For individuals living with anxiety, the decision to reach out for help can be a difficult one. You may feel you can overcome it on your own, you may fear what other people will think or you may be unaware of the support and treatment available and the benefits they can bring.
Whether the anxiety you are experiencing has been diagnosed by a medical professional or not, counselling is an excellent source of support for individuals experiencing anxiety.
From helping you feel that you are not alone in your challenges to identifying the causes and developing a treatment plan, counselling can provide the support, tools and resources you need to successfully manage and overcome anxiety and improve your overall wellbeing and mental health.
1. Someone to talk to about your anxiety
Never underestimate the value of a listening ear. Counselling offers a safe, supportive and confidential environment to talk about your experiences, feelings and struggles. Talking to a counsellor about your anxiety can help you better understand your emotions and feel less alone in your experiences.
Even if you already have supportive friends and family who are excellent listeners, there are still benefits to bringing a counsellor into your support network. A professional counsellor can offer a different perspective that those in your life may not be able to offer.
Counsellors are a non-judgemental, unbiased listener who are bound by confidentiality, so you never have to worry about anything you discuss being shared with those in your life.
2. Identify and understand the underlying causes
No two individuals are alike, and even people with the same diagnosis can experience their anxiety in different ways. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) based out of Toronto, anxiety disorders can be caused by a combination of biological factors, psychological factors and challenging life experiences. Whatever the origins of your anxiety, your counsellor will work with you to identify its causes and triggers.
Anxiety also presents itself in many forms. You could be experiencing a specific phobia, social anxiety or a more generalized anxiety disorder. Whatever you’re experiencing, or maybe you’re still struggling to pinpoint what it is, counselling will help you better identify and understand your experiences with anxiety.
It’s difficult to overcome a challenge without understanding it. A counsellor is an excellent person to help explore and better understand why you experience anxiety. This heightened understanding will position you better to address the underlying causes and develop positive coping mechanisms.
3. Create and implement an individualized anxiety treatment plan
What does a treatment plan for anxiety look like? It is highly individualized to the type of anxiety you are experiencing, its causes and your goals for treatment. Treatment could involve a mix of strategies such as counselling (including specific therapies such as psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioural therapy), medication, relaxation techniques, exercise, support groups and more.
One thing a counsellor cannot do is prescribe medication. Your counsellor may recommend you visit a family physician or psychiatrist so you can incorporate medication as a strategy for managing your anxiety.
Counselling is a collaborative process. Nobody in life, not even a counsellor (sorry!), can give you an instant solution to the challenges you face. While counsellors are experts in helping individuals living with anxiety, only you are the expert on your own life.
By combining your own strengths and experiences with your counsellor’s, you will work as a team to develop and implement a treatment plan that’s best suited to your unique experiences, goals and life circumstances.
4. Connect you with community resources
As we’ve already discussed, counselling is often just one part of your treatment plan for anxiety. Community resources can play an important role in helping you find ways to overcome your anxiety and feel supported.
Resources vary by community and what is best suited to your needs and goals. First, your counsellor can direct you to crisis services or telephone support lines to ensure you always have someone to talk to in times of need.
Support groups are an excellent resource that can be found in many communities. Often facilitated by a qualified mental health professional, attending a support group can be a powerful and informative experience.
Support groups provide the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others experiencing similar life challenges, share and discover new positive coping techniques, and develop a new network of supportive, caring individuals who know what it’s like to live with anxiety.
Crisis services and support groups are some of the most common community resources used by individuals living with anxiety, but beyond those, it very much depends on your community as well as your own goals and interests.
Perhaps a local meditation class could be a good fit, or maybe a walking group if exercise is part of your treatment plan? Whatever your treatment goals and needs are, your counsellor is well suited to help you find the right community resources to support your wellbeing.
5. Ongoing support and encouragement
Once you’ve worked to identify the causes of your anxiety, implemented a treatment and taken steps towards overcoming or managing your anxiety, a counsellor can play an important role in providing ongoing encouragement and support for your well being – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
If you’re still actively working through your anxiety treatment plan, a counsellor can help you stay accountable to your plan and be a source of encouragement and hope when you find it challenging. A treatment plan is never set in stone. Your counsellor will work with you to monitor your progress and make changes along the way if you find that certain things aren’t working, you’re experiencing new challenges or you’d like to set new goals.
You may reach a point where you feel that you’ve overcome your anxiety or are managing it successfully and don’t need as high a level of support from a counsellor. Some individuals still find it useful to check in with their counsellor, just less frequently than others. This lets them enjoy that supportive, listening ear, check in about their treatment plan and management strategies and simply know that they always have someone to go to if things change or new life or mental health challenges emerge.
Whether your anxiety is situational, a lifelong reality or more of an acute event that you feel you’ve successfully overcome, counsellors are always available to provide support for as long as it’s needed at whatever interval best supports your wellbeing.
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Living with anxiety can be challenging, but you don’t have to experience it alone. Whether it’s just for a few appointments or long-term support, counsellors offer support, encouragement, and can work with you to develop and implement a treatment plan to help overcome your anxiety and improve your mental wellbeing.
Learn more about our counselling services for anxiety today and book an appointment with our caring, qualified counsellors in Simcoe.
