Anxiety Counselling

Anxiety Counselling can support when we feel overwhelmed, we may experience loneliness, financial and emotional issues and uncertainty. We may become stuck in dark and unsafe places. This is even more prevalent for some of us who may be struggling with anxiety on a regular basis. 

Experiencing Anxiety

We all experience a certain level of anxiety especially when we are under pressure to perform.This anxiety may occur when we start a brand new job, sit for exams, present in front of an audience or in front of our peers. This feeling of anxiety usually leaves us when the pressure disappears. However, there is another form of anxiety or stress  that may interfere with our daily interactions or may be difficult to manage. Sometimes it can be intense and overwhelming. If it is not treated, it can get worse overtime and may prevent you from doing activities that you would normally enjoy.

The Signs 

When you experience anxiety there may be signs that you display. Here are some:

Feeling out of control, sweating, unable to sleep, rapid breathing, imagining the worst case scenario, feeling on edge and uptight, obsessive thinking, racing heart, shaking,  lightheadedness, dizziness, feeling weak or exhausted, avoiding situations or places that can cause anxiety. 

Supporting you

At Empower Counselling, I can support you in a safe, and encouraging place, with strategies to help you learn to witness and unfold your anxiety so that it will stop taking over your life. 

It is  also important to validate the reality of your life and just to be heard can be very powerful. When you’re scared you may be hearing “get over it”, “don’t be scared”, “don’t panic”, “don’t overreact”, however this may make you feel more abandoned and more scared. I reassure my clients that they are in a safe place where they can be heard and held and where they can process their feelings. 

Self-care strategies 

There are many ways to approach and witness your anxiety with simple, gentle self-care strategies and these may be different for everyone.  Some of these lifestyle changes may be walking in nature, noticing plants, the sky, trees, birds and simple acts such as planting seeds in the garden. All these have healing effects on our moods; spending some time outside or choosing activities that you enjoy, will reduce your stress levels. Other strategies are yoga, meditation, practising mindfulness, expressing your creative self through art, music and working on projects, listening to calming music and reading a good book. It is also important to reduce and limit the amount of time you watch the news to only twice a day.

At Empower Counselling, I can support you to discover a compassionate relationship with your mind and body as you begin to navigate these emotions. I ask my clients, how could you use this time to make ‘now’ better? And how can you turn it into an opportunity? What’s meaningful in your life right now? All these tools will increase your sense of empowerment, you will gain a sense of control which leads to feeling more grounded and hopeful. 

I can support you to use your time for self- reflection and self-growth and to focus on your goals and plans. I will welcome you to express and experience what you want, this will allow for far greater healing.