Anxiety and Stress

• There are over 100 symptoms of anxiety and stress and it would not be appropriate to list them all here. However, because everyone is different the type, number and intensity suffered will vary dramatically from person to person. One individual may suffer extreme symptoms in a given situation whereas another person will (in exactly the same circumstances) show only mild or even no symptoms whatsoever. If no symptoms are exhibited this may mean that the “anxiety and stress” is being internalised which could be as problematic as where symptoms are obvious. In the circumstances if you have symptoms a period in psychotherapy will almost certainly assist you in satisfactorily dealing with that anxiety and stress and will almost certainly result in a reduction of any troubling symptoms. If there are no symptoms and you are generally subjected to stressful or problematic situations because of your job or life-style then periodic long term psychotherapy can be of significant value. For example, it is possible to agree sessions at monthly intervals after an initial period in weekly psychotherapy so that a “watching brief” can be maintained on your psychological state. If an issue then arises the frequency of sessions may be increased for a period or until the issue has resolved. This approach can be of particular use to those who follow high level stress careers such as the emergency and armed services and also those who work in high pressured environments in the City – although the latter would probably benefit from weekly or fortnightly sessions since the pressure of such occupations can be constant.
  
  Some of the more common symptoms of anxiety and stress are:
  
  
  • Obesity and Over-eating
  • Increased or excessive drinking of alcohol
  • Loss of appetite or anorexia
  • If you smoke - you'll smoke more
  • Increased coffee consumption
  • Excessive and continuing irritability with other people
  • Substance Abuse
  • You can't make decisions, large or small.
  • Unable to concentrate - (common symptom of stress)
  • Increased and suppressed anger
  
   
   The following may also occur:
  
  
  • Loss of your sense of humour
  • Paranoia
  • Not be able to cope with life, feeling out of control
  • Jump from one job to another without finishing things
  • Excessive emotion & crying at small irritations
  • Lack of interest in anything other than work
  • Permanently tired even after sleep - (another very common symptom of stress)
  • Decreased sex drive or loss of libido
  • Stress can also cause Nail biting
  
  
  
   The above are behavioural symptoms there can also be physical symptoms some of which are:
  
  
  • Chest Pain or Palpitations
  • Migraine - Frequent Headaches and tension headaches
  • Indigestion - (very common physical symptom of stress)
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Constipation or Diarrhea
  • Flatulence or excessive wind.
  • Stomach cramps
  • Tremor and shaking and / or nervous twitches & tapping
  • Muscle cramps and spasms
  
   
   Indications of stress may be some of the following: 
  
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Worsening Eczema / Psoriasis
  • Increased sweating
  • Baldness or increased hair loss
  • Poor circulation with cold fingers and toes
  • Infertility
  • Menstrual irregularity
  • Premature ejaculation or Impotence
  • More frequent asthma attacks
  • More frequent flu's and colds
  • Neck pain & back pain