Learn to better manage anxiety and worry with our virtual workshops
Calm Your Anxiety workshops
It's normal to worry from time to time, whether it's about pressures from your job, study, relationships, or life at home.
If you're worrying excessively it can have a negative impact on your mental health and wellbeing. This can lead to a range of symptoms such as feeling restless, trouble concentrating or sleepless nights.
But we can help. Our Calm Your Anxiety Workshop is a six week virtual group that teaches you techniques you can apply to your own situation straight away. With practice, these techniques can help you feel more in control and better prepared to manage your worries in future.
Find out more about what's involved on the links below.
Our virtual workshops will teach you techniques that you can tailor to your own situation.
There are six weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 90 minutes, and held at the same day and time of the week.
These sessions will cover:
- Understanding the link between how we think, feel and act
- Types of worry
- Ways to manage worries
- How to problem solve
- Ways to relax
- Staying well
Each session includes exercises to practice the techniques you have learned.
After each session, we’ll encourage you to use the new techniques in your day to day life. We will provide you with worksheets to use as helpful reminders.
At the end of the course, you’ll be much better prepared to manage your worries, and have a plan for how you want to handle things when you experience worries in future.
You’ll need to have:
- Internet access via a phone, tablet or computer and enough data / signal to stream a video call to your device
- A quiet place to attend the call without interruptions
- Ability to attend all six 90 minute sessions
- Ability to try-out the techniques between sessions
Access to the Calm Your Anxiety Workshop, and other therapies, will depend on your needs.
If you feel that you need support, you can refer yourself to NHS Berkshire Talking Therapies for a wellbeing assessment, and we'll offer the right therapy to suit you.
You can also find self-help guides if you want to know more about managing things like depression and stress.
As well as our workshops, there’s others activities you can do to help you relax your mind and body.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) exercises can help you become aware of your stress and how it affects your body.
Through the audio exercises, you can learn how to spot the early signs, and learn the skills to ease your stress.
We recommend trying the extended exercise first, and moving on to the brief exercise as you become more familiar and confident. We’ve found it can help if you play the two recordings in a quiet room away from distractions, where you can sit comfortably.
Please don’t do these exercises while driving.
You might need to practice the technique for a few weeks before you feel the benefits.
If you have a physical health issue, such as back problems, we advise you speak to your GP before you begin.
Start the Relaxation Brief Exercise audio clip
Start the Relaxation Extended Exercise audio clip
Do I have to go on camera? And do I have to give my real name?
Yes. We find that having cameras on helps keep everyone focused and improves participation. We also need to see that you’ve attended your treatment sessions.
What if there is someone I know on the course?
We set out some ground rules in the beginning about confidentiality. But please be assured that you won’t be sharing your experiences or hearing about people’s personal reasons for coming to the sessions.
Will I have to talk about how I’m feeling?
The sessions aren’t ‘group therapy’. You won’t be asked to talk about what has brought you to NHS Talking Therapies but you will be asked to participate and work through the techniques and examples given.
How do I know it will work?
The content of the sessions has been developed to meet national NHS standards for treating general anxiety disorder (GAD) and is based on approaches recommended by NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence). We find that the more people engage in the sessions and practice the techniques, the more effective they are.
What if this isn’t for me?
We offer a range of support depending on your needs. If you find the course isn't for you, please reach out to your facilitator after the session to discuss other treatment options.