What is Anxiety?

Anxiety can often be easier to understand when viewed through the lens of human biology. At its core, what we label as problematic anxiety is actually an overactive response of the body's natural fight-or-flight system, part of the Sympathetic Nervous System. Most of us are familiar with this system—it’s designed to protect us from immediate threats. However, when it’s triggered disproportionately, it can feel like a relentless, unknown force inside us. Recognizing that this response stems from a normal, healthy system allows us to better manage its symptoms.

Dr. Cirigliano draws on his expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to provide you with powerful tools that can immediately change how you experience and react to anxiety. Beyond just coping with the present, Dr. Cirigliano will guide you in exploring the deeper roots of your anxiety—how it developed and the role it plays in your life—so you can learn to work with it more effectively. That's right, the goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety altogether (which is neither possible nor necessary), but to create a balanced response system where you control your behavior, rather than letting anxiety control you.

Take the first step toward reclaiming control of your life, contact Dr. Cirigliano to develop your anxiety disorder treatment plan.