Anxiety Coach for Anxiety and Natural Stress
Natural Stress is a process designed to keep us safe. Called the “fight, flight or freeze response,” or “the stress response”, it lets our bodies react to physical threats by either facing them head-on, fleeing from them, or freezing in place. The stress response has allowed humans to live for many centuries and become who we are today.
But when natural stress becomes overactive and starts responding to perceived threats, anxiety occurs. This may be a vague feeling that is hard to pinpoint since there is no specific threat, and it becomes an anxiety disorder. A physiological component that is very difficult to overcome, anxiety disorder can cause havoc in the life of the sufferer.
As an anxiety coach, I help my clients live with, manage, and overcome the painful effects of anxiety disorder.
When’s the Last Time You Were Challenged by a Lion?
For most of us in North America, life is pretty cushy. We’re set up to survive but we don’t have the dangers that our forebears had.
So what does our brain do? Some brains are constantly on alert and looking for danger. Finding no danger, the mind makes up danger, and then thinking naturally becomes negative. There is a fine line between “normal” negative thinking—a part of our stress response—and a cycle of negative thinking which is a big part of anxiety and depression problems.
Anxiety Disorder is Hard to Live With
The frustrating thing about anxiety disorder is that it is the correct system, but gone haywire. Causes of the condition may be unknown, but could involve training or conditioning, genetics, or predisposition (personality). Under the right circumstances, with the right training, one’s anxiety might not have gone into overdrive to create a problem.
How can you recognize anxiety disorder in yourself or in a loved one? Look for these symptoms that occur on a regular basis (as opposed to predictable times like preparing for a test or getting a traffic ticket):
- a more rapid heart beat
- sweating more than normal
- hyper-vigilance (aware, on guard)
- stressful reactions to noise or people
- trouble thinking about anything besides your latest “situation” or stress-causing event
There Are Different Types of Anxiety Disorders
I help my clients identify the type of anxiety they may be experiencing, so we can find the proper treatment. Here are some of the more common kinds of anxiety disorders I see in my practice.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
With this type of anxiety your worry is uncontrollable. You feel that problems are bigger than they are. Things that your peers see as a part of daily life are much more terrifying and overwhelming for you. You may avoid decision-making for fear of making a wrong choice.
Social Anxiety / Social Phobia
When the prospect of being with others is terrifying, you may be suffering from social anxiety. A disproportionate sense of worry about what others may think of you results in fear and low self-esteem, which leads to self-isolation and reinforces the feelings.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Think of the brain as being on high-alert at all times. Called PTSD, this type of anxiety can impair the mind’s ability to cope with even normal situations. Symptoms include flashbacks, sleep disorders, nightmares, anger, and depression.
Panic Attacks
Coming on suddenly, a panic attack can last for minutes or hours. It may feel like a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Frequent panic attacks may point to panic disorder, a serious medical condition.
Worry
Worrying is based upon mental thoughts and pictures about what might occur. This can include both actual and imagined events. Some worry is normal and even helpful. When worry dominates your thinking or limits you from leading a peaceful life, it needs to be looked at.
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
There is no cookie-cutter approach to treating a person suffering from an anxiety disorder. Treatment is very specific to each client. My goal is to help them observe, identify, and unblock the negative thoughts that cause them anxiety.
That said, cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) is very effective in overcoming anxiety disorders. It is a form of positive psychology that I prefer if it suits the client’s needs.
Since anxiety disorder has usually evolved over time, changing your thought patterns may take time, also. As your anxiety coach, I help you gently, systematically, learn to change your way of thinking to gain freedom and truly embrace what life has to offer you.
What You Can Expect from Working with Me
With a healthy balance of sound research, theory, and practical advice, my clients come out of anxiety disorder.
- They better understand common problems and how to more effectively deal with them.
- They are better-equipped to deal with the normal stresses of everyday life.
- They gain more of a feeling of control over their lives.
- They acquire an awareness of how to prevent future anxiety and deal with major stressors.