Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is not necessarily a bad thing – in most cases it’s the body’s natural response to danger, a feeling that occurs when threatened, under pressure, or when facing a stressful situation. It can be experienced through thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. However, when an anxious state becomes constant or overwhelming and starts impacting on day-to-day living, work, relationships etc., this is when it becomes problematic.

Anxiety symptoms can manifest as excessive and lasting worry, negative predictions, tension, restlessness, irritability headaches and nausea as well as some of the conditions listed below:

Panic disorder

You feel terror that strikes at random. During a panic attack, you may also sweat, have chest pain, and feel palpitations (unusually strong or irregular heartbeats). Sometimes you may feel like you’re choking or having a heart attack.

Social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia).

This is when you feel overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. You fixate about others judging you or on being embarrassed or ridiculed.

Specific phobias

You may feel intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights or enclosed spaces. The fear goes beyond what’s appropriate and may cause you to avoid ordinary situations.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Feeling excessive and sometimes unrealistic worry and tension, often with little or no reason.

Do I Have A Problem With Anxiety?

Not everyone with anxiety issues has the same symptoms, but most people experience a combination of emotional, behavioural, and physical symptoms that often fluctuate, becoming worse at times depending on certain situations.

If you can identify with any of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won’t go away, then it is likely that you are suffering with some form of anxiety issues:

• Feeling constantly tense, worried, or on edge
• Major changes in sleep patterns
• Overwhelmed by fears that you know are irrational, but can’t shake
• Avoidance of everyday situations or activities because they cause you anxiety
• Sudden, unexpected heart palpitations and a sense of panic
• Feelings of danger and catastrophe are around every corner
• Significant weight loss or gain not related to dieting
• Hyperventilating and feeling as though you are going to pass out

Heightened feelings of lack of self-esteem, confidence and over focus on perceived personal inadequacies

Anxiety Treatment at Strong Hope

Many clients who present with anxiety come to us on prescribed medication, which may or not maybe the most appropriate medication for them. For many doctors, prescribing the right medication is a matter of trial and error – however, using Strong Hope’s genetic pharmacological analysis we can tell at an individual genetic level what medications are likely to be the most effective– based on which we will then inform the client of any possible change or even to cease all use.

For those not on medication it’s not Strong Hope’s practice to use medication routinely to treat people with anxiety as anxiety medications can be habit forming and cause unwanted side effects. Sometimes clients present with both anxiety and depression. If the person has an anxiety disorder and or morbid depression or depressive symptoms we would consider treating the anxiety disorder first (since effective treatment of the anxiety disorder will often improve the depression or the depressive symptoms).

Our approach to treating anxiety is similar to that of treating depression, which is through high-intensity psychological interventions (CBT & DBT), positive psychology, nutrition, sleep hygiene and exercise.

Through the anxiety programme clients will look at the underlying causes of their anxiety, which may be related to a whole host of things including trauma. It is vital that these underlying issues are identified and addressed as they are key to relapse prevention.

We explore these through a range of talking and non-talking therapies, so that clients understand why they do the things that they do but equally importantly then learn new skills and coping strategies to reduce the chances of returning to a debilitating anxious state. This we do through individual 1:1 work and group work for those who prefer.

One aspect of our programme that is key to recovery is for clients to confront fears in a safe, controlled environment. Through exposure to the feared states, either in their imagination or in reality, they gain a greater sense of control. As they face fears without being harmed, their anxiety gradually diminishes. Some of this we do this through adventure therapy, using the natural resources that the island has to offer.

All clients work to a daily schedule that is tailored for the individual in relation to their treatment plan and consists of a balanced programme of psychotherapy, complementary therapies, adventure therapy, health/nutrition and fitness. Clients will be expected to work on therapeutic assignments based on issues that are identified as part of their treatment, which they do outside of the core face-to-face hours, and present these in their sessions with their therapist. As clients come to the end of their treatment they will work with their primary therapist and therapy team to produce a relapse prevention plan, which Strong Hope will support through the aftercare programme that we offer.

Each client will have an experienced and fully trained primary therapist who is an expert in dealing with anxiety, and this therapist will support and coach them throughout their stay even though the client may engage with other members of the therapy team according to need.

Programme Duration

Strong Hope offers a range of anxiety programmes from just 14 days up to 42 days depending on client availability and need. For those clients staying 28 days or more we also offer an inclusive family programme towards the end of the client’s stay.