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Counselling for Anxiety Symptoms
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Anxiety can become so problematic it interferes with day-to-day functioning and thinking. People who have panic attacks (for example), often describe them as being so intense they fear they might die or go insane. For others its a fear of being caught in a situation where you could embarrass yourself in some way. Counselling can not only help you to manage your symptoms; speaking with an experienced therapist can assist you to resolve the issues, beliefs, thoughts and behaviours that contribute to ongoing anxiety. |
What triggers anxiety? How you perceive a situation and your self-talk about it, triggers the symptoms of anxiety. For example: If you perceive an elevator as a threat because you imagine it could get stuck, then self-talk like - "What if the emergency phone doesn't work? What if help doesn't come for hours? What if the cables break? - will send your anxiety level rocketing upwards. In the same way, self talk like - "What if I have a panic attack?" " What if I can't escape?" "What if I make a fool of myself?" "What if...........(insert greatest fear here) happens?" These thoughts trigger what's commonly called the Fight Or Flight Response.
The Fight Or Flight ResponseThe Fight Or Flight Response is an automatic physiological reaction triggered by a real or perceived threat to your well-being. Its purpose is to prepare you to either confront or escape from the situation. The symptoms you feel when highly anxious are those of various bodily systems either shutting down or becoming activated to deal with the threat. For example, the hormone adrenalin surges throughout your body. You breath more rapidly to oxygenate your blood. Your heart rate increases to pump blood to your extremities. Your digestive system wants to eliminate, so you might feel nauseous or feel as if an attack of diarrhoea is imminent. The Fight or Flight Response makes perfect sense if you're a caveman startled by a bear. It's when symptoms occur without an actual threat present, that's hard to understand the intense physical reaction. It's important here to note your body makes no distinction between an imagined threat and an actual physical threat to your survival or well-being.
Anxiety symptoms include:
When is the right time to see a counsellor?This varies and is of course, a personal choice. For some people, it's when their symptoms have become unmanageable. Others seek out help early to prevent anxiety escalating or permeating into other areas of their life. If anxiety has started to dominate your thinking; if you're self medicating with alcohol or drugs; if avoidance behaviour interferes with work or personal relationships, then it may be time to consider counselling.
Support from othersA mistake loved ones or supportive friends can make is giving advice based on how they dealt with their own anxiety. That's rather like comparing apples with oranges because it's not comparing the same level, intensity and unremitting persistence of an anxiety disorder. It explains why advice like "just don't dwell on it", or "put it out of your mind" or "you just need a holiday"; don't work with chronic anxiety. Sometimes a lack of improvement using these strategies can be viewed by others as you not trying hard enough. This is frustrating for everyone, given that nothing could be further from the truth! I'm reminded of a personal story a support group member once shared. She'd had Panic Disorder for quite some time. Her partner, a bank manager, had been sympathetic at first. But over time his patience had begun to wear thin. He resented missing out on social functions because she was too afraid to be left at home alone. In an argument he'd described her as being self-indulgent, selfish and controlling. His lack of understanding had hurt her deeply. It was not until her partner suffered from panic attacks himself after a robbery at the bank; that he appreciated what she'd been going through. So often clients have said, "If only I could wave a magic wand so my ...........(girlfriend/husband etc.) could have my disorder for a few days. Then they'd know how hard it is". It's true our family or friends can't understand what it's like to have an anxiety disorder unless or until it happens to them. You can help family members to broaden their understanding by passing on books you've found helpful. You could even ask them to accompany you to a support group or community information session. If and when you feel ready, you might considering telling a selected few (work colleagues/friends) about your experience. You might be surprised by how many people either say they've had an anxiety problem themselves or know someone else who has. It's good to be reminded you're not the only one to go through this, even if it feels like it sometimes.
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