Can life coaching help with anxiety and stress?

In a word, yes! How? Both anxiety and stress are a mental and sometimes physical response to the way that we feel about ourselves or situations in our lives. Many people feel out of control, panicky or very tense. But it doesn’t need to be this way.

If we look at things in a different way, understand what heightens levels of stress or anxiety and learn to respond and think differently, we can manage the feelings. It may be difficult to do this alone, but with help, it can really work.

There are many of my clients out there who believed being stressed and anxious was just part of who they were, and they’d have to put up with it. Yet, weeks later, after working through it with me, their panic attacks have subsided; they feel much more in control and far less stressed.

Below are some common questions about anxiety and stress and how coaching can help.

How can I make my stress and anxiety go away?

Any response that we end up repeating can become, in a sense, a kind of habit. Even if we’re not sure what’s causing our behaviour, it can be a habitual response to a particular trigger. That trigger may be a certain situation - or even the thought of it. With help, you can understand the reason that it has been happening and change the way you respond.

It's important to remember that feeling stressed and feeling anxious are different to experiencing chronic stress or having an anxiety disorder. The latter is likely to need mental health intervention, as opposed to coaching. 

The more I try to improve my mental health, the worse it gets. Why?

Sometimes, although our intentions are good, the more pressure we put on ourselves to solve something, the more stressed or anxious we become. By working with a coach, that additional stress can be taken away, and you can just concentrate on feeling the way you want again.

Will a coach just think I’m crazy?

Coaches see people all the time who are dealing with stress and anxiety. It is a really understandable and common issue. We all need a bit of help sometimes (even coaches).

With a good coach, any feelings of embarrassment or discomfort will disappear. The hardest part is making a decision to speak out and book to see someone. It gets easier from there on in. You aren't crazy for having these feelings, and your coach will know that.

Why do I feel like this? I’m usually really strong and in control.

Anxiety and stress can happen to anyone. In fact, sometimes it can feel worse if you are normally strong at managing your emotions. Anxiety and stress, at their core, happen for really logical reasons - it's just that the response developed has become unhelpful.

The more in control you like to be, the less you’ll like feeling these negative feelings - which can just add to the whole effect. If you want to be back to calm, own up to how you are feeling and get some help. You will feel a whole lot better and back to being you.

How do I know if coaching will help me?

If you find the right coach, they will be able to help you manage your anxiety or stress and feel like yourself again. Look for someone happy to have a chat and listen to what you have to say.

Ask how they might approach your situation. Also, ask how many sessions they think you may need and what the costs are. Although the coach might need to meet with you first, they should be able to give you a rough idea based on experience. Then you can decide if it is worth it to you.

How long will it take to overcome stress and anxiety?

Surprisingly, even with people who have been suffering for quite a while, results can begin to happen very quickly. Within the space of a few sessions (sometimes much less), you may be able to feel back in control. The key is to actually start the process of change. The sooner you do that, the sooner you will see and feel the difference.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact a coach to talk through how they might be able to help you. The chances are, you will be glad you did.