Anxiety is something that affects everyone at some point. A small level of anxiety or stress is quite normal and can be helpful. It gives us a state of readiness and alertness that can be useful when entering new situations and trying new or challenging things. The difficulty arises when the anxiety or stress becomes overwhelming and stops us from being able to function and live our lives to the fullest.
There are many forms of anxiety such as-
Generalised Anxiety
Worry and tension that’s over exaggerated and can be quite overwhelming even when there doesn’t seem to be a reason for the anxiety.
Social Anxiety
This can be excessive worry, stress or self-consciousness around social situations. This kind of anxiety can be be focused on certain types of social situations, such as meeting new people, speaking in public, or eating in front of others. It can also be a high level of anxiety when in any situation involving other people.
Panic Disorder
Having panic attacks. These panic attacks are characterised by on overwhelming sense of fear or confusion, and can include many physical symptoms such as heart-racing, dizziness, chest pains and difficulty breathing.
We live in a world where we are often asked to be on high alert. 24 hour news cycles bombard us with potential dangers. Living in cities we have to negotiate large crowds and fast moving traffic, constantly having to keep our wits about us. Pressures at work building to a point that it seems never ending. Navigating our social lives, meeting new people feeling we have to present the best of ourselves. This can be exhausting and sometimes we become overwhelmed.
How can counselling help?
Here at Respire Counselling I utilise a range of techniques and methods to help with anxiety and stress.
Mindfulness and Breathing
Meditation and breathing techniques to help ground you and lessen some of the effects of anxiety. Overtime this can help you live more in the present and lessen the immediacy of the anxiety.
Counselling
We can explore where the anxiety is coming from. What the anxiety is telling you and how best to resolve the anxiety for you. Talking can really help and release some of that pressure we encounter in our lives.
