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Anxiety and worrying can really take it’s toll on your life. It can effect your day, your concentration and sleep.

Take a look at my video to learn two simple tips that really help reduce worry and anxiety.

Here is a summary of the information contained in this nine minute video. I hope you will find it helpful!

• How visualizing a problem makes your brain and body more confident when actually doing the things you were worrying about.
• The brain science behind why this is an effective technique.
• What cognitive therapy is and how we can feel more in control by studying and writing down your worries.
• The difference between useful vs useless worrying.
• How what we worry about rarely happens and when it does happen, you cope much better than you thought you would.

To find out more about coping with anxiety and worrying  download my free booklet Simple Steps To Overcome Anxiety & Worrying  use the sign up form below the book.

When clients first come in to see me, the main concerns that come up again and again are:

1. How can I feel less stressed, angry and overwhelmed?
2. What should I do if I feel panicky?
3. How can I stop worrying about everything: my children, partner, friends, work, my “to do” list….

So I put together a booklet with some strategies I am always giving to my clients to help them begin to feel less anxiety and to worry less.

I hope that you will find it helpful too.

Add your first name and email address in the box below and you will be sent the steps to download your FREE book.

Please let me know if  you have any questions after reading the booklet. Also, if you would like to read more, I have several blog posts on my blog about anxiety and other issues that can affect the way you feel.

If after watching my video or reading the booklet you feel ready to start working on reducing your anxiety but need support, I can help you overcome worrying in one-on-one individual counseling sessions.

In a supportive environment with a therapist who has over 20 years experience you can learn how to reduce worrying by:

• Learning a variety of relaxation and breathing strategies which can help you reduce your overall levels of stress and help you face anxiety-provoking situations.
• Learning how to distinguish between worries that require your attention and worries that are unnecessary.
• Learning skills to manage anxious thoughts and to tackle fears that may have been holding you back.While all your worries won’t disappear, you will be given strategies to manage them better and tools to reduce the impact they have on your life.

If you feel anxiety is standing in the way of you leading the life you want to, call me on 847 791-7722 or via the email form below.

Here is a recent article published on Romper.com on how to talk to your partner when you are experiencing postpartum depression (the advice works just as well for postpartum anxiety and pregnancy mood disorders too). I was very happy to be interviewed by Caroline Shannon-Karasik as one of the experts and here’s the paragraphs where I was specifically quoted:

Dr. Sarah Allen, a psychologist and director of the Postpartum Depression Alliance, suggests that setting aside time for the conversation when you’re not exhausted is helpful. “I know this is not easy when you have an infant, but you will get a better response from your partner if they are not on their way out the door or just about to go to sleep.” She says this first step can be very difficult because it requires admitting that you are not coping or feeling the way you want to. Call on a friend or family member to watch your little one while the two of you take some time to discuss your feelings.

Try to also not rely on the media which “only tend to focus on extreme cases of postpartum depression and psychosis — that happens to only one percent of new moms,” Allen adds. “[This means] your partner may be worried when you first talk about it. Explain to your partner that postpartum depression and anxiety are very common and affect approximately 20 percent of new moms.”

Allen says you may want to print out something for your partner to read that explains the symptoms and how frequently women experience them. Highlight the particular symptoms you are experiencing and consult reputable online resources that explain symptoms, treatment, and how to access support in your own state. Allen adds that local groups, like the Postpartum Depression Alliance she runs in Illinois, also offer resources for both mothers and partners.

Read the whole article here How To Talk To Your Partner About Postpartum Depression, According To Experts!

If you want to read more about maternal mental health download the FREE Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression. It is full of information about symptoms, different types of maternal mood disorders and advice about what to do to start feeling like yourself again.

 

 

Dr. Sarah Allen has 20+ years experience as a psychologist helping women transition to being the mom they want to be. She is also the Director of the Postpartum Depression Alliance of IL, a non-profit offering info and support to pregnant and postpartum moms and their families.

In her Northbrook office, in the North Suburbs of Chicago, or via telephone or online counseling she offers the most convenient way for you to access support and help.

If you have questions after reading this article or the Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression or have any questions about how counseling can be useful to your particular circumstances please contact me at 847 791-7722 or on the form below.

 

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