ANXIETY COUNSELLING

My name is Lorna Livingston, I am a BACP-registered East Dulwich anxiety counsellor. I also see clients online.

Anxiety is an ever-increasing problem in today’s society. It can be fairly normal to feel low levels of anxiety from time to time, but when it becomes too frequent then it can reduce our ability to function normally. Pressure affects all of us in different ways. Some people thrive on it. Others feel overwhelmed by even small amounts of pressure. The ability to manage pressure is determined by the balance between our coping strategies and the levels of demands upon us. The first priority is to reduce tension and increase self-awareness of the ‘mind and body' response to anxiety and stressful situations.

The physical responses in the body are a direct result of our thoughts, feelings and emotions in any given situation. Learning relaxation techniques and coping strategies to reduce the unpleasant physical symptoms of stress enables us to feel more in control. When we feel less overwhelmed and more in control we are able to have a clearer perspective on the situation, sometimes our perception of demands being made by others is not accurate, or the demands we put on ourselves. If the demands are unrealistic then we tend to find ways of reducing the levels of pressure by making some changes in our life. Finding a good balance between demands and our coping abilities is important if we are to survive the fast pace of life today!

By seeking therapy, you have already taken the first step towards change. My role is to provide a confidential, non-judgemental and accepting space for you to explore your emotions, issues and difficulties and express your thoughts and feelings. My aim is to help you gain a better understanding of your situation. As your counsellor, I enable you to be truly heard, which can be a profoundly healing process.

I offer a confidential, empathetic and non-judgmental space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings in order to gain a better understanding of your situation.

Please contact me to arrange a free 15-minute consultation→

If you would like to learn more about anxiety in the meantime, I have answered the most commonly asked questions about anxiety below.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of dread, fear, and unease. It is an extremely unpleasant condition that can cause symptoms such as nausea, increased heart rate or heart palpitations, hyperventilation, sweating or feelings of extreme cold. Having a sense of impending doom, fear or panic. Anxiety can come in many forms, Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a condition where you feel anxious most or all of the time. Other types are Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Social Anxiety Disorder. These forms of anxiety are usually caused by an event or incident and tend to come and go in waves.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

There can be many symptoms of anxiety, the most common symptoms are a feeling of unease or dread, feeling weak, overwhelmed, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing or hyperventilation.

You can also experience sweating or feelings of extreme cold, lack of concentration, nausea or dizziness.  Muscle tension, tremors, and twitches are also common, as well as sleep disturbances, such as difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much.  

What is an anxiety attack?

Also referred to as a panic attack, an anxiety attack is a feeling of sudden, intense unease. They often involve physical symptoms, like hyperventilation, shaking, nausea, and dizziness. An anxiety attack can happen ahead of a social event, an exam or something similar, and sometimes come out of the blue with no warning.

What is social anxiety?

Social Anxiety is a disorder which creates an often overwhelming fear of social situations. Speaking to people or meeting people can feel completely overwhelming, and can cause a worry that you will say or do something which is embarrassing, or that feels out of your control.

What is health anxiety?

Health Anxiety is an intense fear of becoming ill. It can become completely overwhelming and result in an inability to focus on a normal life as your fears and worries about being ill become so extreme. There has been an increase in health anxiety since the start of the pandemic, particularly in younger people.

How to deal with anxiety?

Talking therapy can be incredibly useful in helping deal with anxiety. As an anxiety counsellor, I can help you understand and process your triggers and help you find ways to lessen the severity of the anxiety you are experiencing. I will also help you put together a ‘toolbox’ of methods/practices to help ease the anxiety as and when it occurs.

With talking therapy, over time, processing the route of the anxiety will hugely help in lessening its intensity. For most clients, gaining an understanding of why they are experiencing anxiety helps them understand and cope with it.

What is the treatment for anxiety?

There are medicines prescribed by your GP which can be hugely helpful in treating anxiety – but having therapy over time will help you understand the cause of the anxiety – gaining an understanding of why certain things cause anxiety, and what those triggers are can be a huge step towards lessening the anxiety you experience as well as being a wonderfully healing process. Understanding who we are, and why we react and respond in the way in which we do can be an enlightening procedure in itself.

Do I have anxiety?

Anxiety can be experienced in a number of different ways and has many symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the below, it is likely you are suffering from anxiety:

• A feeling of unease or dread

• Feeling weak, overwhelmed or excessively tired,

• Increased heart rate, difficulties breathing or hyperventilation.

• Sweating or experiencing feelings of extreme cold.

• Lack of concentration.

What is severe or chronic anxiety?

People can suffer anxiety on many levels – sometimes it is very manageable, and clients are able to function normally and lead their normal lives – for others, anxiety can be so severe they are unable to lead a normal life, and everyday things like leaving the house can feel totally impossible. It can be completely debilitating. Seeing an anxiety counsellor will help you deal with and overcome these severe symptoms and help you find ways to lead a more normal life.

How to treat anxiety?

It can be very beneficial to see your GP if you are suffering from anxiety, your GP may prescribe you with anti–anxiety medication which can be a huge help in lessening the symptoms.

Seeing an anxiety therapist will help address the route causes and the triggers of your anxiety, and throughout the course of therapy you will be able to find ways to deal with the symptoms as they occur, as well as understand how to manage the triggers, and ultimately understanding the cause should help manage your anxiety and help you move towards a far less anxious future.