Fear, Anxiety, and Panic attacks
Managing your thoughts
We worry. I am seeing more and more clients living with fear and anxiety and it is something which can be completely debilitating. Nearly 8 in 100 people suffer from mixed anxiety and depression, and 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health problem in the UK each year (mind.org.uk).*
Fear is an essential emotion, without it we simply wouldn’t survive and it is something we all recognise and experience. For many, fear can turn into anxiety and panic attacks, which can show in many physical symptoms, including a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweaty palms and tightness in the chest. The brain is an incredible and complex organ - fear, panic, worry are all feelings which every one of us feel at some point in our lives, but sometimes these can become consuming. For some people, anxiety can lead to Agoraphobia which is a specific kind of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
Once we can understand how the brain processes fear and It’s origin, we can acknowledge it, manage it, recover and move forward. The road to recovery can be long with many setbacks, as the brain needs to be re-trained. The first step in addressing this internal turmoil is acknowledging what is scaring you, i.e if you have a phobia, or even if you are anxious of having another panic attack. By accepting that your own brain is at fault – and not the situation – you can learn and manage how to turn down the sensations and feelings, and be able to regain control of your life.
How the Light Technique can help you
We can work together on all the above so we can then create a personalised toolbox of recovery - working on positive feelings, coping affirmations, visualisation and state changing skills that will help counteract your anxiety and allow you to reverse the cycle. Moving forward it’s really important to then recognise your achievements however small they might seem and be proud of them. Anxiety disorders can be completely debilitating, so don’t let your fear dominate your life and steal your happiness and dreams. Make the decision to take back your life!
Throughout my life I have suffered with symptoms of fear and panic, but with the help of talking it through, saying it out loud and acknowledging, I now have a more informed outlook with a toolbox of coping skills, that I now can face and live my life. Don’t let it stop you from moving forward. Once I recognised how to control my feelings, I felt liberated and even para-glided off the top of the Alps.
*https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/#.Ww_u4lMvz-Y
