Three reasons Anxiety makes starting therapy hard, and why it is worth it.

What-ifs

A hallmark of anxiety is what if … worry. You come up with a million fears in a futile attempt to prepare yourself for every outcome. The what-ifs are almost always negative, “what if it doesn’t work, what if it’s a waste of time, what if it makes me worse, what if I’m too much?” You might even compare yourself to others worse off, or think of past times therapy hasn’t worked, to talk you into avoiding the what-if possibilities your mind has come up with.

Mind Reading

Anxiety causes you to jump to conclusions about what others are thinking. It fuels self-criticism and makes you think everyone else sees the flaws you do. You might want to start, but the worry of what the therapist is going to think of you gets in the way. It takes incredible courage and motivation to face your fear of judgment.

Avoidance

Every emotion has an urge that goes with it. With anxiety, the urge is to avoid. You might tell yourself, “It’s fine, everything’s fine” and try to push the worries away, only for them to nag at you later, robbing you of the ability to relax or live in the moment. The urge to avoid makes starting therapy really hard. Avoidance and procrastination go hand in hand. To stay safe and comfortable, your mind comes up with a bunch of justifications about why therapy isn’t worth the trouble.

Why therapy is worth it

Anxiety makes everything feel like a mountain. All you want is to feel normal, like you can handle the things other people do, without freaking out.  You’d love to be confident in your ability to manage your emotions. Even starting therapy is a momentous step in the right direction. You’re practicing your ability to argue against self-doubt and avoidance as soon as you schedule an appointment.

  Study after study has shown psychotherapy to be highly effective for treating anxiety.  Research-backed methods like Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) reduce symptoms by increasing support while teaching coping skills and challenging negative thought patterns. Many of our thought patterns and beliefs are subconscious.

Therapy helps by bringing those beliefs into conscious awareness for more control.  You’ll gain self-awareness that challenges your criticism and self-defeating subconscious beliefs so you can feel strong and behave courageously. Once you've faced your fears and healed from the inside out, communication improves, relationships are secure, and relaxation and contentment are within reach.