Do you ever feel like your anxiety is driving you "crazy"?
If your answer is “yes,” please know you are not at all alone. Many, many teens and adults experience intense waves of anxiety that can make them feel like their minds and bodies are spinning out of control. Their hands may sweat, their hearts race, and they might even feel they have a hard time breathing. These physical symptoms can be terrifying, and when they become chronic, they can turn our lives upside down.
Living with anxiety isn't just about experiencing these overwhelming moments. It's about the ongoing impact on our daily lives. Simple tasks become daunting, concentration becomes a struggle, and for many, socializing can feel like a huge challenge. The constant battle with anxiety can erode our self-esteem and leave us feeling isolated and misunderstood. Feeling alone and sometimes even angry at life for having to suffer in this way. Day in and day out. Not matter what we do.
What is often frustrating is the well-meaning advice we receive from others. "Just relax," "Don't worry," they say, as if it's that easy to switch off our anxiety. If it were, wouldn't we all have done it already?
My patients share with me how stressful it can be to hear that their huge problem is seen by others as something that can be managed by just “breathing.” The reality is that managing anxiety is a complex journey that millions of people navigate every day.
But here is the good news— anxiety is a treatable condition, and therapy can be a transformative tool in addressing its root causes. As a therapist, I've seen firsthand how therapy can empower individuals to understand and manage their anxiety in a healthier way.
One of the first steps in therapy is acknowledging that anxiety is usually not just a random feeling—it's a symptom of deeper emotions, fears, concerns, or uncertainties that we may not be fully aware of. By exploring these underlying issues, we can begin to make sense of our experience of anxiety and perhaps even begin to relate to our anxiety in a different way. A way in which we can observe, notice, witness, acknowledge our anxiety yet at the same time a way in which we do not feel absolutely overwhelmed, debilitated, overpowered, or taken over by the anxiety.
Therapy isn't about "fixing" the anxiety or even “making it” go away; it's about accepting it as part of our human experience and learning to coexist with it more harmoniously. This shift in perspective—from fighting against anxiety to making space for it—can be incredibly freeing. It allows us to explore our emotions with curiosity and compassion, rather than judgment and fear.
Through therapy, patients often discover a newfound acceptance of themselves and their emotions. They learn that it's okay to feel anxious, and that acceptance doesn't mean resignation—it means empowerment. With acceptance tends to come resilience, curiosity, and a sense of inner peace. I always clarify that acceptance does not necessarily mean that we will not work toward living a life a bit more free from overpowering anxiety, if that is what we want to do. It means giving the message to the anxiety and to ourselves that anxiety cannot destroy us or destroy the dreams we once had for our lives.
Carl Rogers, a pioneer in humanistic psychology, famously said,
““The curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change.””
And I would underline the word”then.”
This rings true in the journey of addressing anxiety in therapy. When we stop struggling against our anxiety and start embracing our whole selves, transformation becomes possible.
So, if right now your life is restricted due to your anxiety, in any way, whether you're a teen or an adult, know that you're not alone, and that support in navigating your anxiety differently is available. Therapy can provide a pathway to self-acceptance, hope, and more ease in your life. A path away from labels, from feeling confined, alone, and confused. It's a journey worth taking—one that can lead to a life characterized by resilience, understanding, and profound self-discovery.
You can read more about my work in the area of anxiety at https://drperolini.com/anxiety-counseling. You can take the first step by scheduling a free 20-minute consultation at the end of this page. I look forward to speaking with you. Click here if you want to learn more about working with me.
Trusting your inner wisdom and potential,
Dr. P
