Anxiety Therapy

Is Anxiety Controlling Your Life?

Do you lie in bed with thoughts going round and round in your head, so you can’t sleep even when you’re exhausted?

Are you struggling physically with chronic headaches, jaw soreness, muscular tension that never goes away, or even panic attacks?

It could be that life feels like one giant stress-generator, keeping your mind and body on constant high alert.

Maybe your relationships are suffering because you feel anxious in social situations.

Perhaps you find yourself getting caught up in unhelpful strategies to ‘make things OK’, such as compulsive behaviours or OCD.

Anxiety Can Impact Your Sleep, Health, Work And Relationships

Anxiety is characterized by persistent and sometimes intense feelings of fear, dread and uneasiness. It is part of the body’s natural threat-response system, designed to put us on high alert for danger. This is helpful if we need to run from a lion… and less helpful when we’re facing chronic stress in everyday life.

The triggers for anxiety are very wide-ranging. For some people, life in general can seem overwhelming. Or you may face constant bullying from a critical inner voice. For others the triggers are related to more specific situations: you might feel anxious about social interactions, or speaking in public, or being in crowded spaces.

The way anxiety shows up can also vary widely. For one person it’s all about whirling thoughts, which impact concentration and sleep. You may become obsessed with thinking about particular problems, or preparing for ‘worst-case scenarios’. It might feel like you can’t turn your brain off.

For someone else, anxiety may be a more physical thing. It may show up in restless limbs, digestion problems, headaches. You may find yourself having terrifying panic attacks. It’s common to end up making your life smaller and smaller, as you try to avoid stressors and keep your body calm.

Therapy Can Help You Address Both The Symptoms And The Causes Of Anxiety

Responding effectively to anxiety takes care and attention. We need to find out more about your anxiety, and how it affects you.

Initially this may involve finding some ways for you to physically relax and improve your sleep. Everyone’s different, so what works for one person may not be the best approach for you. We’ll work together on creating a personal ‘anxiety toolkit’ to give you some emergency respite.

At the same time, it’s usually helpful to look at some of the deeper causes of your anxiety. This could mean considering what environmental stressors you face, to ease or remove them where possible. It may mean us examining some of your thought-habits, so we can begin to loosen them where necessary. Or it might mean us working to heal old wounds, that are keeping you trapped in a sort of ‘emotional replay’ when that’s no longer necessary.

Sometimes, if anxiety is clearly overreacting (like a smoke alarm that goes off when you burn the toast), then we’ll find the best ways for you to simply calm the symptoms and push through it.

With the right attention and help, you can leave your anxiety behind you, for good.

Maybe You Still Have Some Questions About Anxiety Therapy…

“I’ve already tried pretty much everything… how is therapy going to be different”

Many people start by searching the internet for self-help tips and life hacks for reducing anxiety. You’ve probably seen promises such as “Do this one thing and your anxiety will disappear.” But somehow it doesn’t work for you, or it doesn’t last.

Perhaps you’ve reached out to trusted friends and family for support. They may try to help with well-intentioned comments such as “You’ve got so much to be grateful for,” “Let it go,” or “Just breathe”. But you just end up feeling misunderstood and frustrated.

Talking to a professional therapist is different. We’ll explore your anxiety in a new way, so we can pinpoint where it comes from and what it’s really about. Everyone’s anxiety is unique, so understanding is the key to finding the right way forwards for you, to deeper healing and lasting relief.

“Do I need to take medication as part of managing anxiety?”

Not necessarily. Some people want to try therapy first, before looking at medication with their GP. Others prefer to start both counselling and meds in combination. Many of my clients successfully manage their anxiety solely through therapy, finding it an effective alternative to medication.

Together we can think through practicalities, your personal preferences, and your doctor’s suggestions where applicable, to help you reach a decision that feels right for you.

“What if I’m too anxious to come to counselling?”

I understand if leaving the house or coming to office appointments makes you feel anxious. If that is something you struggle with, we can start with online video sessions, for as long as is necessary until you feel comfortable with making the journey to the office. In a way, this will be a good ‘litmus test’ for our progress. And it may take as little as one or two sessions to feel OK about coming in person.

Taking The Next Step

You don’t have to stay feeling anxious forever. With the right therapy, even the most stubborn anxieties can be softened, understood, and healed.

If you want to take back control of your thoughts, just contact me for further information or to book a first session together.

“I cannot thank Sarah enough for the help given to me. She has helped to change my life and for that I will always be grateful.”

Feedback from a client