Anxiety – What is it and how can Counselling help?

Anxiety can feel scary. Especially if you are not sure why you are feeling this way or understanding where it has come from.
I describe anxiety as that feeling in your tummy when you are watching a scary film and waiting for that big jump scare to happen; your body freezes up, your heart starts racing, and you hide your eyes until it is over. I have also heard it be described as that moment on a rollercoaster, where you are waiting at the top to be dropped without warning. You know it is coming, and when it finally happens there is a sense of relief. Except with anxiety, that feeling, and sense of imminent danger is constant and does not go away. It can feel as if you are on high alert constantly and even the simplest tasks can begin to feel too complex or overwhelming and as if we do not seem to have any control over it.
So, what is anxiety? And how can counselling help?

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is the response to a perceived threat or danger. Our mind tells us we are in danger which triggers the fight-flight-freeze response. This reaction is crucial for survival, as it helps us to navigate potentially dangerous situations. It is an innate response to threat. We need this response to survive; like that saying “a rabbit in the headlights;” when a rabbit senses that car coming, their response is quite literally, to freeze because if they are still, predators may not see them.
Anxiety is the feeling triggered to keep us safe.
.So, when we cannot find the threat, we enter a cycle of worry, stress, and panic; it might feel as if we become our own worst enemy, misunderstood, isolated, and alone. It can present as overthinking; where you might make assumptions about certain situations, leading to you feeling more anxious. It is as if your mind is racing with different thoughts that you cannot shut off. It might be you doubt yourself, your feelings, and your decisions, leaving you feeling disempowered or alone. It is exhausting.

And it can have a massive impact on our lives, affecting our relationships, emotional well-being, physical health, and overall quality of life. Here are just some ways it can affect us:

Worry- Anxiety often manifests as excessive worry about everyday situations or potential future events. It can feel as if there is this constant sense of dread which can have a massive impact on our self-confidence. Things like social events, meeting up with friends, or going shopping can feel overwhelming; and you might even end up not going. It becomes a cycle of anxiety-avoidance-temporary relief from anxiety- heightened anxiety

Concentration-You might find it difficult to focus on tasks, remembering certain things or making decisions.

Mood-It can heighten our emotional sensitivity, leading to increased irritability, mood swings and difficulty managing our emotions. This can begin to impact on our relationships and ability to cope with daily challenges.

Sleep-Anxiety disrupts our sleep. We might struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or wake up intermittently throughout the night. This becomes a vicious cycle of lack of sleep, causing more stress and the symptoms of anxiety worsening.

Low self-esteem- Feelings of not being good enough, worrying about what other people think, seeking external validation, inability to find your voice, paranoia.

People-please- You might feel like you are constantly not doing enough so you would rather people-please and over work yourself, than say no.

Dread- Even when things are going well, you fear the worst.

The list is endless and can add to our low mood and daily functioning.

How can counselling help?

Counselling can be highly effective in helping manage and reduce anxiety. Here are some the ways it can help:

Identifying triggers:
Counselling gives you a safe space to become curious about how you are thinking and feeling. Feeling safe with your therapist is key because this trust and sense of safety, empowers and encourages you to explore and identify the underlying causes of your anxiety, such as specific situations, thoughts, or past experiences.

Developing coping strategies:
With the person-centred approach, counselling looks at coping strategies that suit you as an individual. Counselling can teach you relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and stress management tools to manage anxiety symptoms in the here and now.

Improving emotional regulation:
You can learn how to better understand and regulate your emotions, reducing the intensity of the anxious feelings.

Addressing what might be underneath:
Sometimes, anxiety can be linked to deeper issues such as trauma, relationship problems, or self-esteem.  Talking it through with an experienced counsellor can help you address the root causes for long-term relief.

Support and validation:
Counselling is not a place for judgement. How you think and feel is valid. Finding the right therapist who champions you as an individual, can feel empowering and liberating, leaving you feeling understood and less isolated.

 Conclusion
There is a common misconception that anxiety is the enemy. But I honestly find it helpful to reframe it. Anxiety is that friend who is there to keep us safe. It is the signal in our bodies and minds telling us that something is wrong, and it can be a call to action. Sometimes, due to an array of reasons, this response can switch into overdrive and it begins to affect our daily lives.
When we understand ourselves and our responses, it becomes a whole lot easier to take back control and navigate. Through exploration, we can begin to become more attune with our anxiety and ‘self,’ look at what it is telling us, and discover new ways of coping.  As your counsellor, this is where I can help.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help. Alternatively you can reach me on 07587044716. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.

All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential and uses secure phone and email services. You can read the full Privacy Policy here.


© SW Counselling

Privacy Policy

Powered by WebHealer