Anxiety Therapy in St Albans, Hertford & Online

​​Anxiety serves as the overarching term encompassing various specific anxiety disorders, including:

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• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Panic Disorder

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Social Phobia/Social Anxiety

• Specific Phobia

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Anxiety is a common experience that we all encounter. In moderate amounts and appropriate circumstances, some level of anxiety can actually serve a beneficial purpose. For instance, feeling anxious about an upcoming presentation can potentially motivate us to adequately prepare and perform well. However, certain individuals face heightened levels of anxiety that can be debilitating, significantly impacting their daily lives. Moreover, many individuals grappling with anxiety often confront additional mental health issues, such as depression, alongside their anxiety. 

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As an anxiety therapist in St Albans and Hertford,

I am here to assist you in overcoming your anxiety-

related challenges. I utilise therapeutic approaches, such

as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which have

demonstrated effectiveness in addressing anxiety.

Through therapy, you can conquer your difficulties and

embark on a more gratifying and fulfilling life.

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What are the Signs of Anxiety?

Encountering elevated levels of anxiety is a prevalent issue that can emerge during childhood or adulthood. It manifests as an excessive concern encompassing various aspects of life, including finances, relationships, health, work, and school. Although occasional worries are a normal part of life, individuals with heightened anxiety, such as those with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), may perceive their worries as distressing, persistent, and seemingly uncontrollable. Those with high anxiety levels often experience distinct periods of rumination that can last from a few minutes to several hours.

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High levels of anxiety often encompass some of the following experiences:

• Feeling inundated with overwhelming emotions

• Experiencing a constant sense of being on edge

• Restlessness and an inability to find peace

• Struggling with concentration and focus

• Encountering challenges in decision-making processes

• Experiencing irritability and heightened reactivity

• Strongly disliking uncertainty and an aversion to ambiguity

• A pervasive sense of lacking control over one's circumstances

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Individuals frequently encounter discomforting physical symptoms linked to their anxiety, including:

• Nausea

• Altered appetite, either decreased or increased

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Muscular aches and pains

• Heightened heart rate or palpitations

• Rapid, shallow breathing

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Elevated levels of anxiety can have a profound impact on an individual's sleep. They may encounter challenges when it comes to falling asleep, staying asleep, and experiencing restorative rest.

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Individuals grappling with anxiety-related concerns often attempt to alleviate their worries through excessive planning, being excessively organised, avoiding situations that trigger worry, and seeking reassurance from loved ones regarding their safety and well-being. This behaviour stems from an inclination to overestimate the likelihood of worst-case scenarios occurring. Moreover, individuals with anxiety may also experience an amplified sense of responsibility, leading them to believe that they would be predominantly at fault if something negative were to happen, further fueling their worries.

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Anxiety Vicious Cycle

Individuals often hold the belief that excessive worrying carries certain benefits, and they find internal justification in continuing this pattern due to the perceived costs of not doing so. Consequently, letting go of worries and reducing preventive measures can prove challenging for them. In addition to positive beliefs about worrying, some individuals may also harbor negative beliefs about their own worrying tendencies. They may experience apprehension that their worries are spiraling out of control, that their level of worrying is detrimental, that they might lose their sanity due to excessive worrying, and that their worries will dominate and manipulate them. Paradoxically, these negative beliefs only serve to further elevate anxiety levels.

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What Causes Anxiety?

The development of an anxiety disorder is not attributed to a singular cause; rather, there exists a variety of factors that can increase the likelihood of an individual experiencing significant anxiety challenges. These factors encompass:

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• Adverse experiences during childhood

• Elevated levels of stress

• Having relatives with high levels of anxiety

• Substance abuse

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When Should I Get Help For Anxiety?

I am here to support individuals who encounter anxiety ranging from mild to severe levels. If you find yourself feeling anxious, grappling with difficulties in managing it, and noticing its impact on various aspects of your life, seeking counselling for anxiety can be beneficial. It provides an opportunity to delve into your anxiety, explore its underlying causes, and discover effective strategies for managing and alleviating it.

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Does Counselling for Anxiety Work?

I have provided therapy to numerous individuals who face challenges with anxiety, aiding them in developing improved management strategies and minimising its impact on their daily lives. Drawing upon proven therapy approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I work in an integrative manner, incorporating my knowledge and experience of diverse therapy models. This allows me to tailor the treatment to your specific needs, utilising the most appropriate approaches, be it CBT for anxiety or other therapeutic models, to foster positive outcomes.

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Anxiety Counselling: What Does It Involve?

During therapy, we may focus on exploring the advantages and disadvantages of engaging in excessive worrying. Together, we can work on challenging your thoughts and experimenting with letting them go instead of getting entangled in them. A crucial aspect of therapy often involves helping you to embrace the reality that complete certainty and control are unattainable, encouraging you to release the constant pursuit of them. We will examine the behaviors driven by your worries, recognising how they contribute to your anxiety, and consider making adjustments to them. For instance, it can be valuable to confront our worries and confront our fears, even though it may initially appear daunting. With the guidance and support of your therapist, you can identify the necessary changes to make and gradually implement them in a manageable manner.

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The Benefits of Therapy For Anxiety?

Anxiety therapy empowers you to enhance your management skills and regain control over anxiety's influence. As therapy progresses, individuals often notice a reduction in both psychological and physical anxiety symptoms, resulting in diminished impact on their daily lives. Through therapy for anxiety, you can reclaim the steering wheel of your life and navigate towards the direction you desire, free from the constraints imposed by the anxiety monster.

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If you would like therapy for anxiety in St Albans, Hertford or online please email me at contact@hertstherapypractice.com or complete the webform below.

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Helpful resources for learning more about anxiety and its management:

https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/anxiety.htm

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Anxiety

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/#.Xgc84kf7TIU

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg113