Anxiety Counselling and Therapy

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress or perceived threat. It is a feeling of fear or apprehension about what is to come and can also present physically as jitteriness and tension. In a fast-paced society like Singapore, it is common to feel anxious from time to time. Situations such as job interviews, the first day at school or a new workplace, taking tests, or making important presentations can naturally evoke anxiety. While anxiety can be uncomfortable, it is not necessarily negative. In some situations, it can help us stay focused and can motivate us to work towards our goals. 

Typically, feelings of anxiety are transient and do not significantly affect our daily lives. However, if the feeling of anxiety persists and increases in intensity or regularity, you may benefit from anxiety counselling and therapy support.

Situations Where Anxiety May Arise

One may experience anxiety in various situations, and recognising when one may likely experience anxiety is important in taking charge of your mental health. Some of these situations include

• Stressful life events: Periods of major changes, such as starting a new job, entering a new school, going through a rupture in a relationship, or transitioning to a new season of life like parenting, caregiving, or retirement.
• Chronic stress: Ongoing stress at work, in relationships, or financial difficulties.
• Health issues: Physical illnesses or conditions, especially those that involve long-term care and treatment.
• Unresolved issues from the past: Past experiences that have been intense, impactful or traumatic that have not been resolved.
• Substance use: The use of alcohol or long-term medication, either during consumption or withdrawal.

Seeking support through anxiety counselling and therapy in Singapore can help you regain control, build confidence, and navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can manifest as symptoms, including:

• Irrational fears – Being constantly alert to potential danger, intensely fearful or anticipating the worst in various situations
• Excessive guilt – A persistent belief that you may have done something wrong or will do something wrong
• Sleep problems or insomnia – Waking at random hours and experiencing difficulties sleeping
• Persistent worry – Persistent worries and thoughts that interfere with daily life.
• Dread and apprehension – A sense that something will go wrong, coupled with low motivation to work towards goals
• Poor concentration – A racing mind that affects your ability to concentrate on what is at hand
• Physical discomfort and sensations: Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches and dizziness, stomach pain, frequent urination/diarrhoea, muscle tension/twitching, shaking, sweating, and difficulties sleeping. In extreme situations, these symptoms can culminate in an intense experience known as a “panic attack,” which can involve severe chest pains, elevated heartbeat, choking, and sweating, and may feel almost like a heart attack.

If these symptoms become regular or overwhelming, or if you experience abrupt surges of intense fear without any specific reason that debilitate and immobilise within minutes (commonly known as “panic attacks”), your daily life and functioning can be significantly affected.

Support, Empowerment and Hope Beyond Diagnoses and Labels

In a medical or diagnostic-based approach, a psychiatrist or a psychologist may diagnose a person exhibiting the symptoms of various types of “anxiety disorders”. This is especially true if the anxiety experienced is intense and prolonged, affects daily living and leads to unexplained physical symptoms and avoidance of places or situations as a coping mechanism. They may further categorise these issues into different types of anxiety disorders based on what is reported to them, such as:

• Panic disorder – Characterised by unexpected, recurring panic attacks that are not situation-specific.
• Social anxiety disorder – Involves panic attacks related to being in public or social settings.
• Generalised anxiety disorder – Recurrent anxious thoughts and excessive worries that last for an extended period

Different professionals may name or label what you may be experiencing differently, but the important thing is that what you experience or what was diagnosed does not determine your future. It is not necessary to have a diagnosis before reaching out for counselling help with your struggles. Neither does reaching out to a counsellor lead to being diagnosed, as this is not the role of a counsellor.  

Counsellors at In Focus will work with you to help you gain insight into what matters most for you at the moment and support you in that area. At the same time, our belief is that anxiety symptoms could be indicators of issues beyond symptoms, and we seek to create an empathic,  non-judgemental and supportive environment that helps you feel safe to delve deeper into possible underlying issues through anxiety therapy. Working beyond the diagnostic and symptomatic approach has been proven to be helpful in personal empowerment and internal freedom in the long term. We are here to support you every step of the way.

When Should I Go For Anxiety Counselling or Anxiety Therapy?

If the experiences described above resonate with you, please know that you don’t have to face this alone. It’s important to understand that a diagnosis, if any, is simply information—it is not who you are as a person nor decides who you will be in the future. Beyond managing symptoms, anxiety counselling can provide valuable tools for navigating daily challenges, while therapy can help uncover and address deeper emotional issues.

When your feelings of anxiety begin to interfere with your everyday life, or when the distress feels overwhelming, it might be the right time to consider seeking support. Our counsellors at In Focus are here to guide you on your journey to understanding and healing. We are with you every step of the way, ensuring you feel supported and empowered. We will also work with you first on what is the most important and of priority to you and phase our work in collaboration with you. 

Some seek our help with an initial interest in learning ways to manage anxiety and learn skills such as relaxation techniques, structuring life to incorporate physical activities and healthy sleep habits, or even building up a network of social support. However, more often, those who work with us have gone further in personal growth and internal change and better manage relationships that matter to them.