🌿 Finding Calm: Understanding and Treating Anxiety
💭 When Worry Becomes Overwhelming
Anxiety is a natural human response — but when it becomes constant, intrusive, or hard to control, it can begin to take over your daily life. You may find yourself replaying conversations, struggling to relax, or feeling physically tense and emotionally drained.
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we recognize that ADHD isn’t one-size-fits-all — every brain tells its own story. Some people thrive on bursts of creativity but struggle with consistency, while others battle constant overstimulation and fatigue. We focus on helping you uncover the strengths beneath the chaos and build a rhythm that fits your life.
⚖️ When Anxiety Begins to Take Over
Without support, anxiety can quietly shape the way you think, feel, and connect with others. It can make concentration difficult, increase irritability, and turn small decisions into major stressors. Physically, it may cause headaches, digestive discomfort, muscle tension, or exhaustion from being in a constant state of alertness.
Anxiety can also impact relationships, leading to miscommunication, emotional withdrawal, or fear of vulnerability. You might overthink interactions, feel disconnected, or struggle to express what you need. Over time, these patterns can leave you feeling isolated and misunderstood.
Because anxiety often coexists with depression, ADHD, or trauma, it’s important to look at the whole picture — not just the surface symptoms. Our therapists take a holistic, person-centered approach that considers your emotional, physical, and relational wellbeing.
🌱 Therapy as a Path to Relief
Working with a therapist can help you understand what fuels your anxiety and give you the tools to manage it more effectively. Together, we can:
Identify triggers and unhelpful thinking patterns
Practice mindfulness and grounding skills
Build healthy coping strategies for moments of stress
Reframe self-critical thoughts
Strengthen emotional regulation and confidence
Our goal isn’t to erase anxiety completely — it’s to help you feel calm, capable, and more in control of your life.
💊 Collaborative Prescriber Support
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we take a holistic approach to treating anxiety that considers both the emotional and physiological aspects of your experience. For some clients, medication can be an important part of regaining balance and calm.
Our in-house prescriber partners directly with your therapist to create a cohesive plan that supports long-term relief. This collaboration ensures that therapeutic strategies and medication management complement each other — reducing anxiety symptoms while strengthening coping skills and emotional awareness.
Your care team works together to:
Evaluate whether medication may be beneficial for your specific needs
Monitor progress and adjust treatment over time
Provide education and reassurance around medication use
Foster an ongoing dialogue between you, your prescriber, and your therapist
With a team that communicates openly and consistently, you’ll receive care that feels connected, thoughtful, and truly personalized — so you can breathe easier knowing every aspect of your wellbeing is supported.
💬 Our Therapeutic Approach
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we use a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based practices, and solution-focused therapy to help clients manage anxiety. We also provide Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) — an evidence-based approach that helps process distressing experiences and calm the body’s anxiety response.
Our diverse and culturally responsive team provides a supportive space where you can feel seen and understood. We recognize that anxiety is shaped by culture, identity, and experience — and we’re committed to honoring all of who you are throughout the therapeutic process.
🌿 Living Well With Anxiety
Anxiety can make life feel unpredictable, but peace is possible. Small daily practices can help calm your nervous system and bring balance back to your days.
1️⃣ Practice Grounding Techniques
When anxiety spikes, connect with your senses — notice five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear. It brings your body back to the present.
2️⃣ Breathe Intentionally
Slow, deep breaths can regulate your body’s stress response. Try breathing in for four counts, holding for two, and exhaling for six.
3️⃣ Create Calm Spaces
Keep comforting items nearby — music, scents, or a quiet corner. Small environmental changes can lower tension.
4️⃣ Limit Overexposure to Stressors
Set boundaries with news, social media, or conversations that heighten anxiety. Protect your mental space.
5️⃣ Connect and Talk It Out
Anxiety grows in silence. Sharing your feelings with a therapist or trusted person can lessen its power.
💙 At Mara’s Lighthouse, we teach practical tools to help you find calm, confidence, and clarity — even when life feels overwhelming.
💙 Finding Calm Again
You don’t have to live in constant worry or fear. With understanding, structure, and the right tools, you can find relief, restore peace, and reconnect with yourself.
Click below to schedule your session and begin your journey toward calm and confidence.