Are Irrational Fears Ruining Your Life?

Most of us have one or two fears that can be loosely described as irrational, such as of spiders and creepy crawlies, or of a visit to the dentist. However, some people are so fearful of certain things that it can interfere with their daily lives and cause them exceptional stress and anxiety. When this occurs, such fears are usually referred to as phobias; a fear of something that isn’t necessarily harmful, but which still has the ability to induce intense terror. Some more common examples of this are:

• Agoraphobia: a fear of open and enclosed spaces
• Acrophobia: a fear of heights
• Aerophobia: a fear of flying

It’s true that most phobias develop during childhood, but adults can develop them at any time, too.  

What is a normal fear in comparison to an irrational one?

Most of us are fearful in situations that pose a real threat to our health and safety, and our automatic ‘fight or flight’ response kicks in; this is perfectly normal. But when the threat is non-existent or exaggerated, our fear can usually be classed as irrational.

What are some of the signs and symptoms of irrational fears and phobias?

Some of the most common symptoms of a phobia range from mild feelings of apprehension and unease, to a full-blown panic attack that you can’t control. Some of the physical symptoms are listed below:

• A racing or thudding heartbeat
• Trouble breathing
• Pain in the chest or a sensation of tightness
• Shaking or trembling
• A churning sensation in your stomach
• Feeling nauseous or lightheaded
• Sweating

While below are some of the emotional symptoms of an irrational fear or phobia:

• A feeling of being overwhelmed by anxiety, panic or fear
• A strong feeling of needing to escape
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• The sensation that you’re going to die or faint
• Feeling as if you’re not present in your body

If you experience any of these symptoms due to a phobia, you might recognize the fact that what you’re feeling or thinking is irrational, but it may be beyond your ability to control your fears. The first step to being able to overcome your phobias, is to understand them, and a counselor or therapist can help you to do this.

Seeking professional help to treat a phobia

While self-help strategies can be enormously helpful for mild irrational fears, for phobias that are having a very real and negative impact on a person’s life these are often best combined with some form of talking therapy administered by a professional. If your phobia is triggering panic attacks and irrational behavior, then counseling can help you combat your fears and get back to feeling safe and at ease in the world around you.

Nobody deserves to live in fear, whether that fear is irrational or otherwise, and if phobias are ruining your life, help is out there.

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Is Childhood Bullying Still Affecting Your Mental Health?

While many of us have experienced being bullied as a child, to write this off as just a normal part of childhood may not give it the understanding it deserves, as studies have shown that many adults still experience the mental impact of having been bullied as a child. Some experts even go so far as to suggest that when it comes to mental health, bullying is potentially as harmful as child abuse.

Some mental health problems that adults experience later in life, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, may be relatively easy to recognize, while others may not be as easy to spot. Bouts of anger with no known cause or feeling inferior to others are just two examples.

It’s generally recognized by those involved in the mental health profession, that victims of childhood bullying often go on to experience symptoms of anxiety, compared to those who were not bullied, and often experience social anxiety; the risk of developing a personality disorder is also increased.  Depression is also another common consequence of childhood bullying, and if you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself and you have a history of being bullied, there may be a link between the two.

What about the more subtle symptoms of childhood bullying?

While someone suffering from severe anxiety or depression may see a counselor to help them cope with the present and deal with their past, for those suffering from some of the more subtle symptoms of childhood bullying, such as trust issues or low self-esteem, they may be less inclined to do so.

Bullying can also lead to other health problems, such as alcohol and drug abuse, social withdrawal and trust issues that hamper both an individual’s personal and professional life.

What can you do to help deal with past trauma and move forward?

If you begin to realize that sudden bouts of anger or low self-esteem may be attributed to being bullied as a child, then one of the best and most effective ways of dealing with this is through talking therapies. While some individuals who were bullied may feel that confronting those who bullied them might help them deal with the past, this is highly dependent upon whether the bully feels remorseful and apologizes; in some cases, a leopard doesn’t change its spots, even as it grows, and contacting the bully or bullies may do more harm than good. For that reason, it’s always best to seek professional help before taking matters into your hands.

What happened to you as a child doesn’t have to have a negative impact upon your mental health as an adult, and if you seek help now, you could begin learning how to make sense of the past, and put it firmly where it belongs; behind you.

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Are These 5 Emotional Responses Present in Your Relationship?

All couples will face tough and challenging situations together, but if the following responses are present in either party, then the stress of whatever challenge you’re both facing may be compounded: 

Sentences often start with ‘you’

When beginning a sentence with ‘you’ when talking to your partner – especially if what follows it is going to be negative – then your partner may instantly feel threatened. Instead, try to begin a response by talking about yourself or asking them about their feelings before making any assumptions or challenging them.

Listening with an open mind

Sometimes, you’re only hearing what you want to hear, or automatically picking out negatives in statements. In these cases, your partner may choose not to share things with you. Listening skills are vital for the success of any relationship, and you can try to master them to prevent future conflict.

Emotions run away with you

If you’re quick to get angry or defensive when your partner talks to you about something, or an incident occurs, the tone can instantly change from friendly to adversarial, and this is unlikely to bring out the best in anyone. Learn to communicate your emotions better or walk away for a few minutes until you’ve calmed down.

Staying silent when stressed

If a situation stresses you out for any reason, and you avoid talking about it with your partner through fear of upsetting or angering them, then the situation might deteriorate, and could lead to you feeling isolated and depressed. Learn to raise issues and confront stressful situations in a calm, peaceful way is imperative.

Trying to dominate and convince to get your way

If you want one thing, and your partner another, then simply arguing in the hope that you get your way is a recipe for resentment. Instead, try to find out and understand why your partner wants something different, and come to a peaceful compromise based on mutual understanding.

It’s clear from the above five responses that learning new skills is one of the quickest and most effective ways of having a relationship in which both parties feel equal and deserving of the others respect. However, learning new skills doesn’t come easily, and if you think you might need help with this, then you could try speaking to a professional counselor (either individually or together). Someone who isn’t personally connected to you or your partner, can give advice and guidance that is unbiased and honest, and many couples benefit hugely from seeking their help, and often go on to continue their therapeutic sessions to keep their relationship harmonious. 

Get More Information at: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com

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Do You Suffer From Panic Attacks & Need Help Stopping Them?

If you suffer from panic attacks, then you’ll know just how debilitating, frightening and upsetting they can be. Often coming on without warning, and sometimes preventing you from being able to function normally at work, socially or at home, it’s important that you try and understand your attacks and learn ways of interrupting them. If you need help stopping such attacks, or are unsure whether you are suffering from a true panic attack, the following information should prove helpful:

What is a panic attack and what does it feel like?

A panic attack is the sudden occurrence of an intense feeling of discomfort or fear and can last for several minutes before dissipating. Often mistaken for high-level anxiety or heart attack, a panic attack is usually associated with a set of much stronger, uncontrollable symptoms, such as heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, dizziness and even chills or overheating. Other symptoms may include, but are not limited to, a choking sensation, shortness of breath or feeling lightheaded. While they are commonly experienced when a person feels anxious, nervous or stressed, they can also occur when someone is feeling calm, relaxed and in control, and may appear alongside other psychological disorders.

What kind of treatment is available to help stop panic attacks?

As with any kind of disorder or illness, be it mental or physical, a trip to see a physician or mental health professional should be the first step. A physician will examine you to determine whether there may be an underlying health concern or medical issue that might be causing your symptoms, before diagnosing you. If you are already fairly confident this is a panic attack, or your physician diagnoses you with this, then visit a mental health professional and they will talk you through a range of treatment options that might help you cope with them better, and ultimately, stop them from occurring altogether. While some medical professionals may want you to take some medication, the best treatments are usually some form of therapy,Find a therapist or counselor that you feel comfortable with, and who can help you overcome the symptoms of your panic attacks and the fear associated with them.

Today, there are many therapists available all over the state or country, by practicing online, and you can chat with you via a video call, right from the comfort of your own home.

Panic attacks and panic disorders are no laughing matter, and if you’re finding that frequent attacks are preventing you from living your life as you want to, then you should seek help as soon as possible. Nobody should have to live with fear, and once you seek therapeutic help, you’ll learn how to banish your attacks and embrace a calmer, much happier way of life.

Learn More Here: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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Does Being An Introvert Mean That You’re Unwell?

Being uninterested in social gatherings and preferring to spend time alone does not have to mean that you are unwell. While some who are suffering from a mental illness may display such tendencies, for most, it simply means that they’re of an introverted disposition, for which no therapy or medication is necessary.

Are you an introvert?

If the thought of being around lots of people and/or spending time in a busy social setting fills you with dread, and if when you do so you’re left feeling mentally exhausted or upset afterwards, then you may be an introvert.

While this may have some negative connotations or leave you with a reputation among others as being an anti-social individual, it is not necessarily a negative trait and shouldn’t be thought of as such.

However, if you get to a point where you never want to leave the confines of your home, even for a short time, or refuse to interact with anybody other than your immediate family or perhaps a close friend, then you may be suffering from depression.

Introverts and depression

Research has shown that depression is more prevalent in introverts and is due in part to the isolated lifestyle that they tend to live. This doesn’t mean that if you’re an introvert, you must be depressed, but it’s important to look out for some of the signs that you may be struggling with your mental health.

Wanting to be alone most of the time can develop into an unhealthy desire to self-isolate, and without anyone to talk to about how you might be feeling, or to discuss some of the worries that you may have with, there is always the chance that your thoughts and feelings might spiral out of control and leave you in a dark and lonely place.

If you’re beginning to feel too lonely and isolated as an introvert and are struggling to cope with your mental health alone, then professional help might just help get you back to a happier, healthier way of life. The process (or even the thought) of seeking such help might be daunting, but it’s important to remember that good counselors will understand how you’re feeling and will know exactly how to put you at ease.

Some introverts may have better mental health

Some introverts find that while they don’t actively seek to be social, or prefer to be alone, they don’t turn their backs on the rest of the world entirely and may even be more in tune with their emotions as an individual. As introverts tend to be more observant and aware of what’s going on around them, their mental health and coping mechanisms may be more powerful, and they may find themselves to be far more self-aware than their extroverted counterparts.

Being an introvert can affect people in different ways, and while it’s true to say that some mental illnesses such as depression are found more often in such people, if you’re an introvert, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are mentally unwell. If you’re at all worried about your state of mind as an introvert, do seek advice from a mental health specialist.

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Are You Suffering With A Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

It’s not always easy to know if your levels of anxiety are above what are considered to be normal. As most people get anxious from time to time, you may not consider yourself as having a problem that you should seek help for. The following information should help you to get a better understanding of generalized anxiety disorder, and whether it might be something that you should seek help for:

What is ‘generalized anxiety disorder’, or GAD?

When your worries and fears take over your mind and prevent you from functioning in everyday life, then you may have something a little more serious than anxiety alone. A common disorder, GAD causes the sufferer to worry incessantly, and be in a state of hyper nervousness and tension, most of the time.

While this is often confused with a phobia, the anxiety is GAD is unconnected to a specific thing and gives the individual an intense and general feeling of dread that taints everything they do. Making it hard for the sufferer to relax and unwind, they are continually worn out and often find themselves unable to cope with the demands of life.

Someone suffering with GAD will have identical worries to the average person, but the intensity of their anxiety is heightened, exaggerated and often relentless. The emotional symptoms of GAD may not be the same for every individual, but some of them include constant worrying, uncontrollable anxiety, thoughts about anxiety inducing things that you can’t shake, an inability to tolerate uncertainty and/or an intense and pervasive feeling of apprehension or dread. 

There may also be some behavioral symptoms of GAD which can include an inability to relax or unwind, difficulty concentrating or focusing on things, procrastinating due to feeling overwhelmed and/or avoiding situations that induce anxiety.

Physical symptoms of GAD may also be present and can range from feeling tense, edgy or restless all the time to insomnia and/or stomach problems such as nausea.

If you know someone who is in a constant state of anxiety, then you’ll doubtless know that there is precious little you can say or do to help relieve their fears, and if you’re the one who feels like this, then you may feel uncertain as to whether anyone can help you. However, you don’t need to feel helpless anymore. While it is true to say that you may not be able to help your friend or family member with their uncontrollable anxiety, a professional counselor can, and if you’re the one suffering from GAD, talking to a professional counselor could be the first step towards not only learning how to manage your fears and worries, but discovering how to take back control of your life.

Get the help you need at: heartcenteredcounselors.com/

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5 Of The Most Common Mental Health Misconceptions

There have always been certain misconceptions surrounding mental health, and while these may never disappear completely, in talking about them and shedding some light on the truth, we might help more people to realize when they should seek help, and enable others to be more understanding of those suffering with a mental health condition.

Here are 5 of the most common mental health misconceptions:

1. If you don’t feel mentally unwell today, you won’t have a problem tomorrow

While you may never have experienced a problem with your mental health before, life events and stresses can trigger a variety of emotional responses, and these can alter with time and age. Just because you can carry on with your life as normal today doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have an issue with your mental health at some time in the future. In fact, in any given year, 25% of the population has a diagnosable mental health condition.

2. Some people will never be affected by mental illness

Nobody is immune to mental illness, and even if you’re able to shape many aspects of your life, there is nothing you can do to control unpredictable stressors that may occur at any period in your life.

3. If you’re mentally strong, then you’ll remain mentally healthy

In fact, the two are worlds apart. In much the same way as a physically strong weightlifter is not immune to suffering with their physical health, someone who considers themselves to be mentally strong can just as easily suffer from a mental health condition. It is true that having mental strength can help prevent some mental illnesses, but it does not give you immunity. 

4. Medication is the only solution

While medication is sometimes prescribed by health professionals, it is often paired  with (or secondary to) other forms of therapy, such as counseling, to give patients a more rounded experience that is likely to help them feel better quicker, and for longer.

5. Treatment isn’t always successful

The data on mental health treatment shows just how effective it can be. There have been hundreds of studies and meta studies that show the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Of course, nothing works all the time, and there are factors affecting the outcome that are beyond the reach of health professionals, such as if a patient returns to an addictive behavior that inhibits their recovery. However, if you commit to getting better, and find a counselor that you trust and can work with, then there is no reason why your treatment shouldn’t work.

If any of the above common misconceptions are the reason why you haven’t sought help for a problem with your mental health, then hopefully you are now in a better position to assess your situation and take the necessary steps towards finding a treatment plan that will be most effective for you.

Learn more at: www.heartcenteredcounselors.com

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