Anxiety
Anxiety is the most common issue that presents in the therapy room. In a nutshell, it is worries about the future that get in the way of the present. It can manifest in various ways in our thoughts, bodies and behaviours. It can stop us doing what we want or need to do, or push us towards doing things we don’t want to or don’t need to attend to. Anxiety is a very human feeling, however anxiety disorders occur when this feeling has become unhelpful and is interfering with our ability to get on with our life.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalised Anxiety (GAD) is a long-term condition that causes someone to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.
People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue. It can be felt in the body and the mind.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is the psychological consequence of a very frightening, and often dangerous, event. This condition is characterised by flashbacks and nightmares that relive the feeling of the original traumatic experience and can be triggered at any time by any sense that echoes the original event. This can leave sufferers feeling incredibly scary emotions in relatively safe environments. Severe PTSD can have a huge impact on day to day life. EMDR and CBT are proven techniques to lessen the impact of PTSD.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD has two main components to it; Obsessions (a distressing and intrusive thought that causes unpleasant feelings) and Compulsions (an urge or need to carry out certain actions to relieve the distressing feeling or prevent a feared consequence). It is important to seek support for OCD as soon as it’s recognised as it’s much easier to manage with early intervention. Support is often in the form of new ways of managing the distress without need for the compulsive actions.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is the worry specifically of being around others. It can be related to any social situation ranging from one person to large groups, or with friends or strangers. It is often linked to a fear of embarrassment or rejection and has an impact on the ability to build relationships and connection.
Health Anxiety
Health anxiety (sometimes known as hypochondria) is the specific worry around your health or about becoming ill. It can take the form of frequent checking, researching symptoms on the internet regularly or seeing a doctor often despite being diagnosed as well.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterised by a person experiencing anxiety and regular panic attacks. Panic is the most intense form of fear, and a panic attack can be incredibly frightening with sufferers sometimes recalling that they thought they were going to die. It can lead to avoiding situations that trigger the panic.