Is it love that I am feeling? Or anxiety?

A racing heart, blushing, feeling faint, nausea, shortness of breath....sound familiar? Adrenaline being produced in our body is the cause of these feelings. It is known as an "arousal state" meaning the body is ready for action. Adrenaline causes this state and causes the physical signs when we have a panic attack or we are excited about something, when we are frightened or we are in love. We know the physical signs are caused by adrenaline but what makes all these situations feel different are our thought processes that go alongside them.

Anxiety is a common experience that we have all had at some point during our lives. It is normal to experience anxiety in certain situations, such as preparing for a medical procedure or before a job interview. For most people these feelings do not last long. For some they can cause extreme distress and may start to impact on daily life because there is a feeling of anxiety for long periods. They may also cause panic attacks.

Physical symptoms of anxiety include a fast heartbeat, feeling faint, nausea and shortness of breath. People often also experience racing thoughts, changes in appetite and difficulty sleeping. These are all symptoms caused by the body releasing adrenaline and cortisol to create the "fight or flight" response to danger. It is designed to happen quickly, without conscious thought, so that we can respond appropriately to danger.

Hypnosis offers a way of reducing anxiety levels and boosting self-esteem by helping to reduce the physical signs of anxiety and by changing the thought processes that trigger or prolong episodes of anxiety. In a safe and relaxing environment the causes of the anxiety can be investigated, although this may not actually be necessary. There are lots of different techniques that can be used to help. Initially these may require some guidance from a hypnotherapist but the aim is to teach clients how to use these techniques themselves. This means that they have them at hand and they are ready to be used whenever and wherever they are needed.

In the meantime, next time your heart starts to race, consider that it may be a sign of anticipation. What (or who) are you excited about? What exciting opportunities are going to be coming your way today?