to stressful situations—such as a looming work deadline, an upcoming date, or financial responsibilities—it becomes problematic when it persistently negatively disrupts various facets of your life (professional performance, creative performance, relationships, and mental & physical well-being).

Brief episodes of anxiety related to specific events usually fade over time and don't generally interfere with your quality of life. However, if you find that your feelings of fear and worry persist irrespective of the situation, it's an indication that you might be dealing with something beyond normal stress. This enduring pattern of emotional turmoil is not something you can simply ignore or will away; it requires attention and possibly intervention.

This nuanced understanding of anxiety can be essential for recognizing when it's time to seek help. Scheduling an initial meeting with professionals at Boulder Colorado Therapy will provide more in-depth analysis and treatment plan.

Here are some real world examples of struggles with anxiety that we have helped our clients solve… Do any of these sound like you?

“I have reached a certain point of success in life, and am doing everything I “should” do, but I still feel an emptiness and uneasiness in the way I am living.”

“I am obsessed with fast-paced work and activities, but can’t actually focus. The quality of my work is deteriorating. I am totally overwhelmed and inevitably I eventually crash and fail.”

“Constant worry and stress means that I can’t enjoy the pleasant times in my life. I feel continuously dissatisfied & uncertain, and feel like I am wasting or missing the preciousness of life.”

“Anxiety disrupts my connection with family, friends, and colleagues. I get anxious about those that I am closest to. I have a short temper and cry easily, and am worried about how my anxiety affects the other people in my life.”

“I avoid basic activities that others aren’t bothered by (meeting new people, confronting conflict in relationships, leaving the house, etc.) because it feels as if I will have a panic attack.” 

“I can never relax at night. I crave high-carbohydrate foods and sweets, and sometimes drugs & alcohol in order to wind down and fall asleep. I wake up in the middle of the night panicking.”

Contemplating Anxiety

Why do I have anxiety? Where does anxiety come from?

Anxiety can be caused by a variety of factors. Because our nervous systems are so complex it is difficult to assess the root cause of anxiety by one’s self, as it often involves a process of self-reflection, self-examination, expert reflections and guidance, and explorations of a our unconscious wiring.

1. Trauma

Most of us have faced stressful and/or traumatic life events. When we are faced with difficult, abrasive, and painful experiences, especially as children, we can become habituated into bracing and constricting our bodies/minds/nervous systems to dampen the impact of the experience. This bracing or “mental splitting” that happens is the defining psychological feature of a traumatic experience. This splitting that happens— the process of turning away from, disowning, or repressing our negative feelings— can stay unconsciously embedded within our psychological patterning for years, and hugely impact our personality and anxious tendencies. For example, survival “fight, flight, and freeze” physiological responses to traumatic experiences can lead to ongoing volatile modulations in the regulation of the nervous system. Traumatic experience can range from 1-time, acute events, such as a car crash, to chronically stressful experiences known as complex trauma. When blocked unconscious emotions and experiences come into conflict with each other, the result is often anxiety. For example the unconscious conflict between being afraid of commitment versus wanting connection in romantic relationships, or the desire to belong to a new group of people, but a fear of being judged.

Trauma Glass Shattering

2. Mental Stress

Mental stress, characterized by the accumulation of tension from a multitude of minor life stressors, can significantly trigger emotions that lead to anxiety. It often finds its roots in various aspects of life such as social pressures, life transitions, pre-/postpartum financial pressures, relationship challenges, work-related pressure, academic, artistic, or athletic performance, questioning of gender/sexual/cultural identity, workaholism or lack of work/life balance, environmental (climate) change and other current events, chronic illness, isolation, and familial loss.

Individual personality traits can also predispose us to varying levels of stress. Traits like perfectionism, excessively high self-expectations, excessive worry, worst-case scenario thinking, or obsessive thinking, can exacerbate stress and anxiety. The coexistence of other mental health disorders, like depression, often accompanies anxiety disorders, creating a complex interplay of emotional challenges. 

The evolving technological landscape also poses challenges to protecting our mental wellbeing. We set high expectations for ourselves and constantly compare ourselves to the perfect—albeit constructed—lives depicted on social media sites, and then beat ourselves up when we fall short. These self-critical beliefs can leave us feeling even more disconnected from the people around us and feeling unworthy, ineffective, unneeded or without any real purpose.Nearly half of Americans acknowledge a phone addiction, with 47% confessing to this modern dependency. Smartphones command attention an astonishing 352 times daily on average among American users. A significant 71% of individuals prioritize phone time over moments with their significant others. Children are not exempt from this digital pull, as almost 65% are engaged with their smartphones for four hours or more each day. Astonishingly, a whopping 44% of American adults experience anxiety when separated from their mobile devices, showing just how emotionally reliant on this technology we are. Video game addictions are also becoming increasingly common. An overwhelming majority of American children, ranging from 90% to 99%, are involved in video gaming and over 60 million people globally are actively addicted.

3. Physical health:

Physical health also significantly impacts mental well-being and anxiety levels. The most important things to pay attention to are healthy nutrition, regular sleep & exercise, and limiting or eliminating substance use.

Aside from unhealthy habits, a family history of anxiety disorders could signify a genetic tendency towards anxiety. Similarly, disparities in brain chemistry, such as imbalances in serotonin and dopamine levels, can be fundamental drivers of anxiety. Chronic medical conditions or hormonal imbalances, like thyroid disorders, often carry a potential to manifest as anxiety symptoms.

Physical health habits

What are common symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety symptoms vary widely from person-to-person. Symptoms include:

    • Restlessness

    • Racing thoughts

    • Obsessive worry

    • Panic attacks

    • Claustrophobia

    • Difficulty concentrating or being productive

    • Overwhelm, hopelessness, or defeat

    • Irritability or sadness

    • Persistently high stress

    • Fixations on fears

    • Overanalyzing potential negative outcomes

    • Compulsions or uncontrollable habits like nail biting, repeated hand-washing, or hair-pulling (trichotillomania).

    • Muscle tension and fatigue

    • Muscle numbness or tingling

    • Headaches and migraines

    • Unintentional weight fluctuations

    • Dizziness or lightheadedness

    • Upset stomach or digestive issues

    • Shortness of breath or chest pain

    • Sleep deprivation

    • Racing Heart Rate

    • Vision changes

  • Panic attacks are acute episodes of overwhelming anxiety that prompt both physical and emotional symptoms. These intense episodes can give you the feeling that you're in imminent danger, even if there is no actual threat present. Physical sensations during a panic attack often include a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and chest pain, leading many to mistake it for a heart attack. The experience can be terrifying, leading to avoidance behaviors in an attempt to prevent future episodes.

    From a neurological perspective, a panic attack activates your fight, flight, or freeze response to an extreme degree. Your brain releases chemicals that prepare your body to confront or flee from a perceived life-threatening situation. This heightened state causes rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, and dampens the activity in the rational part of your brain—the prefrontal cortex—because its slower decision-making process is deemed inefficient during such moments. Essentially, your brain is preparing you to face mortal danger, even if you are just engaged in a mundane task like grocery shopping.

  • Note on diagnosing and screening for disorders:

    The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a book that provides a comprehensive classification system for a wide array of mental disorders, outlines a standardized criteria of client symptoms to aid in diagnosis.

    However, the DSM has its limitations; it is often criticized for its categorical approach to the complex spectrum of mental health, potentially leading to over-diagnosis or the pathologization of normal behavioral variations. Originally, the DSM was not crafted with the intention of serving as a research tool; it was designed for clinical purposes—to assist practitioners in identifying and communicating about mental health conditions. Over time, its role has expanded beyond its initial scope, becoming a cornerstone in both clinical diagnosis and mental health research, despite not being originally intended for such widespread diagnostic use. This evolution has sparked ongoing debate regarding its application and the need for revisions that reflect a more nuanced understanding of mental health.

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

    Characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry and apprehension regarding various events or activities for a period extending six months or more​.

    Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):

    Marked by intense fear or anxiety about social interactions or performance situations, which the individual avoids or endures with intense fear or anxiety​4​.

    Separation Anxiety Disorder:

    Exhibited through excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached​. Separation anxiety is common in children and manifests as persistent worry when apart from a primary caregiver. Children may be hesitant to leave their caregiver and may avoid engaging in independent or social activities, posing challenges for both the child and the caregiver.

    Specific Phobia:

    Denoted by a significant, irrational fear or anxiety triggered by a specific object or situation, such as a fear of heights, spiders or other animals, or sharp objects, leading to avoidance behavior​.

    Panic Disorder:

    Characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks along with concern about additional panic attacks or maladaptive behavior change related to the attacks​​.

Getting help for Anxiety ASAP:

In the realm of mental health, timely action often paves the way for most effective treatment. This is especially true for anxiety disorders. The earlier you seek professional help for anxiety, the better the chances of preventing a ripple effect of challenges that could permeate through various facets of your life. According to Mayo Clinic anxiety especially can be harder to treat if you wait. 

Benefits of early treatment include:

1. Academic, Professional, and Social Flourishing: Unmanaged anxiety could lead to a decline in grades, performance at work, underdeveloped interpersonal skills, and potentially, a ripple of negative life outcomes. The longer the delay in addressing anxiety, the higher the risk of these negative impacts intensifying over time.

2. Advancing Child Development: For younger individuals, anxiety might manifest in physical regressions or behavioral shifts such as increased clinginess. Addressing these symptoms promptly not only alleviates immediate distress but also prevents social, emotional, and cognitive developmental delay.

3. Preventing a Spiral of Other Mental Health Conditions: Untreated anxiety doesn't just stagnate; it can evolve into more severe mental health conditions like depression or substance abuse issues.​

4. Building Long-term Resilience: Anxiety disorders are not only common but can start early in life and become debilitating over time. Early intervention, especially among at-risk children, can cultivate long-term resilience, significantly deterring the onset of anxiety disorders.

Getting help for Anxiety ASAP:

Seeking professional help can feel like a daunting step, yet it's a crucial one. Anxiety often holds a mirror to a fearful, child-like part of ourselves, driving our actions and choices from a place of apprehension. Engaging with a therapist can help in rewiring these neural pathways, enabling a more empowered, adult perspective to take the reins. This shift is not just about managing day-to-day stressors but addressing the core issues fueling the anxiety.

Boulder Colorado Therapy has limited open availability and responds to calls within 24 hours.

How can Therapy for Anxiety help you?

At Boulder Colorado Therapy, our therapists use innovative and integrative approaches to comprehensively support your well-being. Our goal is to delve deep into the underlying causes of your anxiety, rather than just treating the symptoms. Because the causes for anxiety can be so wide-ranging, we only employ therapists who are rigorously trained across diverse modalities, allowing us to combine different approaches to customize therapy to your individual needs. Expect a personalized and high-caliber approach to anxiety treatment, not a one-size-fits-all solution. Additionally, we see therapy as a path for you to develop the capacity to thrive on your own, not to be dependent on us.

Here is what our help can look like over the duration of our work together:

1. Personalized Goal Planning:

- Recognizing burnout and overwhelm early and identifying what triggers anxiety

- Tailoring a therapeutic strategy that aligns with your individual needs, including a personalized action plan for skill development

- Establishing a robust therapeutic alliance and teaching foundational psychological frameworks for therapeutic work

- Assessing the potential need for psychiatric consultation for medication management or other complementary strategies

2. Lifestyle Optimization and Skill Development:

- Making structural lifestyle modifications to enhance physiological health, including adjustments to sleep patterns, caffeine consumption, and physical activity

- Providing tools and practices to both A) soothe stress to live in a state of relaxation, ease, and enjoyment and B) expand your capacity to cope with and function amidst stress

- Teaching methods to stabilize or “ground” anxious energy, finding a felt-sense of safety in the environment, and regulating the nervous system

- Using Cognitive-Behavioral therapy to restructure unhealthy pathways of functioning and deliver immediate tangible results

3. Deep Transformational Work for Permanent Psychological Development:

- Delving into psychoanalytic insights to deepen understanding of emotional dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and the context of your world.

- Holding a supportive space to disentangle from the negative influence of toxic relationships and rebuild the interpersonal and psychological structures to manage and transform anxiety

- Repairing deep-seated psychological trauma by resolving internal conflicts, processing traumatic memories, and illuminating unconscious fears that cause anxiety

- Cultivating mindful awareness to disentangle & consciously accept anxious physical sensations, feeling, thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes

- Holding a containing environment to process deeper existential anxiety around death, freedom, isolation, or meaninglessness

Why can’t I just take a pill and call it a day? 

Pharmacological interventions, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft or Lexapro, may offer temporary relief. Evidence suggests that the effectiveness of SSRIs can wane over time, typically between 6 to 24 months, as the brain may develop a tolerance to these medications. Furthermore, there is a concern that prolonged SSRI usage could lead to a reduction in the brain's natural serotonin levels, potentially diminishing their therapeutic effect.

Additionally, while medication can be a critical component of treatment for some, it is not without potential drawbacks. Data indicates that a significant proportion of individuals on SSRIs may experience side effects ranging from mild to severe, including but not limited to gastrointestinal disturbances, sleep irregularities, and sexual dysfunction. Moreover, there is a risk of increased anxiety or depressive symptoms in some cases.

Psychotherapy has demonstrated considerable efficacy in managing anxiety, often providing lasting benefits by enabling individuals to delve into the origins and causes of their anxiety, fostering understanding, and facilitating psychological development.

Qualified Professional

Who is qualified to help me with anxiety?

Anxiety is often misunderstood by those around us, making it feel like a lonely battle. The phrases like "don't worry" or "calm down" from loved ones, although well-intended, often miss the mark, leaving you feeling more isolated. Therapy offers a haven of understanding, a safe and confidential place to examine the deeper roots of your anxiety and work towards a life of freedom from constant worry.

  • Licensed Psychologists (PsyD, PhD)

  • Licensed Psychiatrists (M.D.)

  • Clinical Social Workers (LCSW/LSW)

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT/LLMFT)

  • Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCC / LPC)

  • Psychiatric Nurses

  • Primary Care Physicians

Health Tracking Watch
Pill Bottles

What is the typical timeframe to see progress with my anxiety in therapy? What if it doesn’t work?

The journey through therapy is unique for each individual, and the pace of change varies. Active participation in therapy, particularly for anxiety, can lead to swift progress. Generally, clients may see significant strides in their mental health within 8 to 20 sessions, with some experiencing initial improvements within just a few weeks.

Therapy doesn't promise to completely eliminate anxiety but aims to reduce it to a level where it's no longer a major obstacle to happiness. It's about mastering the skills to manage anxiety effectively throughout life's ups and downs, fostering a sense of self-compassion and developing the ability to navigate through moments of stress with greater ease.

Opening up for help
Stuck in Anxiety

What are other Innovative treatments that can supplement Anxiety Therapy? 

The landscape of anxiety treatment is continually evolving, with new and innovative approaches emerging to complement traditional therapies. Here are some examples of novel treatments that are gaining attention:

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET): This technology is used to create simulated environments in which individuals can safely confront and work through their fears and anxieties, providing a controlled setting for exposure therapy.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of anxiety. It's particularly noted for its use in treatment-resistant depression and is being explored for anxiety disorders.

Digital Therapeutics (DTx): These are evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by high-quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat a broad spectrum of behavioral, psychological, and physical disorders. They often come in the form of mobile apps that use cognitive-behavioral techniques.

Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy: Substances like psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms) and MDMA are currently being researched for their potential in treating various mental health conditions, including anxiety, particularly when combined with psychotherapy.

Biofeedback: This technique involves using real-time displays of brain activity—usually through EEG—to teach self-regulation of brain function. It can help individuals learn to control physiological functions and may reduce anxiety.

Neurofeedback: Similar to biofeedback, neurofeedback focuses on the electrical activity of the brain. It helps individuals modify their brainwave patterns to improve mental health conditions, including anxiety.

Genetic Testing for Personalized Medicine: Genetic tests can now help determine which medications are more likely to be effective based on an individual's genetic makeup, reducing the trial-and-error process often associated with finding the right medication.

Gut Microbiome Manipulation: Emerging research suggests that the gut microbiome may influence mental health, including anxiety. Probiotics and dietary changes are being explored as treatments to improve the gut-brain axis.

Integrative Medicine Approaches: These include a combination of traditional and alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and dietary supplements, tailored to the individual's needs.

Cannabidiol (CBD): Derived from the cannabis plant, CBD is being studied for its potential to alleviate anxiety without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT): Originally developed for bipolar disorder, IPSRT focuses on stabilizing daily rhythms such as sleeping, eating, and activity levels, which can also benefit anxiety management.

Embrace the opportunity to lessen the grip of anxiety and make space for joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction in your everyday life. Contact Us today to schedule an initial consultation.

Anxiety Therapy FAQ’s

  • While it's possible to tackle anxious thoughts by yourself, counseling offers a supportive space to uncover blind spots and learn effective strategies to heal faster. It's a place to be heard and find what you need for a confident and peaceful life.

  • Finding the right therapist is key. That's why I offer a free initial consultation to see if we click. Don't lose hope—everyone has a unique path to feeling better, and together we can find yours.

  • Absolutely. Therapy, whether online or in-person, can be a powerful tool to help you handle anxiety and rediscover joy and freedom in your life.

  • It's natural to feel nervous about therapy, but facing your fears in a safe space can actually help reduce them. Remember, seeking help is a sign of bravery and wisdom.

  • Yes, many find online therapy even more comfortable and effective. It allows you to create a calming environment at home, without the stress of travel.

  • Privacy is crucial. Ensure you're in a space where you won't be interrupted or overheard, and minimize distractions to focus on your session.

  • Every person's anxiety is different. I specialize in personalized treatment plans that address your specific situation, no matter how severe it may seem.

  • Medication isn't always necessary. Many find therapy alone effective. We'll explore all options to find the best treatment for you.

  • Medication is not the only treatment, and it's not mandatory. We'll focus on therapy and other strategies first, and only consider medication if absolutely needed, with your consent.

  • Your health and happiness are the most fundamental things in your life. Ignoring anxiety can disrupt your nervous system and increase stress.If it were possible to resolve anxiety by yourself, you likely already would have.

This article is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute official medical advice or diagnosis.