Worry / Anxiety

What is Anxiety? Is it always 'bad'?

Anxiety is a normal emotion we have from birth. In small doses and appropriate situations, it can be useful - like motivating us to prepare for a presentation. However, some people experience heightened levels that become debilitating and significantly impact their lives. This common problem can develop at any age.

The Various Types of Anxiety Issues

Anxiety encompasses several specific disorders:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Frequent, chronic worries about unlikely events

• Panic Disorder: Sudden, intense terror reactions with strong physical symptoms and fear of dying or losing control

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Anxiety from intrusive thoughts, often with calming rituals

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Anxiety triggered by trauma-related reminders

• Social Phobia/Social Anxiety: Negative feelings triggered by social situations

• Specific Phobia: Intense fear triggered by specific objects or situations

• Health Anxiety (Hypochondria): Excessive worry about severe illness despite medical reassurance

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety?

Common experiences include excessive worry about finances, relationships, health, work, and school. Those with high anxiety levels often find their worries uncontrollable and persistent.

Cognitive and Emotional symptoms include:

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Feeling on edge

• Restlessness

• Difficulties concentrating

• Difficulties making decisions

• Irritability

• Disliking uncertainty

• Loss of control feeling

Physical symptoms can include:

• Nausea

• Appetite changes

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Muscle aches

• Increased heart rate

• Shallow breathing

Sleep is often affected, with difficulties falling or staying asleep.

Why is Anxiety Maintained?

Anxiety persists through counterproductive coping strategies like over-planning, avoidance, and excessive reassurance-seeking. People often overestimate worst-case scenarios and feel overly responsible. Many hold both positive and negative beliefs about worrying, creating a cycle that maintains anxiety.

What Causes an Anxiety Problem?

Contributing factors include:

• Childhood adversity

• High stress

• Anxious family members

• Substance abuse

• Traumatic events

• Relationship losses

• Job loss

Do I need Anxiety Therapy?

Consider professional help if anxiety has significantly changed your life, causing you to avoid social events, lose relationships or jobs, or restrict activities due to fear of anxiety attacks.

Does Therapy for Anxiety Work?

Yes, substantial evidence shows psychological therapies effectively treat anxiety disorders (http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1807-59322019000100316&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en#B14). CBT Therapy has particularly strong proven evidence for anxiety treatment (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/enduring-effects-of-psychological-treatments-for-anxiety-disorders-metaanalysis-of-followup-studies/4D184AEB59A5573DFC7314CF001B23F4).

Anxiety Therapy: What Does It Involve?

Therapy helps explore worry patterns, challenge thoughts, accept uncertainty, and gradually face fears. Treatment is tailored to individual needs and may include adjusting behaviors that feed anxiety.

Benefits of Counselling For Anxiety

Therapy provides concrete coping skills and techniques, reducing both psychological and physical symptoms. Most people experience significant improvement after several months, regaining control of their lives and reducing anxiety's impact.

If you're looking for help with something you're struggling with, book your in-depth assessment now.

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