Anxiety Disorders

Take charge of anxious thoughts to find balance and experience life at its best.

Is Anxiety Impacting your Quality of Life?

Anxiety is a natural response and anticipated reaction to stress, pressure, and perceived threat. Many involuntary emotional, physical, and cognitive responses occur when anxious. Anxiety is a fundamental part of being human and is there to protect us. It is part of our fight-flight-freeze system, which allows us to take action quickly. The nervous system is crucial in the body’s fight-or-flight response, a fundamental survival mechanism. When the body perceives a threat, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering a burst of physiological changes to prepare the body for immediate action.

For instance, you might feel anxious before stressful situations such as an exam, a job interview, or a doctor’s appointment. In these situations, anxiety can help by boosting motivation and increasing alertness by activating a release of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, to help you perform better.

However, anxiety becomes problematic when the body’s natural fight-flight-freeze response is triggered involuntarily without being in imminent danger. If you experience this frequently, you may have an anxiety disorder, which can be debilitating.

Anxiety Symptoms

We all experience anxiety differently; however, typically, we experience a range of physiological reactions. Below are some of the most common physical responses the nervous system triggers when the stress response is activated.

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Anxiety Discorders

There are several types of anxiety disorders. While the physiological responses triggered by the nervous system are similar, different stimuli can activate these reactions. Common anxiety disorders include social anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, phobias and health anxiety.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

An individual with GAD will experience a host of physical and psychological symptoms in response to a stressful or triggering situation or event. These symptoms can occur even when the person recognises they are not under real threat, but at the moment, their body reacts as if they are in a dangerous situation. This heightened state of anxiety can initiate many intense bodily responses, such as quick breathing, muscle tension and increased heart rate, which can intensify and prolong the feelings of fear.

In addition to the physical reactions, a person with GAD may experience irrational thoughts and sleep disturbances. These intense symptoms can impact a person’s mental and physical health, daily life, and overall well-being.

Social Anxiety Disorder

A person with SAD feels intense fear and discomfort in social situations. SAD is triggered by an intense worry of being judged, criticised or humiliated by others.

People with SAD can avoid social interactions, including events and social gatherings, and in some cases, avoid engaging in conversations due to the fear of embarrassment or judgment. The fear around social events can lead to high levels of distress, along with physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, shaking, and difficulty speaking.

A heightened fear of judgment can negatively impact relationships, academic success, and work life due to the fear of being anxious in front of others. Consequently, affecting an individual’s overall well-being, social anxiety is a challenging and distressing condition for those who experience it.

Panic Attacks

Common reactions of panic attacks are intense and sudden episodes of overwhelming worry, fear and anxiety. Panic attacks often come on quickly, causing a range of distressing physical and psychological symptoms. An individual may feel muscle or chest pain, shortness of breath, and a racing heart. It is not unusual for a person having a panic attack to think they are experiencing a heart attack, as the symptoms can be so severe.

The sensations of a panic attack can be extremely frightening, often resulting in the person thinking they are facing life-threatening situations. Even though panic attacks are generally brief, they can leave a lasting impact, leading to heightened anxiety about future attacks and potentially influencing daily activities and quality of life.

Phobias

A phobia is an irrational fear of particular objects, situations, or activities. This fear is much more extreme than typical worry. Common symptoms include:

Heightened anxiety
Racing heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Trembling
An urgent desire to escape the situation

The fear experienced can be disproportionate to the actual risk posed by the phobic trigger. For instance, someone afraid of flying might feel extreme anxiety at the mere thought of boarding a plane despite air travel being one of the safest modes of transportation.

Phobias can significantly impact daily life, often leading people to put limitations on their lives to avoid the feared stimuli.

Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

If you are struggling with anxiety, you will know how difficult everyday life can be. The good news is there is help available for anxiety; I offer counselling, rapid transformational therapy, and coaching. My sessions are designed to suit each client’s needs and preferences. I offer short-term or long-term support, depending on what best suits you.

If you would like to know more about my services, please get in touch by booking a discovery call. My goal is to support you through your anxiety journey so you can lead a more calm and peaceful life.

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Take the first step to anxiety and panic attack relief with a free 20 minute discovery call. This will provide an opportunity for us to connect, understand your unique situation, and determine the most effective approach in supporting your anxiety.

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