Do you recognize the tightness in your abdomen, constant pressure, and the feeling of a heart coming through your throat?
You do not need to panic because that makes sense to many people. Anxiety in itself is not something negative. We can be agitated, but we will not falter and drowsiness or forgetfulness for a long time, including the consciousness of danger that supports all efforts to help solve problems.
But anxiety is, in its turn, a bad state when it influences the way you live your life. If you have anxiety that persists, is severe, cannot be managed easily, or focuses on one particular situation disproportionately to the problem faced, then it could signal a mental health disorder. And it must not be overlooked. However, some people are not very comfortable taking in-person sessions.
Not only can online therapy be the preferred option for many due to its improved flexibility and accessibility, but it is also more reasonably priced than regular in-person sessions. Online Somatic Therapy has changed the scenario of boundaries and accessible anxiety treatment.
Why Does Anxiety Need a Treatment?
If you are dealing with panic attacks, persistent obsessive thoughts, overpowering anxieties, or crippling phobias, it is critical to recognize that you do not have to live a life ruled by worry and dread. Therapy is a very effective treatment for many anxiety-related disorders; in contrast to anxiety drugs, which only treat symptoms, Anxiety Therapy Services probe deeper into the underlying reasons for problems. It takes a holistic approach, assisting individuals in identifying the underlying causes of worries and anxieties, providing relaxation methods, promoting a new perspective on events, and supporting the development of greater coping and problem-solving abilities. Finally, therapy provides individuals with the tools needed to overcome anxiety and assists them in efficiently utilizing these techniques in their everyday lives.
But before heading with the treatment, it is first important to understand various forms of anxiety disorders.
Various Forms of Anxiety Disorder:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
- Characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various concerns like health or finances.
- Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and a constant sense of unease.
Panic Disorder:
- Marked by recurrent panic attacks with sudden onset and symptoms like sweating, trembling shortness of breath, and a pounding heart.
- The fear of when the next attack might occur can lead to changes in daily activities.
Phobias:
- Intense fears related to specific objects or situations, such as spiders, snakes, or flying in airplanes.
- These fears can be distressing and intrusive, impacting daily life.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):
- Fear of social situations where one might feel embarrassed or judged.
- Individuals with this disorder may feel nervous, self-conscious, and worry about rejection or offending others in social settings.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
- Characterized by persistent, uncontrollable thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions).
- Examples include compulsive hand washing due to a fear of germs or checking work repeatedly for errors.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
- Develop after severe physical or emotional trauma, such as natural disasters, accidents, or crimes.
- Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts, disrupting daily routines for months or years after the traumatic event.
What is an Online Somatic Therapy?
The rise of high-speed internet and smartphones has connected the world. Online somatic therapy maximizes this technological revolution by placing treatment in your hand. Using treatment apps and virtual sessions whenever needed reduces wait times for in-person appointments.
In “online somatic therapy,” the concepts of somatic therapy are combined with the convenience of internet platforms. Somatic therapy, often known as body-centered therapy, emphasizes the mind-body link since emotional and psychological difficulties can be expressed as physical feelings and experiences.
Somatic Therapists use video conferencing for online therapy. Even when the client and therapist are apart, the therapist watches body language and facial expressions to understand the client’s emotional and bodily experiences.
Traditional talk therapy addresses traumatic events, whereas SET does not. Instead, it emphasizes mind-body activities and attention to link mind and body occurrences. Early in therapy, patients learn about the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and its importance in trauma.
Three key concepts underpin the efficacy of online Somatic Experiencing Therapy:
- Learning: The therapy starts with educating clients about the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), providing insights into the therapy process and its relevance to trauma. It serves as an introduction, setting the foundation for subsequent sessions.
- Resourcing: Resourcing involves tapping into positive memories that bring comfort and calmness. These memories act as tools to relax individuals when encountering physical sensations associated with trauma during therapy, fostering a supportive atmosphere.
- Titration and Pendulation: Titration involves revisiting traumatic events and their physical sensations gradually. Therapists work with individuals to observe movements and reactions, addressing bodily responses. Pendulation follows, focusing on releasing negative energy associated with traumatic memories through relaxation exercises, aiding individuals in transitioning to a more normalized state.
One might wonder if Somatic Experiencing Therapy can be as effective online as it is in-person. Despite potential challenges, such as the inability to incorporate physical touch, online SET has demonstrated promise. The absence of in-person touch doesn’t seem to impact the therapy’s effectiveness significantly. Online sessions may even offer a more comfortable environment for some clients, enabling them to revisit traumatic events within the familiar space of their homes.
To access Somatic Experiencing Therapy online, individuals can connect with certified therapists through various channels. Online therapy platforms like Maureen Donohue provide a convenient avenue to find trained specialists who offer virtual sessions. The emphasis is on finding a comfortable match with a therapist, fostering trust, and allowing individuals to embark on a journey of healing from the comfort of their own space.
Aligning Online Somatic Therapy with Brainspotting to Treat Complex Trauma
Brainspotting and Online Somatic Therapy go hand in hand, even on screens. Imagine talking about your feelings online, and your therapist guides you to focus on certain spots with your eyes. It’s like unlocking hidden doors to feelings you might not even know were there.
It helps you find specific eye positions connected to tough memories. Dr. David Grand came up with this idea. These eye positions are like doors to your feelings, and focusing on them helps you open up those doors. It’s a bit like using your eyes to start a conversation with your feelings.
A deep integrating and healing process in the brain is promoted by Brainspotting Treatment, which involves triggering emotional pain through the simple technique of changing a client’s gaze and focusing on the body’s “felt sense” of that issue or trauma. Previously conditioned, maladaptive emotional and physiological responses are de-conditioned as a result of this processing, which appears to occur at a reflexive or cellular level inside the nervous system. The body’s natural ability to heal itself from trauma seems to be stimulated, focused, and activated by brainspotting.
What Should Be Your Next Step?
The next time you’re looking for someone Healing Complex Trauma, visit our website and see what our clients are saying about their experiences. Maureen, with over 30 years of hands-on experience, offers the skills and competence required to perform trauma-focused therapy. This ensures that you are in skilled hands.
Choose Maureen Donohue as your therapist and take the first step towards a better future. Contact us today by visiting our website.
