All Types of Anxiety

Project Yes Therapists specialize in treating anxiety

Here at Project Yes, we treat a variety of forms of anxiety. Worry and fear are a natural part of the human experience, but at times it can start to cause us problems and distress. Although Project Yes therapists focus more on the process and mechanism for what maintains the anxiety process (rather than focus on the “disease model,” it can still be helpful to have a name and framework to understand the type of anxiety experience we may be having, including:

The sun sets over the ocean representing the peace that can be found by overcoming anxiety with Therapy for Anxiety in Durham, NC.

Panic Disorder:

Individuals with panic disorder experience intense anxiety episodes that are often accompanied by really uncomfortable physiological sensations. The individual may believe that they are having a heart attack, are dying, will pass out, are going to lose control of their bladder or bowels, or feel like they will “go crazy.” In fact, people often discover they have panic disorder after going to the doctor repeatedly or to the emergency department. Over time, people start engaging in fewer activities and avoiding feared situations out of concern that they are going to have another panic attack. The first step one of our experts in panic treatment will help you with is to assess what panic is like for you and what it is that you fear will happen.

What are the symptoms of a panic attack?

  • Rapid heart rate
  • Difficulty catching one’s breath
  • Chest pain
  • Trembling
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Feeling out of control
  • Dread that something terrible is going to happen
  • The desire to get away/leave the situation

OCD: 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often manifests in the form of unwanted thoughts and compulsions.

Common Symptoms of OCD:

  • Intrusive/distressing thoughts and images
  • The need to repeat actions or thoughts
  • Developing behavioral and/or mental rituals
  • Obsessions are time-consuming
  • Rituals can interfere with other aspects of life

Project Yes PLLC therapists have assisted clients with many forms of OCD including:

  • Sanitation or fear of contamination (sometimes in pop culture referred to as “germaphobia”)
  • OCD health anxiety (infections, illness, STDs)
  • Fear of causing harm or offense to others
  • Fear of being harmed or trying to prevent bad outcomes
  • Relationship OCD
  • Fear of not having done something correctly
  • Scrupulosity or religious thoughts
  • Postpartum OCD

Treatment Options for OCD:

The gold standard for treatment of OCD is exposure with response prevention (ExRP) and if you are seeking help with OCD we have therapists who specialize in this approach! Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another evidence-based approach for OCD and may be additionally used. We can help you reclaim your life so you do not feel burdened by OCD!

Social Anxiety: 

Social anxiety is discomfort with situations involving other people. This includes experiences such as:

  • Avoiding situations where attention may be on the person
  • Discomfort speaking in front of others and talking in a group
  • Lots of time spent thinking about what others may think of them
  • Worry that others will negatively judge them, reject them, or misunderstand them
  • Fear of others noticing that you are anxious

Social anxiety can result in discomfort with necessary interactions, such as within work or school contexts, making phone calls, and limiting relationships. We can help- and social anxiety therapy is highly effective!

The sun shines through white clouds in a bright blue sky representing the light in the darkness that can be found through Therapy for Anxiety Therapy in Durham, NC.

Generalized Anxiety:

Individuals struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may worry excessively about numerous life domains: school, work, family members, the future, etc. to the point of causing distress.

Common symptoms of GAD are:

  • Restlessness
  • Unwanted thoughts
  • Nausea
  • Palpitations
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty sleeping/fatigue
  • Persistent and/or uncontrollable worrying

Treatment Modalities For GAD:

Our therapists help individuals understand anxiety, including triggers, and associated emotions, sensations, and thoughts. We then support you in breaking patterns that feed the anxiety loop. Approaches we use include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and the Unified Protocol (UP). We incorporate additional skills for emotion regulation, mindfulness, and helping you with regulating your body’s stress response.

Phobias: 

Phobias are intense and irrational fears of objects, places, beings, experiences, and things that can lead to intense anxiety. At times the individual has a specific event or experience that triggers the onset of the phobia, and for others, it starts without a particular reason. Individuals will often avoid feared situations in an effort to prevent a panic attack, which over time can reduce their quality/satisfaction with life. The first part of phobia treatment is to identify and assess your fears.

Our therapists specialize in phobias and have treated many different forms including:

  • Fear of heights (including bridges)
  • Fear of injections, needles, and other medical procedures
  • Fear of enclosed spaces (such as elevators)
  • Fear of flying
  • Fear of driving
  • Fear of vomiting
  • Fear of animals or insects (dogs, spiders, caterpillars)Fear of water
  • Fear of public speaking (related to social phobia/social anxiety- see below!)

What is agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in inescapable embarrassing/stressful situations that could lead to a panic attack. Individuals dealing with agoraphobia will often avoid

  • crowds
  • leaving home
  • driving far
  • going out in public
  • being alone
  • or other situations where a panic attack may occur

Life Can Become Extremely Limited

Often, individuals will develop different strategies to avoid specific situations especially where they may worry they cannot leave, escape, or fear they would not be able to get help. The fears often start to spread across situations and can make their life become more and more limited with time. Agoraphobia treatment is such rewarding work for us as therapists. Working with one of our psychologists on anxiety treatment will help you get back out in the world.

Our team approaches treatment from a mind-body wellness perspective, often incorporating mindfulness or somatic treatments into our cognitive treatment plans.

A flock of birds flies over the coastline representing the freedom that can be found when working with an Anxiety Therapist in Durham, NC.

How might treatment work?

Project Yes therapists are anxiety experts! Our therapists are very experienced with the process of Exposure Therapy and ExRP (Exposure + Response Prevention) as well as other skills that can be helpful. Counseling for anxiety involves learning new skills.

  • Exposure therapy entails slowly exposing clients to their phobias in a structured in manageable way, in order to reduce the anxiety feelings that often come from that phobia.
  • The therapy will include home practice. The work is challenging AND the treatment is highly effective!
  • For those living or coming for anxiety treatment near Durham NC. your therapist may meet you out in the community to help you get more comfortable with the practice exercises. We also are experienced in helping you in sessions virtually. This is the case whether it is social anxiety therapy or other anxiety treatment.
  • Don’t worry, you won’t have to go into the deep end of the pool to start!
  • We also implement Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools to support reclaiming your life.
  • As helpful, we will teach you tools to help manage intense emotions and also stay connected to why you want to overcome anxiety. We help you make sure you are walking toward your valued-driven life.

Are You Ready to Regain Control of Your Life? Therapy for Anxiety in Durham, NC is Here to Help. Reach Out Today!

Anxiety can be all-consuming when left unchecked. But there is hope for regaining control of your life through Therapy for Anxiety in Durham, NC. At Project Yes we specialize in treating all forms of anxiety and we are committed to helping you understand and overcome your worries. We want to help you live life to the fullest! To get started on the path to freedom follow the steps below.

Other Services Offered by Project Yes

In addition to Therapy for Anxiety, we offer Psychotherapy Services for Relationships, Insomnia, Integrative Health, OCD, and Trauma and PTSD as well as Yoga and Meditation Options. Additionally, we offer Psychedelic Psychotherapy, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and more. We look forward to guiding you on your journey toward optimal physical and mental well-being.