Anxiety, Panic and Stress

Anxiety and panic attacks are created by our natural safety responses being triggered by our thoughts about the past, present and future. If you've listened to the Your Stress Response video, you may have recognised some of the issues I talk about.

The first time you experience a panic attack it can feel as though you are having a heart attack and that can be very frightening. Unfortunately, you then start to worry about having another panic attack and that makes you feel even more anxious and more likely to have one.

Sometimes things happen to us early in our life where you felt unsafe and vulnerable. Or something happened later in life that started you worrying, such as a health issue or redundancy.

This type of situation can mean that your natural alarm system starts to look out for anything and everything that could be a threat or danger to you. Over the years this can build up to meaning that you may spend most of your life worrying about things that could go wrong and worrying about the natural, physical reactions of our survival responses.  

Our fight and flight response means our heart beats faster, our breathing gets shallower and quicker, we get foggy memory, our stomach can feel weird, we sweat and we can get the shakes.  

As I say in the video, this reaction is normal, it is triggered by the adrenaline, cortisol, noradrenline and other body reactions, that are designed to help us survive by fighting, running away, fainting or freezing.

It's almost as though you are leading your life with a huge radar on your head which is constantly scanning your surroundings for danger!  

Many of the therapies I use help to change how you are thinking about things so that you have a different, more helpful response.

You might find these audio course and MP3's helpful.

Be a Stress Survivor
Saying No Instead of Yes
Stop Smoking Breathe Easy

There are more videos on my YouTube Channel Relaxation Playlist 

Testimonials

My interview wasn't without incident!!  
I developed severe toothache the day before, only had time to grab painkillers which didn't work.   I seriously considered not doing the 20-30 minute presentation ...., however decided instead to go ahead but to let the panel know the circumstances under which I was working.   I have to say that I was very relaxed about the whole thing.  

JB Charity  Worker

Anne helped me to understand the causes of my anxiety and reduce the symptoms that it produced with behavioural techniques. By applying the techniques she taught me I am able to reduce stress before it becomes a problem.

Sue Hall

Testimonials


"I passed my test with flying colours”
D.M. Driving Instructor


I can't emphasize enough how grateful I am for the help and advice that Anne has gave to my daughter during a difficult time. My daughter felt relaxed sharing her worries with Anne and she really listened to what was being said. Anne suggested helpful techniques /solutions which could be used and practised when needed. Trouble free and easy to make appointments and communicate with. So pleased we found her.

SJ, Mum

Like anxiety, stress is a result of our responses to situations or people we experience in our life. The physical responses are, as I say in the Your Stress Response video, our natural reaction to feeling threatened. That threat could be real or in our minds. If we have experienced many different situations which increase our sense of being under threat and pressure we can start to feel overwhelmed and then we can start to experience anxiety.

Many clients say to me, when they come to for help, ‘I thought I was strong and that I could cope’. Being stressed and coping has nothing to do strength.

Everyone has different levels of pressure that they can cope with before it becomes too much. Sometimes a client may experience three or four major life changes in the previous couple of years, such as divorce, moving house, bereavement, parenthood. Others may have had a longer-term situation, perhaps at work, where they feel they have no control. Other clients may have had nine or ten big negative life events happen and wonder why they aren’t coping and are feeling stressed.

There is no rule as to how much pressure one person should be able to cope with, we are all different.

When people have experienced a series of changes in their life or feel overwhelmed by work pressures, it is often that feeling of being out of control that is increasing our stress levels. Often I help clients look at what they can and can’t control, what they can and can’t influence. It’s a simple exercise, yet one that can make a big difference to how you think about things.

It is important to realise that you can learn to cope with stress and respond to situations in different ways. If you reduce your anxious feelings your stress levels will change.
We look at what triggers your stress response and different ways in which those can be reduced or changed. I may also teach you simple stress reduction techniques such as breathing and relaxation.

Many different situations can trigger our stress response:

  • Difficulties at work
  • Managing workload
  • Setting Boundaries - Saying No!
  • Colleagues behaviours and attitudes
  • Managing your manager
  • Life situations such as moving, divorce, bereavement
  • Exam Nerves

The following products may be helpful:

Be a Stress Survivor
Achieve Inner Calm
Saying No Instead of Yes