Coping with Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of mild or severe unease, such as worry or fear. It is normal to have feelings of anxiety at some point in our life. However, some people find it hard to control their worries. In fact, just trying to control our feelings can be the very thing that causes anxiety. For some feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives.

Mental symptoms of anxiety can mean feeling restless, having a sense of dread, feeling endlessly on edge, difficulty concentrating and irritability. Physical symptoms of anxiety can include dizziness, tiredness and fatigue, headache, stomach ache, nausea, trembling or shaking, muscle aches, shortness of breath, panic, a fast or strong heartbeat, dryness of mouth, excessive sweating and trouble with sleep.

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect you both physically and mentally. Severity of symptoms varies with each individual. Some people have only one or two symptoms, while others have many. You should see your GP or seek counselling if anxiety is affecting your daily life or is causing you distress.

Some people manage well with medication, although medication does not cure anxiety. Other people who seek counselling learn coping strategies and explore the causes in order to make them more manageable.

Anxiety is often caused by the rules or beliefs we follow making our lives difficult or impossible. Whilst worrying about “What if…” rather than what is right now will also leave a person feeling anxious and unsettled. Going to counselling would help to explore all of this and find different ways of coping.

If you would like any further advice or support please feel free to call me on: (07843) 813537