Anxiety Therapist Anchorage, Alaska Stellar Insight Counseling

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

Anxiety can feel like a near-constant state of fear, worry, and shame. It can create difficulty with concentrating, controlling thoughts (worrying), and sleeping.

People living with anxiety often feel exhaustion, restlessness, excessive worry, and self-doubt.

Anxiety disorders can cause mild, moderate, or severe impairment on daily living.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety:

• Increased heartbeat
• Feeling hot, sweaty
• Upset stomach/nausea
• “Overexplaining”
• Frequent headaches/migraines
• Avoidant behaviors (avoiding anxiety provoking situations)
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating
• Poor sleep quality
• Difficulty breathing

People who experience panic attacks describe the attacks as:

 “Like my lungs were collapsing and I could not breathe,” 

“My heartbeat was so intense I could hear it,” 

and “I thought I was having a heart attack.”

How Can Therapy Help Minimize Anxiety Symptoms?

Successful results (or realistic, achievable goals) for people with anxiety may look like:

• Identifying unique anxiety triggers and using healthy coping skills
• Developing new insights about anxiety triggers and personal beliefs
• Improving sleep quality
• Decreasing headaches/migraines
• Finding a sense of calm and peace within the present moment

Anxiety treatment is most effective when a therapist and client co-develop a treatment plan with therapeutic goals unique to each client.

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Humans evolved to maintain a “healthy” dose of anxiety; Alaskans are more familiar with feeling a jolt of anxiety upon seeing a bear while hiking.

An increase in heartbeat, alertness, and fear-motivated thinking is an adaptive response in potentially life-threatening situations such as seeing a bear, avoiding a car accident, or surviving a natural disaster.

Anxiety Disorders occur when the brain (inaccurately) perceives non-threats (e.g., giving a presentation, work meetings, or a birthday party) as potential life or death situations.

Living with untreated anxiety can have harmful long-term health impacts.

People with anxiety often are unable to change their worries (or ruminations) regarding the future or past, despite attempts to control worrying.

Anxiety Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5-TR):

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Panic Disorder

• Phobias

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Social Anxiety

• Separation Anxiety

• Substance Induced Anxiety Disorder(s)

OCD is classified under Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders in the DSM-5-TR, separate from Anxiety Disorders. 

Anxiety and OCD Disorders share clinical overlap.

Obsessions are recurrent, unwanted thoughts, urges, or images which are difficult to control or minimize. 

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or acts which an individual feels compelled to perform or complete. 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorders include body dysmorphia, hair pulling (trichotillomania), hoarding disorder, and skin picking (excoriation disorder).  

Obsessive Compulsive behaviors, acts which a person feels compelled to complete for a sense of relief, include nail-biting, cheek chewing, body checking behaviors (e.g., mirror checking, comparing ones body to others, or excessive grooming), counting, or excessive hand-washing. 

Some people may have intrusive sexual thoughts, fear of harming family, or a fear of forgetting. 

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted and cause distress, and many people with OCD only feel relief after completing associated urges. 

Common Considerations Before Seeking Therapy for Anxiety

Starting therapy can be hard and finding the right therapist can be even more challenging.

There are often barriers and reasons why people delay treatment for anxiety.

Culture influences generations to have different attitudes towards mental healthcare; Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to seek therapy and view mental healthcare as equal to physical healthcare (which is true!). Baby Boomers and elder Gen X’ers may feel hesitant initially to starting therapy due to cultural stigma and experiences. 

These statements are generalizations; mental health advocates and critics exist within each generation!

Other hesitations people hold towards seeking anxiety treatment include:

“Everyone in my family is this way”

Anxiety Disorders can be influenced by genetics and “run in families.” Anxiety conditions are common but common does not imply “normal” health.

Having anxiety is not a bad thing!

Anxiety is common: nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. have experienced an anxiety disorder within the past year (National Institute of Mental Health).

“I don’t have the time right now”

Barriers to starting therapy including a lack of time due to working multiple jobs, prohibitive costs, living in an area with a shortage of mental health professionals, and grappling with stigma against mental health care.

I suggest checking Popular Therapist directories, online search engines, or local community behavioral health centers to locate therapists in your area (or with online availability), insurance network if you need to use benefits, therapist availability, and any additional needs/preferences.

5 Considerations When Choosing a Therapist 

“What if something awful DOES happen”

Anxiety persists because it can be helpful – it is necessary for survival.

Learning how to manage symptoms and balancing “healthy” anxiety can be an enlightening, freeing process.  

Most of my clients with anxiety are well-prepared for the worst possible outcome and do not need to spend more time worrying.

What about considering the best possible outcome? Shifting thinking is a vital component of treating anxiety disorders which encourages positive self-talk, self-compassion, and being able to exist in the present moment.

“I’m interested in managing my anxiety symptoms, but I’m nervous to begin therapy”

Accessing therapy is a sign of strength. Going to therapy does not make you weak.

Among people seeking treatment for anxiety some feel anxious about starting therapy - that low dose of irony is common!

“Therapy doesn’t work”

Successful therapy is out there and many people have unfortunately had bad experiences in therapy.

Factors which encourage successful therapy outcomes:

• Client "buy-in" or interest
• Strong therapeutic alliance (relationship between therapist and client)
• Early interventions
• Therapist cultural competency and skills

Individual Adult Counseling Services for Anxiety | Alaska | Stellar Insight Counseling

As an anxiety therapist and a human with anxiety, I know that starting therapy can be overwhelming. 

I also know that it is possible to feel better, more at peace, and minimize worrying thoughts.

I use a trauma-informed strengths-based approach with evidence-based treatment modalities that help clients gain control over their thoughts and a sense of relief.

I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Somatic Therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction to decrease anxiety symptoms.

CBT is one of the most effective treatments for Anxiety Disorders. 

I offer free 20-minute initial consultations with prospective clients to see if we are a good fit, and I encourage people to talk with another 1-2 therapists before scheduling an intake appointment. 

The best predictor of successful therapy relies on the relationship between client and therapist.

Stellar Insight Counseling Anxiety Treatment in Alaska

My approach for anxiety treatment involves unconditional positive regard, compassionate directness, using humor, providing information about anxiety through individual counseling and group therapy services, and being a human with you during our sessions.

Using telehealth we can schedule convenient appointments: you can join our sessions from your (parked) car inbetween work, your couch (pets are always welcome in virtual appointments), or your backyard.

I like to start my individual therapy sessions with a check-in: I want to hear about your week and the highlights, lows, and things to improve on.

Did I enter this profession for gossip? No. Is gossip a major perk? Yes! I am a professional secret keeper.

I believe my role as a therapist is best described as a helper rather than fixer.

I will keep us on track with your anxiety-focused treatment plan and goals throughout our sessions.

We will practice new regulation skills to augment your emotional, social, and psychological health while reflecting on which skills work and which don’t work for you.

If you do not like deep breathing we will find other regulation activities that you do find practical!

Schedule Your Free 20-Minute Initial Consultation Today

Anxiety Disorders are treatable using individual and group therapy.

Call or email me today for a free 20-minute initial consultation.

About the Author: Nicole Zegiestowsky, M.S. (she/her)

Welcome, and hello!

My name is Nicole and I am a pre-licensed therapist in Alaska.

I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Alaska, Anchorage and was a 2019-2020 LEND (Leadership & Education in Neurodevelopmental & related Disabilities) Fellow.

I provide individual and group counseling services to adults who experience anxiety, PTSD, chronic illness, depression, and perinatal/postpartum mental health concerns. My work often supports adults who identify as LGBTQ+ and have ADHD/ Autism.

In my free time I enjoy hiking, berry picking, paddling, and causing good trouble.

My clinical supervisor is Psychologist Dr. Hannah Ekstrom (#196093, #125200).

Read more about the counseling services I provide and my professional training.

Online quality anxiety treatment for people living in:

Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Seward, Homer, Kenai, Soldotna, Juneau, Ketchikan, Bethel, Nome, Yakutat

This content is provided as general information and may not be used as medical advice or treatment. This content may be used for educational or self-improvement purposes. 

Consult with your healthcare providers if you notice any changes in your health.

If you are feeling suicidal: Visit the nearest emergency department, call 911, or the 988 suicide hotline.