Inside-out-Therapies

I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975 ......That was a long time ago, but it's wrong what they say about the past ........ Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.

Khalet Hossseini, The Kit Runner

Anxiety is common in mental illness or after extreme or distressing experiences. You may feel intense apprehension or worry, accompanied by acute physical signs such as:
sleeplessness
rapid heartbeat
palpitations
dizziness
irritability
Therapy can help you with anxiety, panic attacks and phobias by giving you ways of dealing with situations as they occur and exploring the cause of your feelings.

Depression can be a devastating illness that affects your body, mood, behaviour and thoughts. It is not a sign of weakness or failure, and it's not something that can be changed overnight. Without treatment, symptoms can be present for years, preventing you from functioning to your full ability.

A personality disorder is a type of mental disorder in which you have a rigid and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving. A person with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people. This causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities, work and school.

In some cases, you may not realize that you have a personality disorder because your way of thinking and behaving seems natural to you. And you may blame others for the challenges you face.

Personality disorders usually begin in the teenage years or early adulthood. There are many types of personality disorders. Some types may become less obvious throughout middle age.

Eating disorders are extremely common and can be serious or even life threatening if not treated appropriately. People often use dieting, bingeing and purging start as a way to cope with painful emotions and to take control. But if these behaviours continue, they will damage your physical and emotional health and self-esteem. Therapy can be helpful in changing thoughts and expectations and in providing support and encouragement.

Obsessions are usually unpleasant thoughts, pictures or impulses which come into mind when we don’t want them. Compulsions are the behaviours used to ‘put right’ or act on the obsession.

Most people have occasional intrusive, troubling thoughts, such as worrying that you've left the oven on, but some people can’t get rid of them. If you have OCD, you may have repeated obsessions and compulsions that seem very important and make you feel anxious. Therapy can help you put things in perspective and develop coping mechanisms to deal with the triggers of OCD.

The motivations for seeking relationship therapy might be different in each case. However, major life events, communication issues and the challenges of maintaining a happy relationship are some of the more common reasons.

Relationship counselling can help improve the way you relate to those around you and allow you to break free from old patterns of behaviour.

Counsellors can provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment to help you identify issues or problems in a relationship and find a way through those difficulties.

Relationship counselling can cover all relationships, including couples, families and those at work.

It can support you with small or major relationship issues that are troubling you. But a relationship doesn’t have to be in crisis before you pursue counselling. For some people, therapy is a means by which they can prevent relationship issues from growing.

It is normal to feel angry, sad or lonely when a loved one dies or leaves. Even the loss of a pet can have a major psychological effect. Working through your feelings with a therapist can help you come to terms with your loss.

The host of emotions that result from the death of a loved one can be overwhelming.

It’s important to give yourself time to grieve and to remember that there is no right or wrong way to feel. Grief is a unique experience.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way of coping with bereavement and what works will depend on each individual. How long it takes to learn how to cope with grief will also vary between individuals.

Children and young people, and their families, can sometimes need extra support if they are finding it difficult to deal with or understand their emotions or behaviour. Children can find it hard to express their worries, and unresolved problems may extend into their adult lives. More serious issues like abuse and mistreatment often require urgent specialist attention.

Anger is a normal emotion, but it can become uncontrollable and create problems for you, your family and your personal relationships. Anger can stop you thinking clearly, make you act impulsively, or may make you aggressive and violent towards others.

If you find it difficult to talk about how you feel, you may suppress your anger or turn it inwards. This can lead to problems such as:
eating disorders
self harm
drugs
alcohol addiction
Therapy can help you find the cause of your anger and provide ways to control and change your behaviour.

Bullying is when other people have the power to cause you pain and distress through abuse, threats and intimidation. It can include emotional, physical, verbal and cyber bullying and can happen at all ages - in families, education and at work. Therapy can be helpful for both the victim and the bully.

Sometimes simply sitting down with someone who can help you put your feelings into perspective can be beneficial. In counselling, you can explore personal difficulties or feelings of dissatisfaction, and talk openly about aspects of your life, in a way that may not be possible with friends or family. Therapy can help you discover what is important to you, so you can live the kind of life you really want and improve your health and wellbeing.

Therapy can help you identify the skills and capabilities that you have, and use them to the best of your ability. It can make you better able to change things to:
make your life run better
realise ambitions
fulfil your potential
be happier
be more successful
be less stressed
become more peaceful, sociable or fun

The average person spends almost a quarter of their adult life at work. It can give you a sense of purpose, structure and satisfaction while also providing the means to finance daily life. It can also cause stress, frustration, poor health and self-esteem issues. If you start to lose sleep, constantly dread work or drink heavily, it may be useful to seek help from a therapist.

Redundancy can lead to feelings of loss and confusion, as well as concerns about how to pay your bills. Therapy can help you work through issues of self-esteem and confidence, and the practicalities of redundancy.

You may benefit from career counselling when you are thinking about possible career movements or areas of study. A counsellor can help you set your personal goals and identify any factors likely to influence your decisions or affect your objectives. They will give you confidential guidance and help to ensure you are setting realistic targets for yourself and making positive career choices.

Loss is not just about death; you could also lose a relationship, a job or your health. Losing someone or something you love is very painful and you may experience many difficult and surprising emotions, such as shock, anger, grief and guilt. Therapy can help and support you through this difficult period of your life.