Anxiety Therapy for “High-Achieving” Women in Chicago

Secretly, you take pride in being referred to as “Type A.”

You dot your i’s and cross your t’s twice—just to make sure. You’ve excelled throughout your life—both academically and professionally. You’ve always taken pride in your work. And all of your dedication and conscientiousness has paid off. You have already achieved so much in your career and been rewarded for your hard work. At one time, you really loved your job but now, you feel things are starting to change.

Over the past few years, work has become more and more stressful.

The pace of your assignments has continually increased along with nearly impossible deadlines. You no longer have the time or energy to devote to your projects, and you’re concerned the quality may be suffering. You’re afraid you might not meet your team’s expectations, not to mention your own high standards. 

Work seems so overwhelming and made worse by the fact that no one on your team seems to care as much as you do. In this environment, how can you remain committed to products and outcomes you can be proud of? But what worries you even more is a fear you may no longer be able to find fulfillment in your career. Your career has always been such a large part of your life and personal identity. And without the comfort and focus of work, who are you?

The anxiety at work might feel even worse because of the additional responsibilities you have at home or for your family.

COVID-19 may have exacerbated concerns already there. You may be starting to worry excessively about the health of your marriage and your kids’ future. Or you might feel burdened by the added role of being primary care-taker for your aging parents. You feel worried all of the time because there is so much to worry about in your life right now. 

You feel alone. You believe no one fully understands the daily pressure you feel.

Friends and loved ones have tried to offer you advice but they don’t get it, and you don’t have the energy anymore to try and explain it to them. But on your worst days, you fear life will get to be too much and everything will spiral out of control and come crashing down around you.

It doesn’t help that all of the stress is starting to take its toll on you physically. You feel restless all the time and find it increasingly difficult to relax. You find yourself easily fatigued and more irritable. You have difficulty sleeping. You might be experiencing shallow breathing, racing heart beat or even panic attacks.

Friends and family have noticed a change in you.

They’ve pointed out how you don’t seem like yourself these days. On several occasions, you have thought, “Maybe I need to talk to someone.” We offer anxiety therapy in Chicago for high achieving women. Deep down you know your life can be different. You just need direction and support to get there.

Anxiety Therapy for High-Achieving Women in Chicago

Go easy on yourself. Whatever you do today, let it be enough.” 
~ Unknown

Anxiety Therapy for High-Achieving Women in Chicago

Anxiety Therapy for “High-Achieving” Women in Chicago

Secretly, you take pride in being referred to as “Type A.”

You dot your i’s and cross your t’s twice—just to make sure. You’ve excelled throughout your life—both academically and professionally. You’ve always taken pride in your work. And all of your dedication and conscientiousness has paid off. You have already achieved so much in your career and been rewarded for your hard work. At one time, you really loved your job but now, you feel things are starting to change.

Over the past few years, work has become more and more stressful.

The pace of your assignments has continually increased along with nearly impossible deadlines. You no longer have the time or energy to devote to your projects, and you’re concerned the quality may be suffering. You’re afraid you might not meet your team’s expectations, not to mention your own high standards. 

Work seems so overwhelming and made worse by the fact that no one on your team seems to care as much as you do. In this environment, how can you remain committed to products and outcomes you can be proud of? But what worries you even more is a fear you may no longer be able to find fulfillment in your career. Your career has always been such a large part of your life and personal identity. And without the comfort and focus of work, who are you?

The anxiety at work might feel even worse because of the additional responsibilities you have at home or for your family.

COVID-19 may have exacerbated concerns already there. You may be starting to worry excessively about the health of your marriage and your kids’ future. Or you might feel burdened by the added role of being primary care-taker for your aging parents. You feel worried all of the time because there is so much to worry about in your life right now. 

You feel alone. You believe no one fully understands the daily pressure you feel.

Friends and loved ones have tried to offer you advice but they don’t get it, and you don’t have the energy anymore to try and explain it to them. But on your worst days, you fear life will get to be too much and everything will spiral out of control and come crashing down around you.

It doesn’t help that all of the stress is starting to take its toll on you physically. You feel restless all the time and find it increasingly difficult to relax. You find yourself easily fatigued and more irritable. You have difficulty sleeping. You might be experiencing shallow breathing, racing heart beat or even panic attacks.

Friends and family have noticed a change in you.

They’ve pointed out how you don’t seem like yourself these days. On several occasions, you have thought, “Maybe I need to talk to someone.” We provide anxiety therapy in Chicago for high achieving women. Deep down you know your life can be different. You just need a direction and support to get there.

Go easy on yourself. Whatever you do today, let it be enough.” 
~ Unknown

Smiling African American Professional Woman - Tiffany Green - Therapy for Women in Chicago, Illinois

Hi, I’m Tiffany Green & I’m an Anxiety Therapist in Chicago

If you’re currently experiencing anxiety, you don’t have to manage your symptoms on your own. I offer anxiety therapy and support for high-performing women in Chicago. Here’s how I can help. I will work with you to pinpoint the major causes of your anxiety and develop concrete steps to address overfunctioning, hypervigilance and perfectionism. We’ll examine early childhood and adolescent experiences, which may have contributed to these behaviors. You’ll gain a greater sense of clarity, understanding and self-compassionall with the end goal of increasing your overall health and well-being.

Anxiety Therapy in Chicago FAQs

What are common anxiety symptoms?

The symptoms of anxiety may vary depending on the specific source of the anxiety (general, social, phobia, panic, etc). However, some of the most common symptoms of anxiety are: feeling restlessness; being easily fatigued; having difficulty concentrating; being irritable; having physical pains (headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, chest pains, excessive sweating, racing heart, etc.); experiencing excessive worry; having difficulty with sleep; and feeling out of control. If you have several of these anxiety symptoms, it could be helpful to meet with a mental health professional for guidance and anxiety treatment options. Source: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

How many people experience anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. Over 40 million adults (18 and older) in the U.S. (19.1%) have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Most people develop anxiety symptoms before age 21. People with anxiety disorders are 6 times more likely to be hospitalized for a mental health concern compared to those who do not have anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are believed to develop from a variety of risk factors, including genetics, life circumstances, brain chemistry and individual personality. Source: Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

What are the treatments for anxiety?

Psychotherapy and medication are currently two of the most popular and effective treatments for anxiety. Research indicates best practices for treating many mental health conditions includes a combination of both medication and therapy. 

Psychotherapy or “talk therapy” is when a client speaks with a therapist to explore and understand feelings and behaviors in an effort to gain personal insights and coping skills. During individual talk therapy sessions, the therapist helps clients examine a variety of topics, including thoughts, experiences and feelings related to work, relationships and current challenges. Research studies have found individual psychotherapy to be effective at improving anxiety symptoms.

Medication is also an effective treatment for anxiety. Anti-anxiety medications can decrease symptoms of worry, anxiety and panic. Antidepressants can also help with anxiety disorders by relieving physical symptoms associated with anxiety and panic disorders, including rapid heartbeat, trembling and shaking. Sources: Anxiety and Depression Association of America; The Mayo Clinic; National Alliance of Mental Illness

What type of counseling or “talk therapy” is helpful for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy and exposure therapy are the most proven research-based treatments used to support individuals with anxiety disorders.. CBT treatment for anxiety encourages clients to recognize thought patterns and behaviors contributing to activating feelings. Exposure therapy focuses on identifying underlying fears increasing anxiety symptoms to help clients engage with activities or situations a client may have been avoiding. Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores unconscious thoughts and beliefs often originating in childhood that may be influencing a client’s behavior. Source: The Cleveland Clinic

What immediate mental health resources are available in Chicago?

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24 hour) is available for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Call or text 988 to be connected to the closest crisis center. Dial 2 for Spanish. 

Illinois Call4Calm Text Line offers emotional support to individuals struggling with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The service is free, anonymous and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Text TALK to 552020 for English or HABLAR for Spanish to receive assistance. Individuals will be asked to provide their first name and zip code, to enable the service to link you to a counselor in your area knowledgeable about available local resources.

NAMI Hotline – NAMI provides a free and confidential resource to provide guidance and connection to mental health and social service resources over the phone – 833-NAMI-CHI (626-4244)