Anxiety
Anxiety and panic are exhausting, and can leave you feeling like you’ll never again be able to just relax and be yourself. However, with specialist counselling and therapy is a solution and a way in which you can regain control of your life!
Counselling and Therapy for Anxiety
Everybody experiences anxious thoughts from time to time – this is normal and does not automatically mean there is anything wrong. However, for some people, anxiety can be a sign of a disorder which can become very distressing and problematic, sometimes having a significant impact on day-to-day life and ability to function.
Feeling anxious in difficult situations like exams and job interviews is completely normal. And if we end up in a dangerous situation or facing a big challenge, our body triggers our stress response to give us more focus and help us manage.
But if you have an anxiety problem your mind always finds something to panic about, even if it’s illogical. Unlike worry, even if you think of a solution to an issue, your fearful thinking doesn’t stop, it just finds something else to focus on. Your stress response triggers at the slightest thing, leaving you distressed and dealing with uncomfortable physical symptoms like a racing heart.
What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
Those who suffer from extreme anxiousness or an episode of panic often report experiencing one or more of the following symptoms.
- Your anxiety has gone on for several weeks or even longer
- Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
- Heart palpitations or a racing heart
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Trembling or shaking
- Choking feeling
- Sleep disturbance or insomnia
- Feeling very on edge and unable to relax
- Restlessness and difficulty concentrating
- Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint
- Feelings of numbness or tingling
- Suddenly feeling hot or cold
- Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy
Seeking therapy for anxiety or ways to manage your panic can, in itself, be a cause of further anxiety. A trained anxiety therapist can help you by gently exploring what is going on for you and finding the underlying triggers to your feelings of anxiety and panic.
A trained therapist will also teach you proven methods to manage your thinking and overcome your fears, so you can once again enjoy life to the full.
Donna Marie Thomas
Hello, my name is Donna, I am a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and Registered Member of BACP based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
I have a passion for helping people to enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life via a person centred approach to therapy tailored to meet each individuals specific needs.
Get in touch to find out more or book an appointment with me today.
What are the Different Types of Anxiety?
There are many types of anxiety, with a range of different signs and symptoms. Some people have more than one type of anxiety. Some may also have another mental health condition at the same time, like depression.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
This is the most common form of anxiety which relates to someone who has been suffering with excessive symptoms of anxiety for six months or more. Often, they will find themselves worrying over certain activities and/or events, and managing other anxiety symptoms like illogical and fearful thinking.
Other anxiety disorders include:
- Acute stress disorder
- Panic disorder
- Postpartum anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Specific phobias
- Separation anxiety disorder
- social anxiety (with or without agoraphobia)
What are the Causes of Anxiety?
We don’t fully understand why some people develop anxiety disorders and others don’t. We do know that there are some things that make an anxiety disorder more likely, such as:
- Being female (most anxiety disorders are more common for girls and women)
- Having a close relative with an anxiety disorder
- Experiencing very stressful or traumatic events
- Having problems with alcohol or drugs
- Having physical health problems
Other mental health problems can also cause large amounts of anxiety. People who develop depression usually have a low mood and struggle to enjoy things in their life, and they often experience large amounts of anxiety as well.
Counselling and Therapy Options
Treating any anxiety disorder isn’t as easy as switching an OFF button around your fear. However, through a variety of different therapy approaches, you can reclaim back control of your life and ride the wave of anxiety without it overpowering you.
Psychotherapy can be very effective at exploring the roots or causes of these feelings of panic or anxiousness and can help you to learn to manage your response to the catalyst of these emotions.
Below are just some of the most commonly used therapy treatments that can help you to effectively manage your anxiety moving forwards.
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness-based practices
- Psychodynamic therapy
Benefits of Counselling and Therapy
It’s incredibly debilitating to live when you are always dictated by fear, however, through counselling and therapy you can reclaim control and a sense of balance in your life.
It may feel difficult at first, but through the guidance of therapy, you can better show up as your true selves without the shadow of fear.Here are some of the positive outcomes that therapy and counselling can offer you:
- Improved sleep
- Understanding and coping
- Addressing root causes
- Building resilience
- Empowerment and self-discovery
- Improved quality of life
How Innerworth Counselling Can Help
Counselling and therapy provide you with a safe, soothing and confidential space where you can begin to discuss and understand the root causes of your anxiety. It is also a space where you can begin to explore both the emotional and physical aspects of your anxiety and learn a range of techniques which will allow you to cope better with the symptoms enabling you to take back control of your life.
Breathe Again with Anxiety Counselling
I offer private therapy, and take a person-centred approach, meaning that I’m non-judgemental, see clients as equals, and collaborate on your healing journey together.
If you feel that you could benefit from therapy for symptoms of anxiety, please book an initial consultation. You don’t have to prepare for this, just come as you are and we can look into how I might be able to help.
Additional Information
Here are some links that you may find helpful:
Samaritans
The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on: 116 123.
www.samaritans.org
Mind
The team at Mind provide information on a range of mental health problems.
www.mind.org.uk
Contact me today to book a confidential consulation
What My Clients Say
Jason Osborne
I shall be forever bewildered by the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. I had always remained sceptical until my very last session, then the “weight” that suddenly lifted was both physical and emotional and continues to benefit both myself and those around me three years on – thank you Donna.
Jason Osborne
Abigail Johnson
I’ve finally found a solution to my dependency on food. Your weight-loss therapy sessions have seriously transformed my life. Honestly, I could cry, I am so happy and feel like a totally new person, inside and out! Truly amazing Donna.
Abigail Johnson
Charlotte Dickinson
I went to see Donna because my anxiety and depression had spiralled out of control. I now have skills and techniques that I can use for the rest of my life to help me cope with any challenges. Thoroughly recommend psychotherapy from Innerworth Counselling. Donna is warm, professional and clearly passionate about what she does.