Read on to learn more about anxiety, how we diagnose it and the treatment options available.
Anxiety tends to be future-focused. It’s common to experience it around a current or upcoming threat. But anxiety can also relate to past events. You may feel anxious thinking about the present implications of something that’s already happened. For example, if you misspoke to a friend last night, today you might worry about losing the relationship. Or you may experience anxiety when recalling frightening memories of a traumatic event. Anxiety is a common response to trauma. Anxiety can be caused by different types of threats: Physical (for example, an attacker), Social (for example, embarrassment at school or work), Chronic (for example, an accumulation of unresolved issues), Traumatic memories (these can become distorted and feel like a present threat).
These changes help our body become physiologically alert and prepare us for action. This is known as the fight or flight response. The fight or flight response can be helpful if we’re facing a physical threat. But it may become problematic if it gets triggered repeatedly in the absence of a physical threat. Some people experience a frequent, disproportionate fight or flight response that’s triggered by social situations, unresolved issues or traumatic memories. This may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Excessive worrying or racing thoughts
Feeling tense in the body
Rapid heartbeat
Hyperventilating
Sweating
Shaking
Dry mouth
Blurred vision
Restlessness (feeling unable to sit still)
Overplanning
Pacing
Trouble concentrating
Sleep problems
Changes in appetite
Avoiding places, people or events
Others may have more acute symptoms. For example, a person with a more severe anxiety disorder, such as panic disorder, may experience panic attacks. If you experience a panic attack, you may feel dizzy, faint, sweaty, and like you can’t breathe. You might also feel a sense of doom – like something terrible is going to happen. Sometimes people mistake panic attack symptoms for a heart attack. Panic attacks are not dangerous, however, and normally subside in around 10 – 15 minutes.
Anxiety is a common emotion that we all feel. When anxiety symptoms become problematic, it may be a sign of an underlying mental health condition.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Social anxiety
Depression
Your anxiety therapist will use a semi-structured interview and a simple questionnaire that uses something called a psychometric scale. This will help them understand the impact your symptoms are having so they can reach a diagnosis. Your anxiety symptoms may be caused by one or more underlying mental health conditions. Once these are diagnosed, your therapist can explore the best way to treat these.
A course of psychological therapy sessions will help you to understand how your anxiety is triggered, how it manifests and what maintains it. This will give you more control over overcoming it. Two therapies that are particularly effective for anxiety are cognitive behavioural therapy and EMDR.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that helps you change the way you think and behave, to better manage your mental health. CBT is a highly effective treatment for anxiety and has a wider evidence base for treating anxiety than many other therapies.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) as a key treatment for anxiety, especially PTSD. EMDR involves recalling traumatic events while focused on a type of repetitive movement called bilateral stimulation. This can change the way your brain processes these experiences, and reduce the distress they cause.
GET IN TOUCH
—
If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety, we can help. Our clinical director, Jordan Vyas-Lee, will be happy to explore your symptoms and discuss which anxiety treatment would suit you best. Please contact us for an initial discussion.
If you're having trouble getting restful, quality sleep, you've come to the right place. As leading sleep specialists in London, we can help you overcome your sleep struggles and start waking up feeling refreshed and energized. Don't let sleep issues affect your daily life any longer. Reach out to us today and let's work together to improve your sleep health.
If you're struggling with low self-esteem, know that you're not alone. Our team of self-esteem specialists in London is here to help. With our evidence-based therapies and personalized approach, we can help you build a stronger, healthier sense of self.
Is stress taking over your life? It doesn't have to be that way. Our team is here to help you explore options for reducing stress and reclaiming your life. Don't let stress rob you of the things you love. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can support you in managing stress and improving your overall well-being.
Therapy sessions can be conducted either face-to-face or virtually, depending on your personal preference. You can opt to begin your sessions online but may choose to have an occasional in-person session or vice versa.
Regardless of your preference, our priority is to accommodate your needs and preferences.
Contact Us
Contact Us
