Anxiety Specialist

Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC -  - Clinical Psychologist

Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC

Clinical Psychologist & Therapists located in Cambridge, MA serving greater Boston, MA area. Now accepting Telehealth appointments

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions in the United States — they affect more than 40 million Americans. At Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, Michael Koren, PsyD, and the team of licensed mental health professionals offer personalized psychotherapy to help you learn to cope with your anxiety and regain your quality of life. Call the office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or schedule a consultation online today for expert and compassionate psychological care.

Anxiety Q&A

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What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural emotion — it’s part of your fight-or-flight response, which helps you avoid danger. Anxiety disorders, on the other hand, are a group of mental health conditions that cause pervasive and disproportionate worries and nervousness. 

Anxiety disorders are usually related to something in your environment. For example, generalized anxiety disorder, the most common type of anxiety, is often triggered by situations at work, household chores, or family health concerns. 

Social anxiety, on the other hand, is triggered by having to interact with other people. Some patients might be triggered by groups or public speaking, while others might be fearful of one-on-one interactions. 

When should I talk to a psychotherapist about anxiety?

Anxiety can cause several mental, emotional, and physical symptoms, including:

  • Feeling nervous, fearful, or tense
  • Feeling a sense of impending doom or danger
  • Reduced concentration
  • Increased heart rate
  • Increased respiration
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle tension
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Avoidance behaviors

If these symptoms sound familiar and you feel like your symptoms are interfering with your ability to function normally or affecting your overall quality of life, it’s time to talk to the team at Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, about your concerns. 

If you’re not sure if you have anxiety, consider whether your feelings are distressing, persistent, and intrusive. Talking to a professional, even when you don’t know exactly what’s wrong, can put you on the path to feeling better. 

How does therapy help with anxiety?

Persistent and disproportionate anxious feelings can make life more challenging than it needs to be. At Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, the team provides customized psychotherapy to help you develop the skills you need to cope with anxiety. 

You begin by learning to recognize your anxious thoughts and how they affect your emotions and actions. As you build self-awareness, you begin to free yourself from cycles of restrictive or problematic behavior that’s triggered by your anxious thoughts. 

Once you understand your anxieties, you begin to work on adapting your response to your fears. The team often uses elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy to help you build coping skills and your confidence in your ability to handle your emotions appropriately. 

If you’re concerned about anxiety and its impact on your life, call Brighter Life Therapy, PLLC, or make an appointment online today.