When most people think of anxiety, they think of something negative or bad. And in many cases, that can be true. When anxiety is excessive or out of control, people suffer. But anxiety can also be a good thing. Really! When I look back upon some of the most anxiety provoking experiences in my life – graduate school or job interviews, meeting with a family member who I hadn’t seen in many years, planning my wedding in two short months, and facing the serious health issues of family and friends – I realize the anxiety, fear, and worry I felt in those moments actually inspired me. In the case of the interviews, it motivated me to prepare by learning more about the program/company and making sure my interview clothes were clean and ready to go. When I met the family member, it gave me the adrenaline rush I needed to be engaging and enjoy myself. The anxiety of trying to pull off planning a wedding in two short months forced me to make better decisions and go with my gut instincts. And during the health issues, it jolted me into shifting my focus on my loved ones and allowed me to be more compassionate. Trust me, in the moment, the anxiety didn’t feel good at all. It made me want to do things like run, hide, or avoid. But in the end, I was able to figure out how to use that anxiety to my advantage. Learning to look at anxiety as a benefit is just one way I can help you during individual therapy. There are many other tools I can teach you to help you to handle your out of control or excessive anxiety. To learn more, call or email today. I look forward to hearing from you!