Anxiety Counselling Kent

 

One of the most common search terms online is for an anxiety therapist near me. Anxiety is now the number one problem our counsellors see people about. There are a number of reasons people experience anxiety. However, the one thing they all have in common is they have become ‘tuned in’ to certain situations they believe cause them anxiety.

Anxiety Super Scanner

Each of us has an inbuilt ‘super-scanner’ which is programmed to look for certain signals and the sensitivity of our scanner can vary from person to person.

For example, some people are able to sleep through anything – partners snoring, trains speeding by and thunderstorms. Yet those same people; just after they’ve had a baby can be woken by the slightest sniffle. Some of us appear to have an inbuilt scanner that keeps us alert to certain signals, even when we’re sleeping. It’s constantly scanning for the signal, then triggering the body’s alarm system which wakes us up, even from the deepest sleep, to attend to the baby for example.

Someone who worries about being burgled might have a super-scanner which is set to be highly sensitive to noises that are different from those we normally hear at night. A knocking sound will have them instantly awake, alert and anxious. Upon investigation, they might realise it was a twig tapping against the window, the anxiety subsides – and they can go back to sleep reassured they’re safe.

Individual anxiety

Our own super-scanners are very personal to us, our thinking style of thinking and any problems we might have. Someone who is feeling depressed is likely to notice only the negative or bad things that happen, or interpret ordinary or positive events in a negative way. Their negative or gloomy super-scanner is working overtime so that they only notice the negative or bad stuff.

Someone who gets anxious in social situations might have a super-scanner that is constantly trying to read situations and people. Looking for a look, a tone of voice, something someone says or does. Trying to interpret what others are thinking or ‘really’ thinking and it is usually a criticism of us despite what they say.  This mind-reading super-scanner is so highly sensitive that it creates meaning where there is none or gives an inaccurate meaning because we cannot know what others think.

Worried about your health? Then the super-scanner might be constantly on, scanning for body sensations, which we might then interpret as meaning we’re seriously ill.

If we suffer from panic attacks. Then the super-scanner is going to be alert for physical sensations, such as a racing heart for instance. We then interpret that as being in immediate danger! Find a qualified therapist and book your first session whenever you feel ready.

Perhaps you have experienced a trauma in the past, then maybe our super-scanner would be scanning for any reminders of that trauma. Something we see, hear, smell – anything that reminds us. The scanner then then triggers a distressing flashback.

Someone with low self-esteem might have a super-scanner that works continuously to find situations or triggers which cause us to think critically about ourselves. More about anxiety

Understanding your anxiety

Maybe your super-scanner is continuously scanning for something else. Understanding what your own personal super-scanner is doing, will help you understand what is keeping your problem going now.

Once your super-scanner is triggered your focus is right there. Your scanner and your thoughts react to the scanner zoom into the foreground of your attention, and everything else fades into the background.

We can learn to notice the highly-sensitive super-scanner, and turn the sensitivity dial down. It can be a useful mechanism so we don’t want to turn it off completely. But we can improve our ability to interpret the readings accurately and adjust the way we react to the scanner.

Notice the scanner:  “Here is that super-scanner again!”

• Readjust the sensitivity dial: “Okay, the scanner is noticing and that is triggering these unhelpful thoughts and anxiety.”
• There’s no need to fight the thoughts, you can notice them, accept them and let them pass.
• Change your focus of attention:
• Move on – do and/or think about something else.

How an anxiety therapist near you can help

Whether you choose either counselling or CBT for help with your anxiety. Each can be as equally effective. Talking about your anxiety and your thoughts and fears out loud, to someone unbiased, who want judge you. Is the first step to overcoming your anxiety.

Our counsellors will talk through what you feel is the cause of your anxiety. They will then provide you with the right tools in order to take back control of your anxiety. Request an appointment