Over the years I have worked with many clients experiencing anxiety that impacts on some, or all, areas of their life and relationships. Often there are other factors, issues or related symptoms such as low mood, depression and repetitive negative thinking.
Worries about work, relationships and specific areas or situations in your life can be a natural aspect of your life. When your worries become more constant and you find it difficult to stop or control your worrying then it becomes more of an issue. When anxiety begins to impact on your daily life and ability to manage and function at work, home and in your relationships you could benefit from seeking help from a counsellor, psychotherapist or other mental health professional.
Panic attacks are a sudden intense feeling of fear and powerlessness and they literally feel crippling and overwhelming. A person can feel like they are going to die such is the extent of the physiological response. This can include a racing heart (with possible palpitations), shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling and dry mouth. ‘Fight or flight’ is an instinctual and primitive bodily response involving a sudden rush of hormones and chemicals, blood is redirected from the brain to the muscles and organs in preparation for fight or flight. This leaves the prefontal cortex of the brain, the thinking part of your brain, with a limited supply and you literally cannot think or reason. Panic attacks may arise due to a specific trigger, or situational factor, or be related to a specific panic disorder or a symptom of your anxiety.
It may be helpful to do a little mental health check-up of these common signs of anxiety;
You often feel nervous and on edge and struggle to relax
Your usual sleeping patterns have been affected
You do not feel able to control your worrying
You can ruminate for long periods on situations or events
You are easily distracted by your anxious thoughts and find it difficult to focus or concentrate on day-to-day activities, such as watching the television or reading
You worry about too many things, one thing to the next and feel unable to stop worrying and may even be restless and fidgety
You find yourself losing your temper, getting frustrated or being more irritated than usual
You have this feeling of dread as though something awful might happen or your mind goes blank at times
You can experience general physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, insomnia, reduced appetite, dry mouth, trembling, feeling tired or weak, dizziness, stomach or chest pain, diarrhea, muscle cramps/tension, headaches
If the answer is yes to a number of these symptoms it could be helpful for you to arrange to meet and talk with a counsellor, psychotherapist or other mental health professional. An initial consultation with a non-judgemental, confidential, empathic and experienced therapist may be the initial step to accessing help. Talking to a counsellor or other mental health professional may help bring some relief and enable you to begin to understand and work on your anxiety.
All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.