Experiencing mild anxiety from time to time is a normal and natural part of human life. It’s simply evolutionary. When we’re in a situation that our body perceives to be dangerous, it sends signals that trigger that “fight or flight” response, causing reactions such as shaking, clammy hands, or enlarged pupils. We aren’t threatened by predators anymore, but it’s normal to experience anxiety in other situations that are somewhat scary in modern life: exams, job interviews, first dates, and so on. But when anxiety occurs often, and for regular, simple things, it can become a serious mental health condition that requires management and treatment.

When should you seek help for anxiety?

A professional counsellor can help you anytime you need someone to talk to, you’re going through challenging times, or you want to better understand your emotions and response to them. However, if you feel that anxiety is interfering with your daily life to the point that you feel overwhelmed by day-to-day situations and is affecting your personal and professional life, you should see a counsellor as soon as possible. 

It’s very important to point out there are several types of anxiety, and the symptoms can vary from person to person: 

• Agoraphobia: experiencing anxiety when you’re in an open, public space 
• Health anxiety: anxiety caused by a medical condition 
• Generalized anxiety disorder: anxiety caused by regular, day-to-day events 
• Panic disorder: anxiety that manifests as panic attacks 
• Social anxiety: anxiety caused by being in social situations 
• Substance-induced anxiety: anxiety caused by the misuse or overuse of certain substances, such as alcohol or drugs 

Anxiety can appear for many reasons. Sometimes, you may have a personality type that’s more prone to anxiety, or it can be caused by stress buildup, traumatic life events, or medical conditions. 

If you’re experiencing any of the following, you should consider talking to a counsellor: 

• Your feel that anxiety symptoms are out of control 
• Anxiety symptoms are starting to interfere with your personal and professional life, preventing you from focusing at work and maintaining relationships with your loved ones. 
• You feel tempted to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drugs and alcohol
• You feel depressed and have suicidal thoughts 

Is telephone counselling for anxiety effective? 

In-personal counselling sessions have been the most popular form of therapy for anxiety for years, but you don’t necessarily have to go to a counsellor’s office to get professional treatment. The same results can be obtained at home, through telephone counselling for anxiety. This alternative has become more widespread during the COVID-19 lockdown, when most counsellor offices were closed, but many people continued their sessions even after restrictions were lifted because it was more convenient for them. 

Even if sessions take place via phone, the standard of quality is the same. In fact, studies have shown that there is no difference in therapy outcome over the phone compared to in-person sessions and that, in some cases, telephone counselling can be even more effective. If you feel more comfortable discussing your feelings over the phone, and you prefer keeping counselling private for the time being, telephone counselling is an excellent alternative.