'I was quite nervous about my decision to seek some counselling. I had recently experienced a relationship breakup so I was feeling really low on confidence and addition to not sleeping, I was very fragile.'

Anxiety

What is it?

The pressure of life can impact on us all and sometimes we can find ourselves experiencing a range of symptoms that we can’t quite put our finger on. It’s easy to dismiss it as the stress of managing the work – life balance and simply soldier on however, when there seems to be no relief from how you’re feeling, this can often be anxiety.

It is not uncommon to experience anxiety in our everyday lives but what separates anxiety from stress is the duration of symptoms and quite often, a reaction to something that is disproportional to the event itself.

Signs and Symptoms

Approximately 14% of Australians will experience anxiety in a 12 month period and is often hard to diagnose because the symptoms are different for each individual. Here are some common indicators for anxiety which can assist as a guide for understanding.

Some common symptoms include:

Physical: hot and cold flushes, racing heart, chest tightening, difficulty sleeping, panic attacks;
Emotional: snowballing worries, obsessive / intrusive thoughts, feeling afraid for no reason, feeling excessively ‘wound up’ or worried; and
Social: avoiding social situations, fearful of leaving the house, irrational fears of places / objects.

How is anxiety treated?

Anxiety can be managed with a solid treatment plan to assist you with the management of the physical and emotional symptoms that you might be experiencing. The first part of gaining control over anxiety is a thorough assessment of how anxiety is impacting on your life and formulating a tailored plan to assist you can take control.

In the first instance Louise will teach you the skills required to manage the physical symptoms of anxiety and assist in restoring healthy sleep patterns. The stabilisation of the physical symptoms will assist you in reaching your therapeutic goals from a stronger place and a clearer mind.

Working with Louise to manage your anxiety is a collaborative approach as she is counsellor, coach and will assist you in achieving your wellness goals in a nurturing therapeutic environment.