What is fear?
Fear is initially an important signal to be alert and cautious in a situation. However, it can take over for various reasons; fears get stronger when I evade them and avoid the situation. Fears can become so severe that they restrict everyday life.
Panic attacks can become very intense with severe physical symptoms and fear of losing control.
The reaction, whether it be fear or a panic attack, is an subconscious physical reaction.
The Different Levels of Fear/Anxiety
Fear is primarily an avoidance reaction to a stimulus. For therapy, it is important to determine whether there are clear triggers for the fear, or if the fear is a general reaction to various situations, emotions, or stress. If there are clear triggers, it is worthwhile to examine them and their significance. If fear is a general reaction, then it is about looking at the whole system and, furthermore, looking at the causes – see also developmental trauma.
Often, different sensory channels are too closely “coupled”—for example, thoughts that amplify fear, which then further fuels the thought loop. Or a specific bodily sensation leads to a thought that then triggers fear and intensifies the bodily sensation even more. These patterns are an important level to recognize in order to change them.
And then there’s the physical aspect: What exactly happens in the body when fear or panic arises? Some people are so dissociated from their bodies that it’s difficult to experience feelings like fear. As soon as the body becomes more perceptible, in a grounded way, there’s also more capacity to feel. In other cases, one area becomes constricted, or another area tries to maintain the overall intensity. Regardless of how the body tries to cope with the intensity, it can learn to manage it in a better, more self-efficacious way.
My Perspective on Working with Anxiety and Panic
It always begins with identifying the root causes and careful observation. Depending on the cause of the anxiety, how it manifests, what’s happening in the body, and many other factors, a different approach is needed. It’s important to me to always consider a person’s resources, as well as their goals and desires. This allows the focus to shift from “away from the anxiety,” which only intensifies the inner dynamics, to their wishes and longings.
Understanding is crucial, and equally important is feeling and understanding, or rather, rediscovering, the body. Therefore, I always strive to integrate body and mind.
The Process
If you’d like to learn more about my work, you’re welcome to book a free discovery call. I offer this so we can discuss your specific topics and how my methods can best support you. This will give you a first impression.
We would then schedule an initial session where I’ll gather information about your history, the topics you bring, your symptoms, what you’ve already tried, and so on. We’ll then create an initial plan outlining how we’ll address each issue and how long the therapy will last. We’ll also have an initial session so you can get a better feel for the process.
Working with fears takes time, for example, to allow the body to feel safe again, for new neural pathways to form in the brain, and for new behaviors to develop.