Anxiety and Stress Counseling

Counseling & Psychotherapy in SLO / the Central Coast / California

We live in the Age of Anxiety, wrote poet W.H. Auden. Indeed, anxiety and stress are all too common for many people today. The events of this year have caused anxiety to skyrocket among a great many people. I am especially concerned about how wave after wave of problems can keep you in a constant state of fight or flight reaction. When you feel threatened by things all around you, all the time, you put your body into a state of chronic hyperarousal or sympathetic nervous system dominance. This physiological state, while being very painful to feel and experience, also shuts down your immune system and causes damage to your neurovascular system. It is not a state you want to be in! But I want you to know, anxiety can be overcome with counseling and psychotherapy.

Beyond the stress of the state of the world, there is the anxiety you feel from your own individual life. Anxiety can be so painful, so terrible. It might be the worst thing a person can experience. You don't have to suffer like this. I am a Central Coast counselor/therapist, located in San Luis Obispo (SLO), who specializes in treating anxiety, PTSD and stress. I am able to meet with local clients in person, but I continue to see many clients by video as well. Let me know what you prefer and we can talk about our options. In addition, I can see clients from any part of California by video.

There's a lot that therapy can do to help get your anxiety under control, and hopefully totally eliminated. Seeing my clients get free of their anxiety is so meaningful to me; I am so happy for them when they are able to come out of anxiety and feel calmness, confidence and peace of mind.

Of all the mental / emotional issues you can have, I'd say that anxiety is probably the worst. High-level anxiety may be the worst kind of psychological suffering you can experience. It's a terrible way to live. There is so much suffering that comes with anxiety. And even when anxiety is not intense, it can still be low-level but chronic, and either way it's still not how you are meant to live. Not to mention that chronic anxiety can actually have a negative effect on your physical health. The world probably isn't going to slow down or get any simpler, so it's very necessary for you to be proactive about fixing your life and getting proper help with your anxiety. Please know, there is hope.

I specialize in treating anxiety, stress, trauma, and PTSD, and can help with whatever level or kind of anxiety you are experiencing. Anxiety comes in a variety of forms -- sudden and intense anxiety over a specific situation; chronic, low-level anxiety over just about everything; social anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, and ongoing feelings of worry or dread all fall under the general category. PTSD and a range of trauma experiences affect a great many people as well, more than many people realize, I've observed.

"While mindfulness is important and necessary for feeling calm, is it enough?" The answer is that while mindfulness and meditation are very helpful, it may not be enough for most people dealing with significant anxiety issues, and that's where professional therapy comes in.

Please feel free to call me at 805-868-0767 or contact me with any questions you might have. I would be happy to talk with you.

Erik

This is a very good video, about 20 minutes long, on the Loneliness Epidemic, from Matt D'Avella:

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Anxiety and Stress Counseling

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Erik Edler LMFT