What is anxiety all about?

Anxiety is a common emotion that everyone experiences. It can be described as feeling scared, worried or overwhelmed by a certain situation or event. While experiencing occasional anxiety is normal and even helpful in some cases, when it starts to interfere with everyday life, it may be an anxiety disorder such as panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The symptoms of anxiety can vary for each person, but common signs include difficulty concentrating, feeling overwhelmed or tense, excessive worrying, being easily startled or scared, sleeping problems (too little or too much), increased heart rate and sweating.

If left untreated, anxiety can become debilitating and have a major impact on everyday life. For the people of Guildford in Surrey, there are many options available to help manage their anxiety, whether that is through talking therapy, lifestyle changes or medication. There are also local support groups which allow them to share their experiences with others who may be going through similar experiences.

No matter what the situation, it is important to find a way to effectively manage anxiety so that it does not take over someone’s life. With the right support, anyone can learn how to better cope with their anxious thoughts and emotions and live a full and healthy life.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety seems like such a broad umbrella term and to a degree it is. This is because underneath that umbrella you have a number of different disorders. Telltale signs you may have a form of anxiety would include:

  • your worrying is uncontrollable and causes distress
  • your worrying affects your daily life, including school, your job and your social life
  • you cannot let go of your worries
  • you worry about all sorts of things, such as your job or health, and minor concerns, such as household chores

If your anxieties are disrupting your daily life or causing you any distress, it is recommended that you consult with a general practitioner. Your GP can identify the condition based on indicators such as:

  • feeling restless or on edge
  • being irritable
  • getting tired easily
  • having difficulty concentrating or feeling your mind goes blank
  • having difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep
  • having tense muscles

Counselling and how it helps anxiety

How does counselling help anxiety? Counselling can provide a safe and supportive environment which enables people to explore their challenges and develop more effective coping strategies. In particular, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is widely used to help individuals gain insight into the thoughts and feelings that contribute to anxiety, as well as address any underlying issues or trigger points.

Counselling also helps people learn how to better manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. A counsellor can provide tools such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, problem-solving strategies and other coping skills that can help people better cope with anxiety.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with anxiety, it’s important to get professional help and that’s exactly where Guildford Therapy comes to the rescue.

How Brian at Guildford Therapy can help you?

At Guildford Therapy I offer psychotherapy and counselling in Surrey and have many years of experience providing psychotherapy in private practice and the NHS. Based in Guildford, Surrey, I offer therapy services to a wider area too, including Godalming, Woking, Cranleigh, Farnham, Aldershot, Farnborough and Haslemere.

Psychotherapy and counselling are about helping you to enrich your life, grow and reach your potential. This may well include dealing with specific things that are currently troubling you. The process happens as you talk, either with a therapist or with a therapist and members of a therapy group, in a safe, confidential, sensitive, respectful and non-judgemental environment.

It may also be that Covid and its restrictions have put you in closer touch with aspects of your life that you would like to improve. Therapy may be able to help here.

Analytic psychotherapy and counselling go beneath blockages to growth to find their origins and work through them. Therapy in particular works with the unconscious mind. It aims to uncover why someone is feeling or behaving as they are and operates at a deep level to bring about change.

Don’t delay and get in touch with me today, everything will be dealt with in the utmost privacy and confidentiality as well as compassion. It just might be the best door you’ve ever opened.