Anxiety attacks
Some people become very fearful worrying about things that they fear may happen. They go around prepared and ready - as if it could happen at any minute. When this state of fearful readiness becomes a regular occurrence, these people are described as being in an anxious state. It is very tiring always being prepared for an attack and most people notice that there are physical as well as psychological symptoms when they are anxious: sweating hands; tense or churning stomach; light-headedness; increased heart rate and difficulty breathing are just some of them. Some powerful events in our lives can bring on this state of anxiety, such as being in a car crash or performing in front of a large audience and once begun, it's sometimes difficult to switch off the anxious state again.

In counselling, I begin by encouraging clients who want to take control of their anxiety to do some practical things to reduce the levels of anxiety they are experiencing. This may include relaxation and visualisation to calm and restore a feeling of safety and peace. At the same time we explore together the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, behaviours and body to understand what happens when anxiety is triggered and to see how they might decrease their feeling of danger and threat. Gradually the deeper fears can be looked at in therapy where they can be examined, challenged and tested out before alternative explanations are introduced which disempower the fears.

Often clients cope by avoiding situations that promote anxiety, and in the counselling we will look at this. Together we will devise a series of gradual steps which confront avoided situations, and after completing these steps, they will begin once again to lead a life which is not restricted by their anxious behaviour.I've made a relaxation audio which you can download here. It is suitable for an mp3 player or iPod.If you have found the description on this page fits you and you would like some online counselling, please email me using the links at the top and bottom of every page.

Panic attacks
Panic attacks are a severe form of anxiety they begin quite suddenly and the powerful feelings of danger, together with the strong physiological symptoms which include feeling dizzy, heart palpitations, sweating palms, difficulties breathing often cause sufferers to take themselves to the nearest doctor or hospital casualty department because they fear they are having a heart attack. When they find out they are having a panic attack and not a heart attack it can also be unsettling and frightening because the symptoms they felt were very real and very strong so something serious must be wrong and they wonder if the doctor's diagnosis is correct.

I have produced an e-book for people who suffer from Panic Attacks which you can download here I present the strategies that have worked for people with panic attacks based on my experience of working with this client group. Here are just a few of the sections in the e-book:

• What Happens during a Panic Attack?
• What are the Symptoms of Panic Attack?
• Emergency Measures to control a Panic Attack
• What You can do to Help Yourself?

There are also sections on relaxation and breathing, monitoring and controlling panic thinking and keeping a Panic Notebook.

top of page