Anxiety Relief & Systemic Family Stress Therapy

What it is. Anxiety shows up as persistent "worst-case" imagining (​generalized anxiety), sudden surges of terror with racing heart and shortness of breath (​panic attacks), fear of judgment in social settings (​social anxiety), or anticipatory dread before an exam, presentation, or family visit (​situational/anticipatory anxiety). In dysfunctional or narcissistic families, Jerry Wise calls this system anxiety -worry that is projected onto one child through triangulation and "pinging," leaving that person chronically on edge.

What the research says. CBT remains the gold standard for catastrophizing thoughts; Judson Brewer's Unwinding Anxiety highlights the brain's reward loops; existential therapy reminds us that mortality, meaning, and isolation create baseline human anxiety. Family-systems writers note that poorly differentiated parents transfer their tension to the most sensitive child, while secure attachment and mindful breathing lower physiological arousal.

How I help. Sessions blend CBT thought records, worst-case scripting (Tim Ferriss's "fear-setting"), Bowen differentiation drills, and IFS parts work to soothe alarmed sub-selves. We practice mindfulness, box breathing, and rational detachment from family "pings," then design exposure tasks so you face--not flee-social or situational triggers.