Seeking help for anxiety can take many forms, and talking therapies can be an important part of managing this condition. Many people find that talking with a professional provides support in dealing with their emotional and mental distress. It is important to note that a professional is someone with experience in resolving emotional and mental distress and will be able to provide an objective point of view. A professional is also trained to understand what works and what does not, abandoning methods that do not work in practice, and refining those that do. Additionally, a professional will be able to help a person understand the roots of their difficulties and help them heal.
Is counselling good for anxiety? For some, talking therapies will be enough to achieve freedom from anxiety. For others, it will help to reduce the amount of anxiety experienced. However, for a small percentage, it may make little difference, which could indicate a need for specialist help.
There are also other strategies, like mindfulness and acceptance-based practices, that are helpful for managing anxiety. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people create a life worth living, even if they still experience anxiety. ACT encourages individuals to identify their values and commit to putting those values into action. This often involves engaging with difficult thoughts and feelings without trying to control them.
Mindfulness practices can help people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings without judgement. This can be useful in changing how the mind responds to anxiety. Mindfulness is not a relaxation strategy, but instead, it helps people to make contact with experience as it is. It is designed to help people experience their experiences fully.
It is also important to remember that medication may help address the symptoms of anxiety, but it does not address the root cause. Combining medication with a form of talking therapy has been found to be the most effective way to deal with anxiety.
Other techniques that may help to reduce anxiety include:
- Breathing exercises: Paying attention to the breath can assist in making improvements in mental health.
- Setting boundaries: Learning to say no can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Shifting focus: Taking the focus away from the anxiety and shifting it towards something else can assist in reducing anxiety.
- Hypnotherapy: Relaxing through hypnotherapy can allow for clear thinking and solution-creating.
Seeking support for anxiety through talking therapies can be a useful method to help reduce distress, understand the roots of anxiety and develop healthier coping mechanisms. These therapies work by allowing people to talk with a professional who has experience in understanding and resolving these types of issues. Other techniques like mindfulness, acceptance and boundary setting can help with managing anxiety. Medication can also help to relieve symptoms, but doesn’t address the root causes of anxiety. The most important factor in managing anxiety is a person’s own willingness to engage with therapy or other helpful techniques.
Tags: Anxiety, Talking therapies, Mindfulness, Acceptance, Boundary setting, Medication