Let's bust a myth real quick: anxiety... | Georgia Telehealth Therapy

All right, let's get right into it. Today we're talking about anxiety. Something that honestly millions of us deal with. But we're not just going to talk about it. Nope. We're going to bust some of the biggest, most harmful myths out there and swap them out with some actual empowering truths. And I want to start with this quote because wow. If you've ever felt this way or if someone has ever made you feel this way, please hear this. Your experience is so valid. It has absolutely nothing to do with who you are as a person. And look, if you experience anxiety, you are so so far from alone. I mean, check out this number, 19%. That's

the percentage of adults right here in the US who are dealing with an anxiety disorder every single year. Think about that. That's almost one in every five people. So, yeah, this is not some rare thing. It's a really common part of being human. So, okay, if it's not a weakness, then what is it? And this is where things get really, really freeing. Let's dig into what's actually happening inside our bodies. Okay, so this is the key takeaway right here. Anxiety is a real physical thing happening inside your nervous system. You can literally measure it. It's kind of like your body's alarm system going haywire. It's got nothing to do with your strength or your willpower

or your personality. It's biology. It is not a character flaw. All right, now for the main event. We're going to put some of the most common myths about anxiety right up against the actual truth. This is where we really start to break down that stigma. Yeah, we kind of just talked about this, but it's so important we have to say it again. This myth that feeling anxious means you're weak. It's just completely wrong. The truth, like we see here, is that it's a response from your nervous system. Your body is just reacting. It's a sign that it's trying to protect you. Even if that alarm system is a little overactive sometimes. O, this next one,

this is a trap so many of us fall into, right? The whole just push through it or power through it mindset. But here's what's so wild. The truth is, when you just ignore anxiety, it doesn't just go away. It actually compounds. It can get worse. So, the best way forward isn't to ignore it. It's to get checked out and find some support. And here's another big one. The idea that medication is the only way to deal with it. Now, look, medication can be a fantastic and life-changing option for a lot of people, but it is absolutely not the only option. therapy all by itself, especially this one type called cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT, is

super effective for most people. Okay, so with all that in mind, how do you get a better handle on what you might be feeling? Let's switch gears for a second and look at a really practical tool you can use like right now. It's a super simple 2-minute check-in. So, first, it's good to know the difference here. You know, sometimes what we feel is just short-term stress. That's normal. But when that feeling of anxiety sticks around and is pretty persistent, save for 6 months or more, it might be what's clinically known as generalized anxiety disorder or GAD. And trust me, getting a handle on it early, makes a huge difference. And that's the big question, right?

How do you even know? It can be so hard to tell when you're in the middle of it. But guess what? There's actually a really simple, proven way to get a hint about where you're at. It's called the J A7 test. It's a free, totally confidential screening tool that actual doctors and therapists use. And you can see it's incredibly simple. You just go to the site, take the quick test. It's only seven questions and bam, you get your score right away. Now, it's not a diagnosis, but wow, it's such a powerful first step to just getting some clarity. And once you have that clarity, well, that opens the door to the most important part of

this whole thing, the path to actually feeling better. Because there is a clear, proven path forward. And a lot of the time that path leads right here to something called cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. You might have heard of it. It's basically considered the gold standard for treating anxiety. And that's because it's super practical. It's all about giving you skills to spot, challenge, and then change the thought patterns that are fueling all that anxiety. So, does it work? Well, just look at this number. 50 to 70%. That's the remission rate for anxiety with CBT. That means half to more than twothirds of people who do CBT get a major lasting break from their symptoms. We're

not just talking about managing anxiety here. We're talking about really getting better. Okay, so we know therapy works. Awesome. But how do you actually do it? How do you find it? Let's break down the practical side of things. We'll just use one provider, coping and healing counseling, as an example of what's out there. You know, one of the biggest things that stops people is the cost. So, let's just pull back the curtain on that. Honestly, therapy is often way more affordable than people think. For instance, with a lot of providers, if you're on Medicaid, your co-ay could be zero. Zilch. And even with major insurance plans, what you pay out of pocket for a session

is usually pretty manageable. And what does getting help even look like these days? Well, tellalth has been a total gamecher, making support so much more available. You want to look for practices that use secure video sessions, obviously. And it's also really important to find a place that has a diverse team of licensed therapists who really get what you're dealing with. Whether it's anxiety, trauma, depression, you name it. So, the bottom line is taking that next step is actually pretty simple. You can usually just call, check out a website, or shoot them an email to get started. And hey, remember that link to the free G87 test we mentioned? That is such a great no pressure

place to begin. The resources are out there. You just have to reach for them. And that really brings us back to the beginning. It all starts with one small step. You know, taking that two-minute test isn't going to magically fix everything in an instant, but it can give you that one thing you might need most, a moment of clarity. And that leaves us with a really powerful question to think about. What could just 2 minutes of clarity really change for you?