All of the following Anxiety, Stress, Panic Attacks, Depression, Anger problemsrespond better to psychological counselling than to medication treatment. With very severe depression, it is sometimes advisable to use both, however your counsellor and GP will advise and guide you to make the best decisions for you and your individual circumstances. Every person  reacts in their own way and it sometimes takes a little time to work out what is best for your particular Anxiety, Stress, Panic Attacks, Depression, Anger problems. 

Stress

Stress causes both physical and emotional problems, (e.g., anxiety, loss of concentration, fatigue, sleeping difficulties and irritability). Unfortunately many people handle stress with the use of drugs (alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs). All kinds of physical conditions that already exist (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, dermatitis or depression) may worsen.

Stress is a normal bodily reaction to common stressors (e.g., injury, relationship breakdown, other personal conflicts, loss of a loved one, work interpersonal conflict, over work, performance pressures or review meetings, unemployment or retirement, moving house, personal financial pressures). Many stressors accumulate and are not noticed until physical symptoms require attention and your GP points out that stress is a possible cause. They may refer you for counselling as well as physical remedies.

When there is a crisis, or many stressors hit at the same time, the excessive stress can be alleviated with a variety of psychological methods that will alleviate the impact on your body, but also help you with practical coping strategies to enable you to make better decisions because they have been well thought out. In a crisis, it is hard to think of the longer-term, or for others the future consequences overwhelm you and you cannot see the opportunities in the current situation. Counsellors assist you to problem-solve so as to make the best decisions. Phone or email me now to arrange an appointment.

Anxiety

Counselling is one of the most effective treatments (better than medications) as it works with the cause which is thinking patterns that have got a bit stuck; like an alarm system that won’t turn off.

Anxiety is a normal emotion that is experienced when we need to overcome or avoid a perceived threat. However, about 10% of people experience excessive anxiety that really interferes significantly with your quality of life. Mostly in these cases it cannot serve its warning function because the ‘alarm system’ is already turned on.

There are numerous symptoms of anxiety [e.g., tiredness, unable to sleep or stay asleep, headaches, muscle tension, rapid breathing, sweating and trembling and sometimes swallowing difficulties].

Existing problems [e.g., skin irritations, asthma, stomach and bowel function] may be aggravated. You may have a number of these and other symptoms but unfortunately use of cigarettes, alcohol and prescribed or un-prescribed drugs to try to control your anxiety don’t have lasting effects. Worse still – have you found it creates extra problems, like starting to drink alcohol earlier in the day, more often and in increasing amounts, then your weight starts to increase, not to mention your performance at work, study and in relationships. Phone or email me now to arrange an appointment.

Panic Attacks

Panic Attacks are more intense anxiety reactions that have escalated within about 10 minutes although occasionally a panic attack can last for an hour or more. Panic Attacks include experiences of sweating, chills/ hot flushes, pounding heart, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath or breathing difficulties, weakness or dizziness; pain or discomfort in chest or abdomen, nausea or feeling detached from yourself or the reality around you.

You may believe that you are having a heart attack and may present at a hospital emergency department. You may feel a sense of terror or loss of control or believe that you are going crazy or are going to die. Because of the intensity of the physical symptoms people often feel exhausted afterwards.

It is quite different from more usual experiences where we feel panic, like missing the last bus home. Again, like anxiety, the best medicine or cure is counselling. Phone or email me now to arrange an appointment.

Anger Problems

Do you know how to be truly assertive rather than aggressive?

This is a really useful coping tool. So many people don’t really know the difference, and then putting it into practice is even harder. It is worth the effort to change a habit that so many people pick up somewhere in their growing up or adult work experiences.

Aggression  seems to accepted by so many areas of our culture, however the most powerful but subtle influences are media and work environments. It is the natural reactive response to threat, fear, stress, frustration and unfortunately many stimulants [even coffee!], drugs and alcohol. Alcohol lowers our inhibitions, meaning our self control which is why it is used – to relax, chill out, be light-hearted and carefree.

Mmmm- it becomes a problem because:

Assertion requires self-restraint, looking inside and asking ourself what we are feeling, being able to notice our individual early warning body signs [e.g., muscle tension, aching in leg or other limb, jaw clenching, scratching, facial twitches]. When you can recognise your triggers, patterns and sensitive issues you can develop ways of managing these. You will then be able to put things into perspective and state clearly what you do or don’t want in a way that others will listen to and are more likely to accommodate your needs.

Avoidance and being passive are not helpful and can often cause the anger outbursts! So we often see people swing from one extreme to the other.

Assertion is the happy medium and needs good (re)training just like our bodies need exercise. Phone or email me now to arrange an appointment.

Depression

Apart from usual levels of sadness, frustration, disappointment and some lethargy, there are serious levels of feelings, behaviours and physical reactions that are called ‘clinical depression’, and they severely interfere with the effectiveness of day-to-day functioning.

Clinical or Major Depression usually lasts more than 2 weeks and low mood persists or fluctuates throughout the day, not lifting with happy events and you have a dismal outlook and sense of gloom. Thinking patterns are typically seeing yourself negatively, dwelling on how bad you feel and the world’s difficulties, the hopelessness of the future and how things won’t improve. You may experience guilt, self-blame for everything including your negative thoughts, and your self-esteem and confidence becomes very low.

Physical symptoms include changed sleep patterns, appetite, and weight. Sexual and general energy levels fall and you lose your motivation to do anything, even favourite things!

Depressed people become unhappy and dissatisfied with family and friends, withdraw due to feeling shy or anxious especially in groups. You feel lonely and isolated but just cannot interact with others. Often the drastic changes in your life make the depression worse and it becomes a vicious cycle.

How Psychotherapy Helps Anxiety, Stress, Panic Attacks, Depression, Anger problems

Psychotherapy can really help you with ways to break out of the cycle and the deep depression. We work together with doctors if you also need some medication. The worse that the situation has become, the higher the possibility that you may need everything to help you get out of the deep rut that you have fallen into. Medication is a choice that you make with your doctor, who will also manage it with you.

Psychotherapy helps you with thinking and behaviours which extensive research has found to be major causes of deep depression. Psychotherapy helps you learn to prevent another episode or cycle occurring. Phone or email me now to arrange an appointment to help with any Anxiety, Stress, Panic Attacks, Depression, Anger problems.