WHAT'S IT LIKE TO LIVE WITH ANXIETY?
If you have anxiety, you might feel like you are constantly on edge, always waiting for the next disaster to happen.
And it doesn't seem to matter how many times you're told that "everything is okay" or "there's nothing to worry about" - in fact, that can sometimes make things worse, because you just know that things aren't okay, and people telling you otherwise just shows that no one else understands and makes you feel even more alone.
For some people, anxiety can be a sense of vague unease, for others it can be terrifying episodes of full blown panic, and for some people, it can be a constant dark shadow over their lives, making it difficult to even leave the house, just in case something happens.
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These feelings aren't just emotional, either. If you have anxiety, you might find yourself struggling with heart palpations, a racing heart rate, rapid breathing, sudden sweating or even feeling dizzy or faint. Anxiety can also affect sleep, and ironically, lack of sleep can make you more prone to feeling anxious.
UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY
If you recognised yourself in the description above, you're not alone. Anxiety affects millions of people, with a staggering 37% of women and 29% of men in the UK struggling with anxiety in the last year alone, and those numbers are only getting larger. Sadly, the numbers of children being diagnosed with anxiety is getting high every year.
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Although anyone can experience anxiety, certain life events can make someone at risk of long term or severe levels of anxiety, such as experiencing childhood trauma, social isolation or stress at home, work or school.
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Anxiety can range from a passing feeling of unease, to conditions like "health anxiety" (where anxiety focuses on fears of sickness) all the way to a full-blown psychiatric condition like Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Anxiety can often be behind other problems such as fears of phobias; the fear or phobia acts as a "cover" so that the sufferer can avoid the situation that causes the anxiety.
SIMPLE SELF HELP TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE ANXIETY
When faced with anxiety, many people turn to self-help techniques to try and regain control.
Breathing techniques like "square breathing" or "7-11 breathing" are very popular and can help in moments of sudden stress.
Other popular anxiety control techniques include mindfulness and mediation.
Some people have success with "grounding" techniques. Grounding involves bringing the mind's focus into the body, rather than the awful images that anxiety can produce in the mind.
These techniques can be effective at reducing anxiety or panic if an attack occurred, but often require a large amount of practice to be effective.
Longer term, regular exercise, avoiding caffeine and connecting with friends and family can help reduce anxiety.
TREATMENT OF ANXIETY BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
If self-management doesn't work, many people will go on to seek help from a doctor or GP.
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If you are given a formal medical diagnosis of anxiety, your GP or medical professional may prescribe anti-depressants or beta-blockers to help reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
These medications can be effective for some, but often come with unpleasant side effects.
Some people are offered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or counselling via their GP or local health service. These approaches often focus on encouraging the patient to see that their thoughts are "faulty" and helping them to learn to think differently in the future. It can work well for some, which is why it's offered on the NHS.
But this can mean talking about the events that have made you anxious again and again. This can be uncomfortable and sometimes even unhelpful, because sometimes people with anxiety simply don't want to talk about what has happened to them, or simply do not accept that their thoughts are "faulty".
Hypnotherapy can be a fast and effective way of reducing anxiety.
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I appreciate that there are lots of therapists to choose from, and that it can seem very difficult to know to trust with your emotional health.
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As a Cognitive Hypnotherapist, I'm trained in a wide range of techniques to help you escape your anxiety.
I believe all my clients are unique, so deserve the best, personalised help. I specialise in treating you, not the label your issue has been given!
Maybe we'll use classic hypnotherapy techniques, where you'll be guided in a deep state of relaxation so that you can let go of your anxiety.
Or maybe we'll use eye movement based techniques to encourage a state of emotional change.
Perhaps we'll use provocative questioning to help you break down your anxiety so that it simply no longer affects you.
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If you choose to come and see me for anxiety, you are free to book however many sessions you like, but I recommend at least two sessions for maximum benefit.