Do you often find yourself worrying too much and recognize it's interfering with your enjoyment in life? Do you have difficulty initiating conversations with others? Do you care too much what others think of you? Are you hoping to find ways to better cope with work stress? Do you have trouble relaxing? Do you focus on what can go wrong instead of what can go right? Are you trying to cope with relationship stress? Do you become irritable because you hold stuff in and don't express it? Do you feel tension in your body? Are you perfectionistic? Are you seeking to achieve better work-life balance?

Anxiety can be paralyzing and can really take energy. It is important to understand the cycle of anxiety and that it is often a learned response. The great news is that it can also be unlearned through new experiences and willingness to engage in new behaviors. Anxiety impacts many people and you are certainly not alone.

Anxiety can be caused by so many different factors including modeling, biological factors, and growing up in an environment where feelings were not supported or freely expressed. Traumatic experiences in terms of both "Big T" and little T trauma can also cause anxiety. I often hone in on whats referred to as "little T" traumas which are not life threatning traumas but distressing events that happen to us over the course of our life that leave an emotional scar and impact. My experience has been that the impact of little T trauma is often downplayed in the field. Many people who come in with anxiety or mood dysregulation have experienced little T Trauma. Anxiety is also enhanced by societal messaging such as you should do this, you should do that, your worth is dependent on what you have and what you've accomplished instead of who you are.