Therapy for Anxiety/Panic Attacks in Newcastle
When your feeling of worry or dread is constantly present, therapy for managing anxiety and coping with panic attacks can help by creating a safe space to navigate feelings of worry, fear and unease. This allows you to work towards a brighter outlook..
Help for My Anxiety
When you are suffering with anxiety or panic attacks, it is normal to have both physical and emotional sensations associated with worry or nerves. Anxiety counselling can support you to resolve these issues and the wider difficulties this causes in relationships, at work, and in negative mood.
Using established therapeutic techniques, counselling for anxiety can help you to overcome anxiety, avoidant behaviour, worry, GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder), stress and panic attacks.
When to Seek Support for My Anxiety
Whilst it is normal to experience feelings of anxiety, particularly around “stressy” situations such as an exam, learning to drive, a new job, or moving home, some of us find these feelings more difficult to manage. For example:
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Being overly fearful
- Avoiding settings or objects that cause feelings of anxiety
- Having symptoms of panic – sweating, shortness of breath or dizziness.
If your symptoms are recurrent and upsetting, leading to disruptions in your daily life, it may be time to seek support through counselling to resolve the cause of your panic attacks, anxiety, and the behaviour and thoughts that maintain them.
The Physical and Psychological Symptoms of Anxiety
Common symptoms of anxiety can be seen both physically or psychologically:
Physical Symptoms
Psychological Symptoms
Please call us
Please get in touch and and arrange to talk to one of our anxiety therapists about anxiety counselling and counselling for panic attacks in Newcastle.
Understanding Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a natural and usually short-lived reaction to a stressful situation, associated with feelings of worry, nervousness or apprehension. – APS
One in 75 people worldwide experience panic attacks at one point in their lives.
Distinct from anxiety the symptoms of panic attacks are intense feelings of terror, chest or abdominal pains or distress, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. During the episode, people can often feel out of control, but may also feel detached, whilst others feel nausea.
Panic attacks, although they can be very restricting or debilitating to individuals, are not in themselves dangerous. They are usually at their height after 10 minutes, then subsiding. However, some last longer or one can join onto the next making it difficult to identify when one ends and the other starts.
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.
Henry Ford
What Causes My Anxiety?
Anxiety disorders are tricky, difficult issues and exist in various forms, such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. These disorders commonly involve excessive worry, fear, and a sense of unease that interferes with your daily activities.
Anxiety disorders can be triggered by a range of factors, including:
- Genetic predispositions – it is often found in the family background too.
- Environmental Stressors – for example, a difficult working or home environment.
- Trauma – a traumatic event.
- Brain Chemistry – imbalances in brain chemicals.
What Can I do to Manage My Panic Attacks & Anxiety
It is helpful for you to get treatment early as it is often easier to treat anxiety before it takes hold. That said, even long-term, symptoms do improve with treatment. Anxiety and panic can be treated through pharmacology (drugs) and/or anxiety counselling. Research indicates that counselling or psychotherapy is very effective, particularly incorporating CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) techniques.
Panic attacks are intense episodes of fear and discomfort that can be both physically and emotionally distressing. If you or someone you know experiences panic attacks, there are effective strategies to help manage and alleviate these episodes. See the self-help section below for some examples and guides.
How Can Anxiety Counselling Help Me?
Anxiety is one of the most frequent reasons for choosing to see a counsellor or a psychotherapist. Anxiety counselling provides you with a safe and non-judgemental space to explore the underlying causes of your anxiety and to help you to develop effective coping strategies.
Through counselling, you gain valuable insights into your thoughts, emotions, and behavioural patterns, enabling you to challenge negative beliefs, to develop healthier coping mechanisms, and achieve long-term emotional well-being. Your therapist or anxiety counsellor will work with you to understand your feelings and develop ways of doing (behavioural therapy) and thinking, (cognitive therapy) which you can employ to react differently to situations.
Anxiety Counselling will help you to:
At Reflexions, we have worked with many anxious clients and understand the debilitating impact anxiety disorders can have on individuals’ lives, affecting your overall well-being and quality of life. We firmly believe that professional guidance, compassionate support, and evidence-based strategies will help you to alleviate anxiety symptoms and help you to regain control over your life.
The Next Step for Anxiety & Panic Attack Counselling
At Reflexions Counselling and Psychotherapy we will work with you to help you to manage your anxiety, panic attacks or social anxiety. Group counselling sessions for social anxiety are available when group size permits. Taking the next step is straightforward: if you are struggling with your anxiety or panic attacks, contact us and arrange to talk to one of our therapists about anxiety counselling in Newcastle
Contemplating Anxiety:
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Resources & Self-Help for Anxiety
6 Techniques to Help Manage Your Anxiety
Deep Breathing Exercises:
Deep breathing is a powerful technique that helps regulate the body’s physiological response to stress. By focusing on slow, deep breaths, individuals can activate the body’s relaxation response, reducing the intensity of symptoms. How to do this technique: Counting slowly to ten slowly, breathing in on odd numbers and out on even. Alternatively, this link is quite effective if you enjoy a music prompt.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR):
This technique involves systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups to promote relaxation and reduce muscle tension associated with anxiety. By consciously relaxing each muscle group, individuals can achieve a sense of calm and alleviate anxious feelings. How to do this technique: This short article describes how to do PMR.
Cognitive Restructuring:
Cognitive restructuring is a core component of CBT and involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. By replacing irrational thoughts with more realistic and positive ones, individuals can reduce anxiety levels and prevent panic. How to do this technique: This short article describes “reframing”, a quick but effective cognitive technique.
Mindfulness Meditation:
Mindfulness practice cultivates awareness of the present moment without judgement. Regular meditation exercises can help individuals develop a sense of calm, increase self-acceptance, and enhance their ability to cope. How to do this technique: “Medito” (free) or “Headspace” (paid) are easy-to-use phone apps that we often suggest clients try.
Lifestyle Modification:
Adopting a healthy lifestyle plays a crucial role in managing anxiety and panic attacks. How to do this technique: Regular physical exercise, sufficient sleep, a balanced diet, and minimising the use of stimulants like caffeine and nicotine can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.
Seek Social Support:
Connecting with supportive friends, family, or joining support groups can provide invaluable emotional support and help individuals feel less isolated. Sharing experiences with others who have experienced or are experiencing similar challenges can foster a sense of community and empowerment.
Remember, while these resources provide valuable information, it is essential to consult with a qualified mental health professional for a personalised assessment and treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.