Anxiety Therapy Orlando: Everything You Need to Know About Panic Attacks

Have you ever suddenly felt your heart racing, your chest tightening, your breathing changing, or a wave of fear come over you seemingly out of nowhere? You may have wondered, What is happening to me?

If you have experienced a panic attack, you know how intense and frightening it can feel. A panic attack can make you feel like you are losing control, that something terrible is about to happen, or even that you are having a medical emergency.

As an anxiety therapist in Orlando, we often work with people who experience panic attacks and the fear that can come with them. One of the most important things to understand is that while panic attacks can feel extremely scary, understanding what is happening in your body and learning how to respond can make them feel much less overwhelming.

In this blog, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about panic attacks, including what they are, why they happen, what they feel like, how to respond when one is happening, and how anxiety therapy in Orlando can help.

When you hear the words EMDR Therapy, you may picture someone sitting in a therapist's office following a moving light with their eyes. But EMDR Therapy is much more than that, and in recent years, more public figures have opened up about their own experiences with this type of therapy.

Celebrities including Sandra Bullock, Prince Harry, and Miley Cyrus have publicly discussed using or benefiting from EMDR Therapy. Their stories have helped bring greater awareness to a treatment that has been used for trauma and other distressing experiences for decades. Of course, someone's experience with therapy is personal, and what works for one person may not be the right approach for another. Celebrity stories shouldn't be viewed as proof that EMDR Therapy will have the same effect on everyone.

But their willingness to talk about therapy can help normalize something important: You don't have to be at a breaking point to deserve support. So, what exactly is EMDR Therapy, and why have so many public figures spoken about it?

Anxiety can affect much more than your thoughts. Anxiety can be a racing heart, chest tightness, difficulty sleeping, constant worrying, or a feeling that something bad is about to happen. Sometimes you know exactly what is making you anxious. Other times, anxiety can feel like it comes out of nowhere.

If you have tried traditional talk therapy for anxiety but still feel like your body is stuck in the same patterns, you may wonder if a different approach could help.

Good news! EMDR therapy is a modality we share with clients who come in and share that they feel stuck. Although EMDR Therapy is often associated with trauma and PTSD, it can also be used to address anxiety, panic, phobias, and other difficult life experiences.

Have you ever sent a text and immediately thought... hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have said that, or maybe I said something wrong? Maybe a friend seems quieter than usual, your partner responds with a short message, or your boss doesn't smile when you walk into work. Within seconds, your mind starts racing.

"Are they upset with me?" "Did I do something wrong?" "Should I apologize?"

If this sounds familiar, trust me, you're not alone. One of the most common experiences people bring into anxiety therapy is the constant fear that other people are angry, disappointed, or secretly pulling away. For many people, this isn't simply overthinking. It feels real. Your body reacts as though you've done something wrong, even when there is little or no evidence that anyone is upset. The good news? You’re not alone, and we can help you navigate this!

Guided Meditation for Anxiety: Calm Place

Having a regular mindfulness and meditation practice helps to calm anxiety in a natural way. It brings online the part of the brain that tells the nervous system that you are safe now. If you have been struggling with anxiety, I recommend you start a mindfulness and meditation practice, as this teaches your brain and nervous system the ability to discern the difference between a threat and a trigger.

10 New Year's Resolutions to Help Ease Anxiety: Tips from an Orlando Therapist

If you experience anxiety, even thinking about setting a New Year's resolution may add another layer of stress, making you doubt your willpower, persistence, and abilities, wondering whether you're setting yourself up for failure. You may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to “be more” or "do better." You might feel paralyzed by the fear of not living up to your standards, especially if past attempts to meet similar goals didn't go as planned. These thoughts can create a cycle of anxiety. So, you might give up before you've even tried.

But what if you were to reframe your New Year's resolutions so they are not about perfection or drastic changes?

Orlando Therapist Guides You in Choosing Your Word of the Year

As we are rounding out the year, take a moment and reflect on the year. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment? Do you feel like the year was a struggle and really tested your limits? Or do you feel like it was a blend of both ease and difficulty? In either case, there is a lot of information to garner from reflecting on the year.

Anxiety Therapist Shares: 10 Gift Ideas for People With Anxiety

The holiday season is almost here, and you know what that means - it's time to start thinking about gifts for your loved ones! Are you ready for the stress and pressure of gift-giving to hit you? We know how challenging it can be to find the perfect present for everyone on your list.

20 Tips to Manage Holiday Stress From an Anxiety Therapist

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

Managing holiday stress often starts with noticing how much tension builds in your body and mind this time of year. It can be hard to relax when you’re hosting family, preparing meals, keeping up with traditions, or giving your time and energy in so many different directions.

As an Anxiety therapist in Orlando whose area of skill is in anxiety management, I have gotten to know many techniques that my past and present clients use to unwind. This week, I am going to share my top ways to de-stress this holiday season, which will help transform your holidays this year (and every other year).

If burnout feels more like what you're experiencing, I also have a separate article on holiday burnout. This one focuses specifically on holiday stress and the simple ways you can manage the tension and anxiety that show up during the season.

Anxiety Therapist Shares 21 Ways to Avoid Holiday Burnout

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

Before you know it, the holiday craziness has arrived! So before you know it, you’re burnt out, and you’re feeling anxious. But this year, are you ready to avoid feeling stressed and anxious during the holidays?

As anxiety therapists in Orlando at Mindful Living Counseling, we are here to support you and remind you how you can be the best version of yourself during a stressful time, so you can really enjoy the holiday season.

Use the simple tips below to help stay afloat when you’re feeling the anxiety that ultimately leads to burnout. Check in with yourself as needed and try to accomplish at least one of the items on this list. We hope that this will help you refocus your energy on what is truly valuable during the holidays. 

Anxiety Therapist Shares: 10 Tips for Dealing With Difficult Family during the Holidays

Do you feel excited about the upcoming holidays? Are you ready to enjoy some much-needed time off, indulge in your favorite foods, and embrace your favorite holiday traditions?

Do you also experience a bit of anxiety and dread when you think about spending time with a difficult family member? You want to look forward to the big family meal together, but a part of you is bracing when you think of the unwelcome advice and commentary that will come your way.

How to Overcome Self-Doubt: Insights from a Trauma Therapist

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

We all experience self-doubt from time to time. Whenever we’re trying something new or stepping into a new group of people, it’s normal to tune into our environment more than ourselves. That kind of self-doubt is healthy. It helps us learn, grow, and get a feel for the culture we’re stepping into.

Self-doubt becomes a problem when it shows up over and over again in situations that shouldn’t feel this overwhelming. When it becomes pervasive, when it follows you from one situation to the next, that’s when we start looking at self-doubt as something that needs attention.

As a trauma therapist, I love helping folks overcome and heal their self-doubt. I’ve been working with a client who struggled with a lot of self-doubt in her relationship. Anytime something felt off, her first instinct was to assume it was her fault. She carried the weight of every misunderstanding, every moment of tension, convinced she was the problem.

Anxiety Counselor Explains CBT Therapy

Written by: Lauran Hahn, LMHC

You've noticed that your anxiety gets in the way of daily life, making it hard to focus at work, enjoy yourself, or feel fulfilled in relationships. You overthink every decision, replay conversations in your head like a broken record, lie awake at night, and worry constantly about what the future might bring. And it's just… exhausting.

You've heard about cognitive behavioral therapy and wonder if CBT can help with anxiety. It's perfectly reasonable to want to know more before you begin counseling. People often have many questions about CBT when they call our practice, such as how CBT works, what cognitive behavioral therapy does, or why, for some people, CBT doesn't work. In this article, I will answer these questions and more to help you understand what to expect.

Orlando Counselor Providing Anxiety Relief

Does making decisions give you anxiety? No matter what you decide to do, you are plagued with internal distress? Do you feel stuck in the mud because none of the choices you make seem to be exactly right? Do you agonize over decisions because you are afraid you’ll make the wrong decision?