Constant worry and overthinking are two of the most common mental health issues that people experience. You may find it difficult to stop worrying and overthinking about nearly anything and everything, big or small.
This may include:
- Your job
- Your health
- Your to-do list
- The state of the world
- Your family
- What you need from the store
- That email you need to reply to
- Your finances
- Your exercise plan
- An upcoming test or evaluation
- All the “what ifs?”
The list goes on and on.
The constant worrying and overthinking can cause you to feel restless, tense, and irritable. You may have trouble concentrating or trouble sleeping because the thoughts never seem to stop.
If this sounds like you or someone you care about, let me tell you about how this happens and how I can help.
All the details I just listed are associated with what is called generalized anxiety. One of the core features of generalized anxiety is what is called intolerance of uncertainty. This simply means that it’s hard to deal with not knowing what is going to happen. Every human being dislikes not knowing to a certain extent, but people with an anxiety problem find it much more difficult than others.
People get stuck with anxiety when they fall into a pattern of either trying to get rid of uncertainty, or avoiding things that cause uncertainty.
Worrying and overthinking are examples of things that people do to try to get rid of uncertainty. When faced with the unknown, worrying and overthinking are ways of trying to figure out what is going to happen, or to make plans for what might happen. People with anxiety often over prepare for things like meetings, presentations, exams, or even arguments that never happen.
Avoiding uncertainty might involve distraction or procrastination. Sometimes it means avoiding things like job opportunities, education, and even relationships.
While trying to get rid of uncertainty, or avoiding uncertainty may provide short term relief from anxiety, in the end it winds up keeping anxiety around. This is because when you don’t let yourself experience uncertainty, you never get the chance to get used to uncertainty! And then the next time you’re faced with the unknown, you go right back to the patterns that are keeping you stuck.
I can help you break out of this cycle, learn to become more comfortable with uncertainty, and feel less anxiety. My specialty is a form of therapy called exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is all about gradually, but systematically, facing situations that cause anxiety, while learning ways to be more accepting of uncertainty. It begins with a thorough assessment of what you worry about, what situations cause that worry, and how you try to get rid of and avoid uncertainty. Then we construct a plan for how to confront these situations, while I teach you ways to let go of unhelpful behaviors that keep you stuck.
Former clients have told me that as a result of exposure therapy they have been able to let go of constant overthinking and worrying, that they are able to enjoy their careers and their relationships, and that their days are no longer filled with tension and apprehension. I have helped people who are in high pressure, high performance positions, and I have helped people who just want their day to day lives to be more free.
I’m Aaron Hudyma, Ph.D., licensed psychologist. I provide online therapy to adults in Colorado who are struggling with anxiety.
If you recognize yourself or someone you care about in these words and you’re ready for a change, get started today by giving me a call or email. We’ll set up a free, 20 minute consultation so we can see if we are a good fit and I can answer any questions you may have. I look forward to speaking with you.
-Aaron Hudyma, Ph.D.
telephone: 303.834.7405
email: contact@hudymapsychology.com