There are certain stressful situations in life where worrying, planning, and preparing are super helpful even if the process is super uncomfortable. When I say “anxiety” is helpful, what I’m really referring to here is the act of worrying, planning, preparing, and making decisions to handle real and present problems you are facing.

This is not the same thing as having an ‘anxiety disorder” which typically involves worrying and preparing for potential problems, not imminent ones. Here’s a few examples of stressful situations where worrying may be helpful if it leads to productive action. If you’re experiencing any of these, taking time to sit down and think through how you want to tackle it is a helpful use of your time. If problem solving isn’t your strong suit, please reach out. Our therapists can equip you with expert problem solving skills you need to tackle life’s stressors with a sense of confidence.

Community/Location

• Legislation targeting your personal rights

• Crime, discrimination, or harassment

• Severe weather adding to daily tasks

• Excessive traffic and commuting

• Conflicts with neighbors or Home Owners Associations

Work

• Lack of work/life balance

• Lack of boundaries around being “on call” for work

• Coworkers not doing their job

• Lack of training and support with mastering your job

• Downsizing, being under-staffed, and absorbing other roles on top of current responsibilities

• Unrealistic deadlines or last minute projects

• Working more than 40 hours per week

• Doing a job that feels too easy, boring, or below your level of training/experience

• Dealing with client, patient, or customer problems

• Lack of room for upward growth and advancement

• Difficult personalities in supervisors

• Lack of support or openness to express concerns

School

• Bullying

• Feeling targeted by a teacher

• Too much homework, not allowing for down time

• Academic pressure to be above perfect to “keep up”

• Too many extracurriculars, not allowing for down time (sports, clubs, volunteering, part-time jobs, etc)

• Poor quality instruction or lack of support with difficult material

Finances

• Not making enough money to afford the things you need

• Not making enough money to do anything fun above the bare bones survival expenses

• Not receiving child-support you’re owed

• Budgeting problems

• Unpaid debt, especially if it’s in collections

• Bad credit making it hard to get approved to buy things you need

• Not having an emergency fund

Health

• Being diagnosed with a physical illness

• Having physical symptoms or limitations that make you reliant on others to care for you in some way

• Ongoing medical treatment to manage a chronic health problem

• Surgery

• Not getting enough or quality sleep

• Poor nutrition

• Lack of exercise

Legal

• Divorce, separation, infidelity

• Custody battles

• DUI or other criminal charges

• Speeding tickets, accidents, or other problems with your license

Home Life

• Single parenting

• Lack of reliable childcare

• Car problems

• Family experiencing mental health problems

• Family with drug or alcohol problems

• Too many people living in a small space

• Too much stuff in your living space

• Home repairs (leaky pipes, busted air conditioners, etc)

• Losing things

Internal Needs & Conflicts

• Difficulty deciding on a career path

• Unsure whether to have kids or not

• Unsure of whether to stay in a certain relationship or whether it may be the right time to start dating or looking for a partner

Time

• Too many tasks to fit in the amount of time you have to work with

• Too much free time and a lack of direction

• Not enough time to relax, have fun, or socialize

• Too many things on your calendar

We can help.

If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety, please reach out. We offer anxiety treatment with CBT Therapists in Orlando and online throughout the state of Florida. Call today or send us your info and we’ll reach out for a free consultation to see if one of our therapists would be a good fit.