Anxiety FAQs

Yes. Anxiety symptoms can be treated and managed so that it does not have to play a debilitating role in your life. There is hope and effective treatment, tools and interventions that work.

Dr. Pazak believes that cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness tools are the most effective at reducing anxiety symptoms in the moment and for the long run.

Dr. Pazak believes if we change the way we think, we will change the way we feel. That is the basic tenet behind cognitive behavioral tools for anxiety. Awareness leads to insight which in turn leads to change. The process begins with being aware of what we think about. By being aware of our thoughts, we begin to identify the individual thoughts that trigger the anxious symptoms. By writing down, talking about and being aware of fear based thinking and narratives we can then challenge and change the faulty thinking causing anxiety and panic attacks. Erase the fear based thoughts and replace with hope, based, productive thoughts and narratives.

Changing thought patterns can take a few weeks to months depending on your desire to change. Once the concept of discerning thoughts and feelings is understood, the techniques will be learned and applied on a daily basis until the thoughts shift, narratives are replaced and feelings of anxiety become less and less. You will manage any anxious thoughts and feelings, they will no longer manage you.

Dr. Pazak teaches mindfulness as a great tool to be able to capture anxious thoughts and manage anxious feelings in real time. It is a technique of learning to bring your thoughts present, to the here and now. As we breathe, 4 counts in through the nose and 4 counts out it triggers our body to relax and be present as we are only focusing on our breathing and self soothing for the anxious or panicked feelings to release. Dr. Pazak teaches a 2 minute mindfulness breathing technique that can be used on any given day and in any given situation to reduce any anxious feeling.

Dr. Pazak sees many people with chronic worry that is difficult to stop or manage. Worry becomes a habit. In addition to difficulties managing worry, other symptoms of anxiety include difficulties sleeping, difficulties concentrating, weight loss or gain due to emotional eating because of worry and fear, irritability, feeling restless and on edge and physical complaints such as digestive problems, back and muscle aches and pains, a “funny feeling” in the stomach, as well as a lump in the throat and shakiness are often reported.

Yes. Dr. Pazak’s extensive experience with treating anxiety has allowed her to watch clients shift from anxious symptoms to anxiety free most days. The intensity and chronic anxiety can be managed and overcome. There may be times throughout the day where you experience anxiety however the brain and body will be trained to manage the feelings and thoughts as they come in real time.  It will no longer be a diagnosable condition.  The desire to change is the first step and then learning and applying the techniques that work follows.