Anxiety Counselling
Anxiety is our body and mind’s natural reaction to threat or danger. It is the state of fear brought on by the anticipation of an event which may be realistic or fantasized and can lead to impairment to our mental and physical functioning.
Anxiety presents itself in many ways. Common symptoms are, feeling nervous, restless or having difficulty sleeping. It can also be the cause of panic attacks with the victim experiencing increased heart rate, rapid breathing, chest tightness, sweating and trembling among other symptoms. Depression can result from regular bouts of anxiety.
My initial approach when working with people suffering from anxiety is to support them in coping with the symptoms that they are experiencing. I work with the client in choosing the methods that work best for them, such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, meditation, exercise or dietary changes. We look to identify and alleviate the triggers that bring on the attacks and explore if there are any underlying root causes either conscious or unconscious that underpin the anxiety. I also support the client in challenging unhelpful beliefs and behaviours and assist them in mastering their fears and growing their confidence.