What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the body responding to a perceived threat or danger. When there is something to be afraid of, or when we think there is something to be afraid our brain prepares our body to go into ‘fight or flight’ mode.
Feeling anxious is our emotional response to fears around an insecurity or threat that we perceive exists.
Our brain gives us an unconscious message that something is dangerous. This causes the uncomfortable feelings of anxiety often with physical body sensations.
We then create a worst case scenario in our minds of what might happen. We become hyper aware of all the possible risks and feel fear. We may alter plans and avoid situations because of the fear it generates.
Some causes of anxiety
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exhaustion or a build-up of stress.
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lots of change or uncertainty.
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feeling under pressure while studying or in work.
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long working hours.
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being out of work.
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money problems.
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housing problems and homelessness.
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worrying about the environment or natural disasters (sometimes called climate anxiety or eco-anxiety)
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Past experiences.
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Mental health or physical issues.
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Drugs or medication.
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Your current life situation.
Panic attacks are a combination of symptoms that are so strong you can feel as though you are having a heart attack or even that you are going to die. This fear creates more anxiety and the symptoms intensify. . . becoming a terrifying experience.
Possible symptoms
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You may notice that your thoughts are racing.
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You may find you are unable to concentrate on things.
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You may feel detached from the world around you.
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You might suffer from sweating.
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That your heart feels as though it is racing.
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Feelings of nausea, stomach churning.
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Getting a sensation of ‘butterflies’ in your stomach, hands and legs trembling or tingling.
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Legs feeling ‘like jelly’.
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Feeling the need to go to the toilet.
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Your muscles feeling tense and tight.
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A feeling of light-headed and /or dizziness.
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Your breathing may become shallow and fast.
Avoiding anxiety
Avoidance is a common behaviour adopted, by some, to attempt to control the situation, for example, avoiding certain places or people or only feeling able to do certain things if restrictions are in place.
Such as:
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Avoiding or delaying responding to invitations or avoiding speaking or contacting someone so that you can think of a way to avoid the social event or meeting.
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Deliberately not opening emails or text messages or putting off opening them.
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Letting your mobile go to voicemail rather than pick up an unknown call or a call from a recognised number that may require you to respond.
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Not going out of your house to avoid people or places
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Only doing something with conditions attached to the activity. For example: restricting the time at the activity to minimise contact with people.
You hope that you will feel ‘more able to’ in the future. Avoidance strengthens the anxiety.
You might attempt to control your anxiety by using medication, taking drugs, smoking or drinking to ‘cope’ with the symptoms. Rather than helping, stopping or treating anxiety, these actions make the anxiety worse.
By engaging in counselling I will help you to:
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Understand why your anxiety is troublesome.
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Help you to explore a different perspective about your anxiety.
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Help you to break the uncontrollable anxiety cycle you are in.