3 Anxiety support groups in Indianapolis

This post answers: Which are the Anxiety support groups in Indianapolis? What is Anxiety? What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? What are the causes of anxiety? What are some ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Which are the Anxiety support groups in Indianapolis?

If you are from Indianapolis, the following are some of the anxiety support groups that you can find either online or can visit in person.

These groups are headed by professional psychologists, and you would find them extremely helpful.

Journey Support Services Inc.

Journey Support Services Inc. is headed by Doshia Fifer, an LCSW, CSAYC, and CCATP. Doshia is an expert in dealing with issues of anxiety and depression. 

The groups that she runs assist individuals, couples, and families in dealing with anxiety and depression and enhancing their lives. Doshia also assists people with trauma-related anxiety and PTSD. 

She primarily relies on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for treating her clients. Journey Support Inc. is very economical and costs about $60 to $120 per session.

Location

3737 North Meridian Street Suite 508 Indianapolis, IN 46208

Contact Number:

(317) 342-5904

The Peace Within: Mindfulness Practices

The Peace Within: Mindfulness Practices is primarily an anxiety and depression support group run by Neva H Hagedorn. Neva E Hagedorn is a Therapist, PsyD, and LCSW. Her group focuses on making you feel better by helping you deal with your anxiety and depression through mindfulness and mediation practices. The group inclines toward making peace with our inner selves. It would help you go deep down into the core of yourself, and wake up the peace and calmness within. Neva H Hagedorn emphasizes non-judgmental and unconditional acceptance of her clients. If you are someone from Indianapolis and you have been broken by anxiety and depression, this group is here to help you heal. This group costs about $50 per session.

Location

Osman Clinic & Associates 3307 West 96th Street Indianapolis, IN 46268

Contact Number:

(317) 942-3280

Create Your Own Peace and Happiness

Create Your Own Peace and Happiness is a support group for anxiety in Indianapolis, headed by Philip Ellison-Hines. Philip is a marriage and family therapist intern. Much of our anxiety stems from either relational or family problems. If that’s the case with you, and you are from Indianapolis, then this group is here to help and support you and make sure that you heal from the wounds that don’t let you sleep in peace. Philip focuses on positive thinking and believes that with the help of positive thinking, we can beat any trouble. The group is very economical, compared to other groups. It costs about $30 per session.

Location

Indianapolis, IN 46250

Contact Number

(317) 597-4839

Peace of Mind Counseling Services LLC

 As is evident from the name, the focus here is on the inner peace of our minds and hearts. PMCS is headed by Michael Texler and his team. They have a specific support group only for anxiety and depression-related issues. They primarily make use of CBT techniques, especially the Unified Protocol (UP) in helping people deal with anxiety, depression, and related issues. Texler’s services would help you learn how to look at your emotions in a new and adaptive way and learn how to respond to your emotion such that they enhance the quality of your life. This group costs $60+ per session.

Location

Peace of Mind Counseling Services LLC 941 East 96th Street Suite 112 Indianapolis, IN 46240

Contact Number:

(317) 953-5683

Family Caregivers Circle of Support

Run by Arlinda D Lindsay, an MSW, MDiv, LCSW, and LSAC, this group is for those who cannot afford paid support groups. Lindsay provides free support to families and caregivers who are dealing with anxiety and depression. The group also teaches them how to cope with anxiety and how to find and avail good educational and occupational opportunities. Their primary focus is on people of old age.

Location

Broadripple Executive Suites 1111 E 54th Street Suite 115 Indianapolis, IN 46220

Contact Number:

(317) 494-7611

Life is hard, and there are plenty of stressors and worries that can make it go off the rail. Anxiety and depression, in their mildest forms, are a permanent part of life. No one is one hundred percent free of or shielded against either of them. However, at one point or another in our lives, we may come across stressors and worries that are totally out of our control.

These are the situations that impair us to the core. These worries affect our cognition to the extent that we start worrying about things that are not that worrisome, about things that are not even there. That’s anxiety.

What is Anxiety?

Problems and resulting stress are usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called  Anxiety. 

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety. 

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? 

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as 

• Sweating
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Sense of choking
• Complaints of chest pain
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
• Fear of impending doom
• Hot or cold flashes
• Tingling or numbness
• Increased heart rate

These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.

What are the causes of anxiety?

Anxiety often results from accumulated stress or overwhelming feelings. Some common causes of anxiety include.

• Increased and challenging situations and demands in day-to-day life.
• Major changes in family dynamics such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one.
• Strain interpersonal relationships
• Intrapersonal conflicts
• Ineffective coping mechanisms
• Comorbid conditions both physical and mental
• Chronic health conditions
• Genetic factors
• Changes in the brain region
• Overdose of caffeine
• Prolonged use of medications
• Significant traumatic experiences in the past or recent times
• Comorbid mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder or any other phobias.

What are some ways to manage anxiety?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

 

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

 

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle changes

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

 

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Medication

Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.

Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief. 

Online therapy  

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium. 

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation. 

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusion:

If you are someone from Indianapolis who is dealing with anxiety and depression, you can take help from support groups such as Journey Support Services Inc., Peace of Mind Counseling Services LLC, and many others. If you are aged and cannot afford paid groups, you can join the free anxiety support group known as Family Caregivers Circle of Support.

Frequently asked questions: Which are the Anxiety support groups in Indianapolis?

Is it legal to hold online support groups for mental disorders?

Yes, if you are qualified to do so.

What’s the best way to deal with anxiety on your own?

Meditation can help you a great deal. You can take help from Sam Harris’s Waking Up meditation app, which is grounded both in spirituality and science.

How much do anxiety support groups in Indianapolis cost on average per session?

Support groups in Indianapolis cost an average of $30 to $90 per session.

Citations:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/anxiety/indiana/77716?sid=621fd76cb19fa&spec=2&ref=11

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/anxiety/indiana/196266?sid=621fd76cb19fa&spec=2&ref=8

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/anxiety/indiana/41471?sid=621fd76cb19fa&ref=33

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/anxiety/indiana/192763?sid=621fd76cb19fa&ref=27

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/anxiety/indiana/191992?sid=621fd76cb19fa&ref=17