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Orlando Therapist Shares About Anxiety Therapy

Orlando Therapist Shares About Anxiety Therapy

By: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

Have you been tied up in knots lately and paralyzed by anxiety? Have you wanted to relax, but been unsure of exactly how to help yourself? Anxiety can be an all-consuming experience that leaves you feeling powerless and out of control.

But it doesn’t have to stay that way. I have helped many people heal from and overcome anxiety. My name is Lauran Hahn and I am a specialized Anxiety Therapist in Orlando and the owner of Mindful Living Counseling. I have helped many anxious clients feel calm and in control again.

I was recently asked some questions about anxiety therapy and wanted to share my answers here with my readers. This information may help you clear up any confusion you may have so that you can be well on your way to getting anxiety treatment with an anxiety therapist.

1. What's the difference between anxiety as an emotion vs. an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety itself is not an emotion. Anxiety is the combination of worrisome thoughts, fearful emotions, and body sensations, such as tension, shallow breathing, and a rapid heartbeat. 

The underlying emotion is typically fear, but it can also be related to intense anger, jealousy, or excitement. A little bit of anxious energy helps to shift the nervous system into the “on” position. This gives you a boost of energy so that you can prepare for situations, be alert, and take action when necessary. This essentially gears up the nervous system for the fight, flight, and flee response.

Some examples are imagine you have a work deadline, anxiety can be helpful because it gives you the extra boost of energy you need and the mental focus it takes to get you through the deadline. Another example is when you’re walking alone at night. In this situation, anxiety allows you to be hyper vigilant so that you can notice things that could potentially be a threat.

When Anxiety Becomes a Problem

There is a problem, though, when the worrisome thoughts, negative feelings, and physiological arousal in the body continue to loop after you’ve done all that you can do for a situation. It is not helpful to be in a perpetual state of fight, flight, and flee in the nervous system. If someone is worrying excessively about everyday situations, their fear is out of proportion with the actual danger, or they are having a difficult time controlling the worry, they may have an anxiety disorder. There are several different anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

2. As an Anxiety Therapist what strategies do you use to help clients manage anxiety?

Because anxiety is based on fears about something in the future, present-moment awareness is crucial in helping people feel settled and calm. I use a lot of present-moment grounding and orienting people to safety that is right here right now.

I help my clients develop a tool kit for managing anxiety that includes mindfulness, grounding, breath work, and other guided practices. Below are links to many resources I have created for my clients.

Mindfulness

Grounding

Breath Work

Guided Meditations

3. As an Anxiety Therapist, what do you recommend I do if making a therapy appointment makes me anxious? 

First of all, it is normal to feel anxious about starting therapy. It is a big step to make that call. I recommend having a phone consultation with your therapist before you begin to make sure it is a good fit and you feel like you have a good connection. Remember that you are always the one in control. If you start and it doesn’t feel like a good fit, you don't have to continue. I wrote this blog 10 Questions to Ask Your Orlando Therapist Before the First Appointment that will help you prepare yourself before you call an anxiety therapist.

4. As an Anxiety Therapist what special insight into anxiety do you have?

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in trauma and anxiety. I am also a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDR Consultant and Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist. (All those fancy labels to say I have a TON of advanced training in trauma and anxiety).

The best advice I have for clients who are struggling with anxiety is to create space for the discomfort. When we allow anxiety to be there without reacting to it we can train our brain and our body to not fear anxiety. One of the tips I tell my clients frequently is to invite anxiety with them whenever they are doing something that typically causes them anxiety. I remind them, to not allow the presence of anxiety to trick them into believing that the thing that they're doing is actually fearful and should be avoided. Instead, create space for anxiety to be there and to bring anxiety with you.

5. As an Anxiety Therapist what do you wish more people knew about anxiety?

Anxiety is a nervous system problem. You’re not broken or defective. Your nervous system is out of balance and with mindfulness-based therapy, we can retrain your nervous system so that it stops reacting as if there is danger happening now.

Interested in Anxiety Therapy Orlando?

If the questions above resonated with you, know that you don’t have to navigate through healing from anxiety alone. Our therapists at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando are here to help you and answer any other questions you may have. To get started with one of our anxiety counselors:

  1. Fill out our New Client Consultation Form

  2. Schedule a consultation call with our Client Care Coordinator

  3. Begin healing from anxiety!

Not Quite Ready for Anxiety Therapy?

Check out our team of specialized anxiety therapists that are here to help! If you’re wanting to get some information before you make that first phone call. We get it. At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, our highly trained team will help you gain tools that will help you overcome anxiety. If you’re wanting to read more about anxiety, check out the articles below.

Additional Anxiety Resources

Anxiety Therapy Orlando: A Guide to Understanding and Overcoming OCD

How to Make Difficult Decisions

Anxiety Therapy Explains High-Functioning Anxiety

An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know about Anxiety

Guided Meditation for Anxiety: Five-Sense Grounding

Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando, FL

Our therapists at Mindful Living understand that anxiety is one challenge you may struggle with. But, there may be others. This is why we offer a variety of therapy services. Our therapy services include Trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, Eating Disorder Therapy, Toxic Relationship Therapy, and Teen Therapy. We also offer Guided Meditations. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

About Anxiety Therapist Lauran Hahn

As an Orlando Therapist, Lauran Hahn, LMHC, specializes in working with clients struggling with anxiety. She also specializes in boundaries and supporting her clients in healing from toxic relationships. Lauran is also a Certified EMDR therapist and an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Consultant.