Everyone gets nervous or anxious from time to time—when speaking in public, for instance, or when going through financial difficulty. For some people, however, anxiety becomes so frequent, or so forceful, that it begins to take over their lives.

How can you tell if your everyday anxiety has crossed the line into a disorder? It's not easy. Anxiety comes in many different forms—such as panic attacks, phobia, and social anxiety—and the distinction between an official diagnosis and "normal" anxiety isn't always clear.

Here's a few guidelines your anxiety and your well-being may improve with the help of counseling:

1) If you find yourself worrying too much about everyday things, large and small. But what constitutes "too much"? Persistent anxious thoughts on most days of the week, or for months at a time.

2) The anxiety is so bad that it interferes with daily life and is accompanied by noticeable symptoms, such as fatigue. It makes it difficult to focus on work, school, or relationships.

3) The distinction between an anxiety disorder and just having normal anxiety is whether your emotions are causing a lot of suffering and dysfunction. Are you experiencing sleep disorders, chronic indigestion, or irrational fears? Does persistent self-doubt or anxiety in social situations stop you from enjoying life to the fullest?

I can help you to develop effective techniques that will help to reduce your anxiety. In addition, through therapy it is possible to strengthen new brain circuits of peace and safety to replace the anxiety superhighways that your brain is currently using.