Anxiety and Worry
Welcome to book a call where we can talk through what you would like help with.
I am a licensed psychologist and meet with clients for talk therapy. I offer in-depth conversations (individual therapy) where you gain more understanding of yourself, perspective and change. You can get help with anxiety and other challenges. We book conversations at the reception in Östermalm in Stockholm or online.
What are Anxiety and Worry?
Experiencing anxiety and worry usually manifests in being preoccupied with thoughts about things going wrong in everyday life with work, relationships, interests, self-image, and more.
Worry thoughts can be about anything and also about what one should/could do. Thoughts may also be ruminations about something that has or could have gone wrong, and one blaming oneself. There is anxiety and stress behind these thoughts.
Overthinking and being wound up are also descriptions of symptoms of anxiety and worry. Physical symptoms like restlessness, difficulty sleeping, and palpitations can also be signs of anxiety.
Anxiety issues are often a reason to seek therapy. Sometimes, symptoms have appeared in recent years; other times, anxiety and worry have been part of one's life for a long time.
How are Anxiety and Worry Treated?
In the therapy sessions, you and I will determine what kind of anxiety you are dealing with. Anxiety can be about worry thoughts in any area of life.
There is often a recurring theme in the anxiety thoughts. Some repeatedly think about whether something will go well, e.g., a certain planning, so they go over and over again in their mind what they should do. It may seem entirely reasonable to do so, but when the anxiety lessens, it becomes clear that it was about worry thoughts and seldom anything else.
Others are worried about expressing themselves with the wrong words in speech or text. They may worry that someone will become angry or that they are lacking in care in some way.
Some fear being abandoned or not being loved for who they are. Others have anxiety about finding alternatives that provide presence and direction in relationships, everyday life, and work. They hesitate and cannot make decisions and act.
We will discuss what triggers the anxiety symptoms, what brings calm and peace (even serenity), and how anxiety differs from emotions and needs.
Effects of Anxiety
Anxiety and worry often have consequences for mental and physical health over time. Other consequences include lack of energy and engagement. One withdraws and cannot cope with what one desires in relationships, leisure, and work. Anxiety and worry often lead to avoidance of what one most desires and needs.
Memory, concentration, and motivation are also affected. Anxiety and worry are generally also a component to consider in depression.
Therapy - Anxiety and Worry
The idea of therapy is that positive changes should occur. When it comes to anxiety and worry, it's primarily about being able to approach what one desires and needs – instead of avoiding the same even though one really does not want to.
Change is also desirable because anxiety involves suffering, such as having self-critical thoughts about oneself. At the beginning of therapy, clients usually do not experience such strong suffering regarding worrying about doing something wrong or “not right.”
Transformations through therapy
It is only later, when anxiety and worry have begun to decrease, that they see that the self-critical thoughts were so painful. They begin to experience more moments of satisfaction and freedom - internally and also externally - and start to believe that it is possible to feel better.
Feeling better is not only about being able to manage anxiety but actually feeling better inside. A kind of peace of mind occurs.
Anxiety and worry can be a barrier to anything – what one desires and needs. Some wish for deeper relationships. Others wish to be less wound up and irritable towards others. Some live in a universe of self-critical thoughts and want to escape. Some have a dark self-image and wish to feel more satisfied with themselves and be loved. Others feel shut off and do not really know what they want and need.
Therapy becomes a way to open up and start living more fully:
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to have both superficial and close relationships
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to have good physical health
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to be creative and productive
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to succeed in studies and at work
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to have trust in oneself
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to take initiative to solve problems
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to take initiative to live well
Affect-Focused Therapy for Anxiety
We discuss what you wish to get help with while we pay attention to reactions like inner unrest and various feelings that are usually avoided. We will explore how anxiety differs from emotions in affect-focused therapy. Getting closer to emotions is a way to understand oneself better. When someone says that "there are a lot of emotions," it usually means that they have many thoughts at the same time and cannot find direction, but instead overthink and worry. Emotions belong to the emotional system and can provide calm and certainty, even direction for what one wants and needs. You will learn to experience emotions and thereby reduce anxiety and feel more agency and emotional presence. Learn more about therapy at Psychological Forum and about Maria Sandgren.
Example - Anxiety and worry
Many people describe experiences of being inadequate and not good enough for various reasons and in various ways. Inadequacy can manifest itself in self-critical thoughts and thoughts that others will be dismissive or critical of oneself. The consequence can be that one tries to overachieve and/or withdraws from relationships, etc. In anxiety and even depression , the critical thoughts are also turned against oneself.
Those seeking therapy may have known that they suffer from worry and anxiety. It can actually hurt in the chest like a pressure across the chest or just a pain on the inside.
Others discover in therapy that they have anxiety that manifests itself more in overthinking, catastrophic thinking and rumination because they have no physical symptoms. Instead, the anxiety manifests itself in a very active thought life where they seek to describe, explain and compare what they are experiencing. Often completely alone. They are often surprised in therapy by how much they think about things while at the same time knowing less about what they feel and need.
Closeness to others can be complicated, but by thinking about others they feel close and involved. It is usually not mutual. They may overthink to find reasons for what is happening and why they do what they do. This leads to indecision and less power to act. Their self-esteem is often low about what they are capable of and can accomplish because anxiety and worry have become an obstacle.
Contact
Maria Sandgren, licensed psychologist with extensive experience, offers therapy at a private practice in central Stockholm as well as via online visits.
I will help you find the arrangement that best meets your needs, regardless of whether you prefer digital meetings or visits to the reception.