Anxiety & Stress
We live in a society where great demands and responsibilities are placed on us. Today, about one in seven people are suffering from stress or anxiety at any one time in the UK. And while some people manage, more and more people are showing signs of over-anxiety, which leads to stress, which can make a significant impact on the quality of life and wellbeing.
You may be one of those people but are now ready to explore ways of freeing yourself from anxiety and living a fulfilled and happy life, free to do things that bring you joy,
Anxiety and stress can manifest itself differently for everyone but common physical signs of anxiety or stress are :
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Dry mouth
- Butterflies in stomach
- Nausea
- Urge to pass urine/empty bowels
- Tremors
- Sweating
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
Common psychological signs of stress and anxiety are:
- Inner tension
- Agitation
- Fear of losing control
- Irrational dread that something catastrophic is going to happen (such as blackout, seizure, heart attack or death)
- Irritability
- Feelings of detachment
- Phobias and fears
It could be an event that is causing your anxiety, such as:
- Exams
- Interviews
- Speeches and presentations for work or occasions
- Flying
- Sports competitions
Anxiety can also manifest itself in different worries; it may be fear of being around other people, it may be anxiety in specific social situations, anxiety in your relationships with particular people at home, at school or at work.
Anxiety is a fear or concern that is exaggerated, and is out of proportion to the situation, although sometimes it may not feel like this. The symptoms of anxiety correlate with the stress response or “fight-or-flight”. This is primal response that protects you against threats in your environment, so if danger is present your body triggers a rush of blood to your arms and legs so that you can fight or run away. It is an adrenaline response that causes your heart to beat faster, pumping oxygen around your body to those parts that need it to protect you. You may feel as if you are on high alert as well, unable to calm down or relax, your mind may race unable to focus or quieten down.
It is a normal part of the human protection system to experience this fight-or-flight response, but only when there is real and present danger. To experience prolonged flight-or-flight creates feelings of anxiety. It is often rooted in a previous experience that triggered fear or in a general anxiety and worry about your situation at home or at work. There can also be anxiety without knowing what is causing it, a general feeling of anxiety known as “free floating” anxiety.
So why is it important to reduce anxiety in your life? What difference will it make to you? Research shows that prolonged exposure to cortisol and other stress related hormones can cause:
- Memory problems
- Weakened immune system
- Weaker bones
- Increased blood pressure
- Reduce fertility
adapted from the National Council for Hypnotherapy http://www.hypnotherapists.org.uk/hypnotherapy/stress-and-anxiety/ 24/08/2013
At Life Clinics we can assess your stress and anxiety, helping you to identify the root causes and triggers if needed. We can work with you to help free you of anxiety, teaching you powerful tools and methods that really help you gain back control. Therapies that are particularly effective for relieving anxiety are Hypnotherapy, CBT and TFT. Counselling can also be useful for talking through, exploring and identifying the triggers. If you are looking for anxiety and stress help in the Kent area then please contact us, we will be happy to help.
“My sessions with Marcia really helped me understand why I was so anxious, to deal with that anxiety and enabled me learn how to undo bad patterns of behaviour.”