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Anxiety Treatment

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“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.” Viktor Frankl (1907 - 1997) - Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, author, and Holocaust survivor

Frequently asked questions about anxiety

 

What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal and often healthy emotion, but it can become a disorder when it is excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily life.

 

What are the symptoms of anxiety?
The symptoms of anxiety can include feelings of fear, worry, or unease, physical symptoms such as sweating or trembling, and avoidance of certain situations.

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How is anxiety diagnosed?
Anxiety disorders are typically diagnosed through a combination of clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, and behavioural assessments.

 

What are the treatment options for anxiety?
The treatment options for anxiety can include therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and Human Givens (HG) therapy are common types of therapy used to treat anxiety disorders.

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Can anxiety be prevented?
There is no surefire way to prevent anxiety, but there are strategies that can help reduce the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. These include stress management techniques, regular exercise, and avoiding alcohol and drugs.

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Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, which can be mild, moderate, or severe. It is typically associated with a fear of loss. We all get feelings of anxiety at some point in our lives. Possible causes include:

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  • work – job interview, feeling pressure at work, unemployment, or retirement;

  • family – relationship difficulties, divorce, or caring for someone;

  • financial problems – unexpected bills or borrowing money;

  • health – having a medical test, e.g. COVID-19, illness, injury, or losing someone (bereavement);

  • education - feeling pressure at school, college, or university, sitting an exam; and

  • difficult past experiences – bullying, abuse, neglect, or trauma.

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During such times, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal. When we're feeling anxious or scared, our body releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, controlled by our body's Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This can be helpful in certain situations, e.g. in a real life-threatening situation when a quick Fight or Flight response is needed to survive, but it might also cause physical symptoms such as an increased heart and breathing rate, increased muscle tension, and increased sweating. In some of us, it might cause a panic attack.

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Some of us find it hard to control our worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives. Regular anxiety, fear, or panic can also be the main symptom of several health conditions including:

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Best not to self-diagnose – speak to a GP if you're worried about how you're feeling or contact our team for specialist help and anxiety treatment.

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Psychological symptoms include:

  • restlessness

  • a sense of dread

  • feeling constantly "on edge"

  • worrying about the past or future

  • feeling tearful

  • difficulty concentrating

  • irritability

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Physical symptoms include:

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Social symptoms include:

  • withdrawing from social contacts, such as family and friends, to avoid feelings of worry and dread

  • unable to enjoy leisure time

  • finding going to work difficult and stressful and taking time off work.

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Self-help

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Things to avoid!

  • Doing everything at once – set yourself small easily achievable goals;

  • Focusing on the things you cannot change – focus your time and energy on helping yourself to feel better;

  • Avoiding situations that make you anxious – slowly build up your time spent in worrying situations to gradually reduce anxiety and avoidance;

  • Telling yourself that you're alone - most people experience anxiety or fear at some point in their life; and

  • Alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, or drugs to relieve anxiety can all contribute to poor mental health.

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If you need more support, you can get free psychological therapies like Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on the NHS. You can self-refer directly to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT/ Wellbeing service) without a GP referral.

 

Contact our team if you need specialist assessment, diagnosis, and anxiety treatment. Statistics from 2020 suggest that 60% of the population is suffering from anxiety after the COVID-19 lockdown. More severe or chronic anxiety may benefit from medical treatment with antidepressant or other medication in combination with psychological therapies.   

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https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/understanding-panic/

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs53

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response

https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/fight-or-flight-response/

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