neuroplasticity

The Interplay of Trauma and Anxiety: Brain Mechanisms, Healing Pathways, and Professional Guidance

by John Nolan
16th January 2025

Trauma significantly affects anxiety, altering brain function and leading to avoidant behaviours and heightened emotional reactivity. Addressing past traumas can lead to reduced anxiety and a richer more meaningful life. Self-help techniques like mindfulness, acceptance and conscious breathing can help, and there are several effective approaches that can be used by a professional. Choosing the right approach is a very personal journey that is best explored with the support of a qualified professional, and it is important to pay attention to key indicators when it’s time to seek that support. The aim is not to erase difficult feelings or thoughts but to transform one’s relationship to them.

Rewiring the Anxious Brain: Tools, Techniques and Strategies

by John Nolan
10th January 202511th January 2025

Rewiring the brain from anxiety is an achievable goal that focuses on a change in the relationship with anxious thoughts and feelings. It requires a holistic approach, combining self-help strategies with professional support where needed. Key to this is accepting anxiety as a normal part of life and focusing on building skills and confidence to manage its effects, whilst taking action towards meaningful goals. By understanding the brain’s role in anxiety and using neuroplasticity to your advantage, it is possible to build a life where anxiety has less of an impact.

How to retrain your anxious brain

by John Nolan
26th December 20243rd January 2025

To retrain an anxious brain, it’s important to understand that anxiety is a complex response involving different parts of the brain, especially the amygdala and the cortex. The amygdala is responsible for the fight, flight, or freeze response, while the cortex handles thoughts, logic, and planning. Retraining your brain involves using the principle of neuroplasticity,… Read More »How to retrain your anxious brain

Benefits of Talking Therapies and Other Approaches for Managing Anxiety17th January 2025
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.
Role and Benefits of a Stress Reduction Coach: A Detailed Overview17th January 2025
A stress reduction coach provides tailored guidance to help individuals manage stress by understanding their triggers and developing practical strategies. This approach focuses on active engagement, self-awareness, and personal empowerment. People may choose to work with a coach because it offers a personalised approach, provides practical tools, and prioritizes future-focused action, setting it apart from other methods. Coaching helps people to build resilience and find a new way of relating to their stressful life events by managing their emotional responses.
The Rising Demand for Depression Coaching: Exploring its Unique Contributions and Advantages Over Traditional Methods17th January 2025
The increasing popularity of depression coaching may stem from its action-oriented, personalized, and future-focused approach. Unlike more traditional approaches, coaching prioritizes building on strengths and empowering people to take an active role in creating change. People are increasingly choosing depression coaching because it provides them with a practical set of tools to move forward and create a more meaningful life. This type of support can offer an alternative to traditional therapy that some individuals find more empowering, accessible and in tune with their needs.
Managing Nervousness: Causes and Effective Strategies17th January 2025
Nervousness is a natural human response triggered by the body's stress response to perceived threats and future-oriented anxieties. Negative thought patterns and a lack of control can contribute to feelings of nervousness. Several strategies can help to manage nervousness, such as mindfulness, reframing negative thoughts, focusing on solutions and self-compassion. Other techniques that are helpful are physical activity, sleep and gradually exposing oneself to feared situations.
Counselling and Modern Approaches to Managing Anxiety, Including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming17th January 2025
While traditional counselling can provide a base for managing anxiety, more modern approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and mindfulness-based approaches, offer different perspectives, practical tools and a new approach to managing and reducing anxiety. These methods focus on accepting difficult thoughts and feelings, living in alignment with one's values and using specific techniques to make new changes and choices. These approaches are often chosen for their focus on present and future experiences, an emphasis on personal values and their empowering, practical tools.