Anxiety, how much is too much?

We all feel anxiety from time to time. Sometimes it's appropriate - the nervousness we might have before an interview or giving a presentation to colleagues or coursemates. We might feel apprehension and hope when we meet a new potential lover or friend. We might feel nerves before taking part in a competition or something where we are being judged for our efforts.

But what about the kind of anxiety that hurts? The kind that can stop us participating in our daily lives? The overwhelming panic that can leave us feeling unable to participate in social commitments or even leave the house? This is when we can safely say that anxiety is hindering us rather than helping us.

To expect a life without any anxiety is unrealistic. It can be a useful tool for sharpening our senses and giving us an adrenaline push to do something that stretches us and enriches our life. But when it comes to managing your own anxiety, do you know how much is too much? Have you ever felt that anxiety is stopping you from living the kind of life that you would want to?

I work with many different clients who experience anxiety for widely different reasons, and for different degrees of stress. One person's butterflies is another's crippling panic attack. It's all subjective, and so its imperative that we know our own tolerance for anxiety and if it isn't where we would like it to be, that we consider increasing our resilience so that we don't miss out on the life that we could be living.

If you would like to discuss how anxiety is affecting your life you can contact me at info@harleycounselling.com or arrange an introductory session at www.harleycounselling.com/bookonline.