If you’re reading this page, perhaps you’re already aware of the “fight or flight” mechanism designed to step in and take over from your “thinking brain”, placing you in ‘autopilot’ to keep you safe (originally perhaps from a large bear or a sabretooth tiger!)
At the heart of this mechanism is your amygdala, a remarkable part of your primitive brain that is constantly vigilant in scanning for potential danger – and passing this information directly to your hippocampus, which checks against innate memories of your past experiences to decide whether to release a cascade of hormones to help your body deal with the threat.
And this is where your anxiety can be so challenging. By the time your brain ‘catches up’ to the discomfort, intense arousal, and hypervigilance – it can feel impossible for you to regain control.
At worst, this can result in (what is commonly referred to as) a “panic attack”, whereby your nervous system becomes so overwhelmed, you are unable to cope with the intensity of the physical and emotional experience. These can be particularly distressing, often creating intense physical sensations that can feel frightening and confusing.
However, anxiety isn’t always this acute.
You may be experiencing ‘Generalised Anxiety’, where you find yourself worrying about many different aspects of your life, and your inability to predict or control what’s happening to you.
You may be intensely fearful of being embarrassed, dismissed or judged by others – a form of social anxiety. Perhaps this is so intense for you that you now avoid any situation that could expose you to this perceived threat.
Sometimes severe anxiety can be result from a compelling, irrational fear of a specific trigger or situation – anything from cats to enclosed spaces, tall buildings, even sounds and colours!
Of course, if you experience any of these forms of anxiety for long enough, chances are you’re going to become exhausted at the struggle to find ways to cope. You may even become depressed.
Seeking support for anxiety does not mean something is ‘wrong’ with you. It reflects a willingness to better understand yourself and make meaningful changes
Whether you experience a constant sense of worry, moments of intense panic, or simply feel that your mind rarely switches off, counselling can provide a safe space to understand what is happening and develop practical ways to regain a sense of calm and control.
As you might expect, each form of anxiety is quite different, and experienced in very different ways by different people. Whilst there is no “right way” to approach counselling, there are some important steps on the journey.
Our goal is to build confidence in facing feared situations, strengthen resilience during periods of uncertainty and stress, and perhaps most importantly – reconnect you with personal values and priorities
