Counselling Directory
0
menumenu
Are you a counsellor? Log in Join us
Find a counsellor
  • Home
  • What's worrying you?
  • Getting help
    • What is counselling?
    • Types of therapy
    • FAQs
    • Find a counsellor or psychotherapist
    • Worried about someone else?
    • Not sure where to start?
    • Self-care
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Facts & Figures
  • News & Stories
    • Recent news
    • Your stories
Log inJoin us
Saved profiles (0)
  • Home>
  • Expert articles>
  • Anxiety - switching the negative focus

Anxiety - switching the negative focus

Written by listed counsellor/psychotherapist: Tania Freeman - MBACP registered Creative Arts Counsellor

3rd March, 20180 Comments

Related information: Anxiety
Tania Freeman - MBACP registered Creative Arts Counsellor

When in an anxious state, if we concentrate on it negatively in a bid to try and stop it, this is often counterproductive (when has telling someone to calm down ever worked!) Anxiety is a feeling we need to acknowledge it rather than fight against it.

We can't simply tell our brain to not feel something it's experiencing, we have to teach it to recognise the feeling for what it is, just a feeling, and this recognition means embodying an acceptance of it too.

Anxiety in itself isn't dangerous, but our actions or feelings around trying to suppress it could be. We cannot conquer anxiety with aggressive attempts at repression or oppression, we must calm it with kindness, reassurance and understanding.

This non-aggressive approach doesn't mean we are allowing our anxiety to win. In fact let's not think of it in terms of winning or losing. Anxiety isn't trying to sabotage us, it is trying to protect us.

If we move towards the anxiety with kindness and compassion we can begin to help it calm and become less reactive. If we starve the anxiety of our negativity we starve the panic of its fuel. Treating anxiety in this way can help interrupt the anxiety cycle.

This is not a quick fix however. Our thoughts and patterns of behaviour have become intrenched and hardwired over time but they may have lost their relevance. Thoughts become outdated patterns, instructions that no longer fit our reality. So let's be sympathetic to our old coping mechanisms but in doing so let's also be aware of the here and now and allow ourselves to protect ourselves with our whole brain and not just with crippling fear.

About the author

Tania Freeman MBACP
child counselling diploma and certificate in the therapeutic arts.
Specialise in creative art therapy working with children.
Working freelance in schools and private practice.

View profile

Related articles from our experts

  • Awkward and anxiousAwkward and anxious

    Marilyn McKenzie BSc, PGDip, MBACP

    18th April, 2018
  • Acknowledging our difficulties can turn anger and anxiety into self-compassionAcknowledging our difficulties can turn anger and anxiety into self-compassion

    Alessio Rizzo, UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist, MA, MSc, MBACP

    16th April, 2018
  • Healing From TraumaHealing From Trauma

    Tania Freeman - MBACP registered Creative Arts Counsellor

    15th April, 2018

Counselling Directory is not responsible for the articles published by members. The views expressed are those of the member who wrote the article.

Share on: Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Find a counsellor or psychotherapist near you
Select multiple
Advanced search

print this pagePrint this page

Get involved Connect with us, we're social.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
More information
  • About us
  • Recommend us
  • Legal terms
  • Privacy/Cookies
  • Browse by region
  • Press centre
  • Find a supervisor
  • Links
  • Site map
  • Site help

Contact us

  • Counselling Directory, Building 3
  • Riverside Way, Camberley
  • Surrey, GU15 3YL
  • Membership Services Team:
    0333 325 2500 *
  • Contact us
Copyright © 2018 site by Memiah Limited

* Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling an 01 or 02 number and
count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

Healthy ideas that change the world

Get our free monthly e-magazine straight to your inbox

Find out more at happiful.com