Anxiety

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, when a person feels disproportionate levels of anxiety that's interfering with everyday life then therapy can be beneficial. Anxiety can show up in many ways; a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, feeling nauseous or avoidance of certain situations. The commonality is that its a physical response impacting our thoughts & behaviour. I will incorporate somatic techniques (to teach you to calm your body) and CBT to encourage you to challenge unhelpful thoughts so that you gain control over your life instead of your anxiety controlling you. Anxiety is on a continuum and can include but is not limited to the following; generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic attacks, phobias, social anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The good news is that all of of these are treatable symptoms. 

Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, nightmares, flashbacks and hopelessness can linger long after the traumatic event has passed.  I hear many clients describe "feeling like they are in a fog",  "feeling like they are on auto-pilot" or "feeling numb". This may indicate a trauma response. Other indicators may be a sense of lost time or a sense that you feel disconnected from yourself and the world around you (dissociation). A catastrophic event does not need to have taken place for a trauma response to exist, it is simply any event that overwhelms the central nervous system that alters the way we process memories.  Therapy can help you flesh out the reasons contributing to these feelings and guide you safely through the process of healing. In order to recover from trauma wounds it is essential that a felt sense of safety is established. 

Addiction is a chronic condition that creates psychological and/or physical dependence on alcohol or other drugs. A person that develops an addiction may have an increased desire towards the substance or behaviour despite consequences and this is largely because the brain system responsible for reward, motivation and memory is in charge. Ask yourself these questions; is this substance/behaviour causing difficulties or conflict in my relationships? Is this substance/behaviour causing issues with my work, my health or my financial situation? Does it create the sense that I fit in better socially? Do I find that I am engaging with this substance/behaviour for longer than I had originally intended?  If you answer yes to these questions, (even a reluctant yes) then why not take the opportunity to explore it further? We can tease these issues out together and find better ways for you to cope and manage difficult emotions. You have value. Your recovery is possible. 

Addiction or not? Often people who live with addiction or misuse suffer in silence. If you are living with someone who may have a dependency,  ask yourself these questions: Am I constantly trying to control or fix the other person? Do I think about the other person more than I think about myself? If I dig deep, my feelings are of bitterness and resentment towards this person? Do I try to maintain certain standards or hold everything together so all looks normal to the outside world despite how I'm feeling?  Am I feeling completely overwhelmed and anxious because of my situation? If you answer yes to these questions, your recovery is also possible. We will work together to find strategies that best suit your particular set of circumstances 

Because grief reflects what we love in life the most, it can be the strongest and most painful emotion for people to manage. Grief and loss can be experienced following the death of a loved one, the breakdown of a marriage or relationship, the loss of a job, redundancy or retirement. The transitioning to mother/fatherhood. The loss of a pet, or that you now live alone. Whatever your loss may be, there is no right or wrong way or set amount of time for grief. Its a unique experience for each individual. 

If you have been bereaved by suicide, this can be particularly difficult to make sense of, often loved ones left behind are filled with a deep sense of guilt, regret or shame.  Acknowledging your pain with the right support can help you identify the stages of your grief and gently in your own time guide you towards healing. 

If you are having suicidal thoughts right now and require immediate help please contact Pieta 24 Hour FREE Crisis Line 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444.