Anxiety

Anxiety is often misunderstood and mischaracterised as a disease like a virus or bacteria. However, it is more accurate to think of anxiety as the misfiring of a natural process in your body, similar to a torn ligament or broken leg—essentially, it is an injury to your nervous system. While there may be a biological vulnerability, potentially with a genetic component, understanding anxiety helps in designing long-term healing strategies and developing skills to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.

Anxiety stems from a normal stress response that fails to switch off. Our body's flight, fight, or freeze response system, which dates back 300 million years in our evolutionary history, is triggered by environmental stressors. This response prepares us to either run or fight, or to slow down and blend into the background. However, in modern life, our body can misconstrue stressors, leading to mental processes and thoughts that continue to stimulate the arousal response.

There are many different forms of anxiety, and numerous approaches to managing it. Effective treatment depends on a careful assessment of the type of anxiety and an understanding of its causes. Trauma, in particular, is a strong stimulus for anxiety.

At Integrative Psychology & Medicine, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of anxiety and offer personalised, evidence-based treatments. By empowering you with the knowledge and skills to manage and overcome anxiety, we help you move towards a more peaceful life.