Anxiety & Stress

In the fast-paced world we live in, stress has become an inevitable part of daily life for many people. From demanding work schedules to personal responsibilities, the pressures we face can often feel overwhelming. However, allowing stress to rule our lives can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical well-being. At Therapy Austin, we believe that it’s essential to take proactive steps to manage stress and regain control over our lives. In this blog post, we’ll explore som...

In the vast landscape of therapeutic interventions, one approach has gained considerable recognition for its efficacy in treating trauma and related conditions: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, commonly known as EMDR. This innovative therapy is transforming lives by providing a unique and effective method for processing distressing memories. In this blog post, we will explore the essence of EMDR and identify the individuals who can benefit the most from this therapeutic technique. ...

In America’s modern hustle culture, the baseline has become stress. People might not always use the word stressed. They instead say they are so busy, they haven’t slept in days, or quote a 60+ hour work week. All of this adds up to the same thing: I’m stressed, I’m run down, I’m lonely and I’m not sure how long I can keep this up because important things like health and relationships are slipping. So rather than wait until we reach the tipping point and find ourselves reaching familiar, or...

In this strange time as we await the results to the U.S. presidential election, it’s more important than ever to take care of yourselves! Need ideas of what could be helpful? If you are longing for a wider sense of community, The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion is hosting free “United in Self-Compassion” group meditations. You can sign up here. Humans aren’t built to go through stress alone. Be sure to stay in connection with others, whether in person, through phone or...

World, we are going through a really rough time right now. There are so many things to worry about, and so many great, big unknowns. It’s at times like this that we have a keen sense of something that is actually always true—there is very little that we are in control of! This graphic from The Counseling Teacher Brandy and Carrie Stephens Art reminds us that it’s okay to let go of the things we can’t control, and to focus in on what’s right in front of us. We hope you are...

Have you ever heard of the vagus nerve? Maybe or maybe not, but no matter: If you have a breath and a heartbeat, this nerve is doing some heavy lifting for you every day. The vagus nerve is the 10th cranial nerve. Its name means “wandering” in Latin, and it takes a long, meandering journey throughout the body. It starts in the medulla oblongata—the low brain—just behind the earlobes, and runs down both sides of the neck. It has branches that innervate the heart and lungs; liver and gallbladder; ...

‘Tis the season for hustle and bustle, friends and family, presents and treats—and for loneliness, family conflict, budget crunch, and social anxiety. Do you ever struggle with how to handle the “most wonderful time of the year”? First, know that you are not alone. Difficult family dynamics, grief and loss, and memories of past stressful events come up for many people at this time of year, and may be intensified by our unrealistic expectations. We all have ideas of what our cel...

Maybe you remember hearing it on the playground. “Stop being a baby.” Or after crying at work. “You need to learn how to not be so sensitive.” Undoubtedly, you’ve seen the debates in opinion columns. “Was everyone this sensitive before the internet?” There is no shortage of cultural messaging that equates sensitivity with weakness. But it turns out, all humans are sensitive in that we all experience the world around us through our senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The information t...

How’s everybody feeling about Thanksgiving? Are you ready for some family bonding, planning to spend it with friends who make up your “chosen family,” or anticipating some time for solitude? Even without an election, the holiday season can bring up feelings of anxiousness, anger, fear and grief. This year as our country faces some major upheaval, I personally have been worried about the conflicts that might arise at Turkey Time. I’ve been digging through my psychotherapy “toolkit” to find ideas ...