How can I treat Anxiety?
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How can I treat Anxiety?
I see more and more people who are suffering with anxiety and stress issues as time goes on. We live in a stressful time and whilst many people can experience a relatively mild form of anxiety when facing particularly stressful situations like a best man’s speech or an important work presentation, anxiety disorders are more severe and can really make a difference to your life. Sometimes anxiety could be brought on by a fear of something that has already happened, or it could be what we think may happen in the future such as when getting ready to board a plane perhaps.
If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder it may lead to you avoiding some situations because you imagine that your fear may overwhelm you. In cases this can lead to leaving work, having problems in relationships and perhaps even fearing leaving the house.
What different types of anxiety are there?
Panic disorder or panic attacks
Panic disorder can also be known as panic attacks or anxiety attacks. They can be characterised by an often shorter term feeling both in your head and in your body, which appears suddenly and without warning. Panic attacks are often a common symptom of panic disorder, but not everyone who has a panic attack will develop panic disorder. Sometimes a panic attack could be something you have rarely, but also it is possible to find yourself unable to get through the day without one or several panic attacks happening. Again, this can lead to you wanting to stay in a safe place and not venture far.
Generalised anxiety disorder
When suffering from generalised anxiety disorder you may often anticipate things going wrong and worry acutely about your family, money and your health. Generalised anxiety disorder interferes with daily life and is usually diagnosed when someone spends at least six months worrying excessively about normal everyday problems. It can feel that you wake up with a cloud of worry over you and that cloud does not disappear. Rather than shorter term stress it seems like you feel on edge all of the time. It can mean that even getting through your day can be a real challenge.
Social anxiety disorder or social phobia
Social anxiety disorder is defined as being a feeling or extreme anxiety and discomfort in social situations. It is far more common than you may at first realise. In fact according to some research, social anxiety is the third most common disorder after depression and alcoholism. It can mean that you are scared to meet people and interact because you worry about what they will think or you and your actions. In some cases it can lead to agoraphobia where the fear of open spaces, crowds and public places means that you limit your activities in life.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
If you suffer from anxiety you may recognise some of the following symptoms. Many of these are especially severe when you are suffering from a panic attack.
You may feel you have trouble breathing, a feeling of dizziness and light headedness, lack of breath, difficulty in concentrating, problems with headaches, sweating, a sinking feeling, stomach problems and issues with digestion, palpitations, tightness in the chest, problems falling asleep and staying asleep.
You may find other symptoms that you feel contribute to making you feel anxious, of course everyone is different.
Why do I feel Anxious though?
Everyone is different so the causes of your anxiety could be from many different areas. Often what happens in life can become too much and lead to shorter term stress and anxiety but it can often run in families, and if you have children then it may be possible to show them how you feel with your stresses and for them to begin to copy that feeling and worry too.
What Treatment can I get for my anxiety?
The good news is that there are many different approaches to helping you with your anxiety. It is always a good idea to make sure that you see your doctor so that they can check you for any medical issues and they may also be able to offer you some help. As a Hypnotherapist I use a wide range of techniques to help people with stress and anxiety to let go and move on. If you are interested in reading about other types of therapy too you can read all about that here: http://www.markpowlett.co.uk/cbtandcounsellingvshypnotherapy.html
You can contact me on 0789 233160 or email me at [email protected]
