Therapist in Cincinnati
Hi, I’m Emily Wanstrath, and I’m a therapist in Cincinnati for young adults figuring out how to adult, adults who are in need of support around anxiety and depression, and couples who are wanting to strengthen their marriage through learning communication skills and how to fight fairly.
Stress can manifest in various ways throughout our lives. For many, it shows itself through anxiety and depression.
Whether it be excessive worrying about your loved ones, assuming the worst-case scenarios, fearing others are judging you, crying for no clear reasoning, lacking the motivation to get out of bed, or wondering if this world would be better without you in it. All of these things are indicative of a bigger problem.
Stress does not discriminate. We all are affected by it. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to admit when a problem is bigger than us. There is nothing shameful about reaching out for help for therapy in Cincinnati.
I’m here to help guide you. If you are ready to process your emotions and learn skills to help you cope with stress click the button below to get started.
What to expect in therapy in Cincinnati with Emily
I use a collection of modalities to arrive at the best therapy process for your individual needs. I do not believe in a ‘one size fits’ all approach. Therapy is not always a linear process. By strictly using only one main treatment modality I am limiting the amount of tools I can use to best help you.
I find using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to be very effective in treating both anxiety and depression. We must first develop insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in order to gain a better understanding of how your brain operates.
Once we have data on your thinking patterns, feelings, and behaviors we can then work to address the irrational thoughts which in turn will change your feelings and behaviors.
I also focus on using aspects of Psychodynamic Theory to understand the origin of your irrational thoughts. Our experiences shape us. The messages we pick up along the way become internalized whether on a subconscious or conscious level. It is important to dive into these in order to fully move forward.
Once we process through your unresolved issues you will have a better understanding of yourself and feel more complete.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
It is possible to only suffer from Anxiety or Depression but many people experience both! Oftentimes we mourn the loss of things anxiety takes away from us like hanging out with peers or being able to be in the present moment instead of caught up in our own thoughts in our head.
Anxiety:
Excessive Worrying
Racing thoughts
Feeling like something bad will happen if you do not do ( fill in the blank)
Irritability
Insomnia
Lack of appetite
GI issues
Headaches
Mind going blank
Increased heart rate
Sweaty Hands
Feeling restless
Trouble concentrating
Always needing to have a plan
Making assumptions about what others think of you
Avoidance
Perfectionism
Need to control plans or people
Extreme discomfort with uncertainty
Fear you will say or do something to embarrass yourself in front of others
Fear of Judgement
Feeling out control
Depression:
Feelings of sadness
Feelings of hopelessness
Crying for no reason
Lacking physical energy
Lacking motivation to do anything
Change in appetite
Disruption in sleep patterns
Excessive feelings of guilt
Suicidal thoughts
Poor self-esteem
Lacking facial expressions
Monotone voice
Stop caring about physical appearance
Neglects self-care
Common Symptoms of ADHD
As a therapist in Cincinnati, I have seen countless times where undiagnosed ADHD symptoms present on the surface as anxiety symptoms. This is especially true in women with ADHD. It is important to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and behavior tendencies of ADHD in order to get the right help.
ADHD Symptoms as indicated in DSM-V:
Making careless errors or mistakes
Difficulty staying focused on task that require extended period of time
You appear to not be listening when others are speaking to you
Easily sidetracked when trying to complete a task
Difficulty organizing
Avoids and procrastinates undesirable tasks
Easily loses or misplaces items
Easily distracted by your own thoughts or what is happening around you
Forgetful
Fidgets, hard time staying still
Feeling of inner restlessness
ADHD Behavior tendencies:
Difficulty focusing during conversations
Chronic feeling of overwhelm
Feeling overstimulated
Having a mind that is always busy.
Losing momentum on a task/project just as you are about to be finished
Relying on procrastination to get tasks done
Fast talker
Feeling like you can’t sit still or relax without scrolling or multitasking
Losing your train of thought
Forgetting common information like your phone number, zip code, how to spell a word
Chronically losing items or misplacing them
Forgetting appointments
Disorganized, piles of clean clothes in baskets that never manage to get put away
Time blindness, easily losing track of time when doing something that is interesting or fun
Impulsivity, finishing other people’s sentences, interrupting during conversations
Zoning out, mind going blank when not actively doing something
Total inefficiency in getting things done
Walking into a room and forgetting why you are there
Emotional, quick to rage and quick to tears.
Sensitive to feedback or criticism
Struggling to give yourself structure, a day with nothing to do so you doom scroll all day
Difficulty falling asleep because mind won’t shut off
Having a list of things to do but feeling so overwhelemed about where to start so you don’t do anything
Having energy to do all the things 1 day and zero energy the next
Creative, so many big ideas but can’t seem to execute them
Feeling a loss of self, not knowing who you are, Imposter Syndrome
Poor self-esteem and self-confidence
Perfectionism
People Pleaser
Strong sense of justice, struggles when things are not fair, likes to be right and prove your point
Switches hobbies and interest often
Struggling to feed self and drink water
Going hours without eating because you are so focused on a task
Forgetting people exist, out of sight-out of mind.
Second guessing yourself
Replaying conversations and interactions over and over in your head
Feeling like a failure, nothing you do is every good enough.
How to know when you are ready to work with a Therapist
Too often people wait until their stress becomes just about unbearable before they make the decision to seek professional help for their anxiety, depression, or suspected ADHD. Therapy does not need to be a last resort.
Yes, it is important to problem solve and cope independently. It is also okay to know when to bring in an expert to help!
Here are some common signs that may indicate you are ready to start therapy:
You want positive change in your life
You have identified a problem you are ready to work on but lack the skills to solve it independently
You need someone (other than friends of family) to listen to you talk
You have tried working through issues on your own, but it hasn't worked
You realize your mental health is important and deserves attention!
When to seek a therapist in Cincinnati for anxiety and depression symptoms
If your anxiety and depression is impacting your ability to work, attend school, and maintain close relationships it may be a good time to seek help from a therapist.
You do not have to live your life on constant alert and feeling empty and sad all the time. Life should be lived through experiences not observed from the sidelines.
The Benefits of Therapy in Cincinnati with Emily
Emily’s friendly and laid back personality lends itself to creating a warm and inviting therapy environment.
Emily focuses on helping you feel comfortable and secure while being vulnerable. She will praise you for your accomplishments, challenge you in areas where you need to grow, and hold you accountable for your actions.
By the end of therapy you will be able to sit with your emotions, develop self-awareness, slow down the racing thoughts in your head, develop self confidence, be able to sleep through the night, calm your body, think rationally, worry less, and smile and actually mean it!
Life is too precious to spend it miserable. Now is the time to take action. Click on the link below to get started!