Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent and among the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders. The most common signs of anxiety include uncontrollable worry, feeling tense or “on edge,” and physiological arousal such as rapid heart beat and breathing, nausea, and dizziness. Most people are familiar with the typical day-to-day anxieties surrounding uncertain, unfamiliar, and stressful situations such as an upcoming exam, a job interview, or a public speaking event.
While this type of anxiety can certainly cause discomfort and get in the way of performing one’s best, this alone does not constitute an anxiety disorder. When anxiety becomes persistent, begins to interfere with living one’s life in a valued manner, and/or causes health or safety concerns, seeking professional help from a trained mental health professional (e.g., therapist, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist) is recommended.
What is anxiety?
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
emotional
nervousness, irritability, stress
cognitive
uncontrollable worry, racing thoughts, intrusive or unwanted thoughts, excessive planning, recurring distressing thoughts, preoccupation with uncertainty, obsessive thinking
physical
rapid heart beat, nausea, rapid breathing (e.g., hyperventilation), dizziness or feeling faint, chest tightness, frequent headaches, low energy, fatigue
behavioral
avoiding places that elicit anxiety, fidgeting, shaking or trembling, speaking faster than usual, hypervigilance, compulsive behavior
Treatment Approaches for Anxiety
While anxiety can present in various forms therapy for most anxiety conditions involves some form of confronting the feared trigger and developing a new response to it. Instead of fighting or fleeing (or freezing), treatment helps people learn how to navigate the discomfort of anxiety in order to do what is important or valued.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
Your thoughts can be sneaky. CBT helps you catch unhelpful thought patterns, shift them, and build habits that support your mental health. It’s practical, proven, and super effective.
erp (exposure and response prevention)
Avoidance gives anxiety power. ERP gently guides you to face your fears in a safe, supported way—without falling into the same old compulsive loops.
act (acceptance and commitment therapy)
ACT helps you stop fighting with your thoughts and start living your life. It’s all about learning to sit with discomfort, connect to what matters most, and take meaningful action – even when things feel hard.
Find your therapist
At Third Wave Psychotherapy, our licensed therapists in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham specialize in evidence-based care for anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.