Anxiety can take you prisoner. You might feel like you are living in a cell, unable to break free from this awful feeling that you are stuck with, and which is preventing you from doing things in life that you want to do.
But do you realise that you yourself hold the key to that cell door and that you can find your way to escape into freedom?
Q. What is anxiety?
It’s a human feeling!
Anxiety is when you experience worry or unease about something you fear is going to happen soon or in the future. For example, a driving test, an exam, a job interview, or maybe a medical procedure or a meeting someone new or doing something new or being in a group setting. A feeling of anxiety if temporary is perfectly normal for many people however your anxiety can be unhealthy if it is all-consuming and you find it difficult to be in control, and instead your anxiety is controlling you.
Q. What signs might you notice which mean you are anxious?
Anxiety can be indicated by physical sensations such as shaking, your heart rate might increase, you feel sweaty and clammy, feel sick, feeling tense and stressed, find it difficult to eat, feel ‘on edge’. You might struggle to concentrate on anything.
Severe anxiety may cause panic attacks, and you might struggle to even leave the house let alone enjoy anything in your life.
Severe anxiety can be caused by something from your past. For example, a difficult event, bullying, abuse, family or relationship situation, loneliness.
Q. So, what can help?
You may already have done some research and found out about important and helpful things that can help such as exercise, improving nutrition, being in nature, mindfulness and more.
But for many people motivation is difficult. Perhaps you keep your anxiety hidden and really struggle to talk to anyone close. You may even feel shame about your anxiety.
A counsellor is someone neutral who can listen to you and learn to understand what your anxiety is like for you and how it affects and restricts your life. They will gently encourage you to open up and explore your anxiety but at a pace you can handle. It’s important to feel you are in a safe setting and that you feel you are not being judged.
If you struggle to do it alone, with some help, you can learn to manage your anxiety. You will need to do some work on this but it's worth the effort to get your life back.
Have a think about what you might be able to do if you weren’t in your anxiety prison cell.
If you would like to find out more, feel free to get in touch with me. I offer in-person counselling in Thatcham, West Berkshire and cover surrounding areas of Thatcham and Newbury. I also work online and if you would like to be outdoors I offer walk and talk therapy where we can be in nature.
Contact me at:
Take care.