As the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, and daily stress levels rise to new heights, local therapists Clem and Margaret Turner are doing their bit to help people cope.

They are unable to offer face-to-face sessions with clients, but are able to offer one-to-one therapy sessions via Zoom and WhatsApp. They also run CPD training courses and workshops, and have trained hundreds of qualified hypnotherapists throughout the country to help people with anxiety, panic and stress related problems.

Studies have shown that facing uncertainty is often scarier than facing physical pain. The human brain over millennia has developed an aversion to uncertainty. It is a carry-over from our inherent ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction to threat. In our constant quest for certainty in our lives, we are wired to ‘catastrophize — to view a given situation as worse than it actually is. This leads to worry, which in turn leads to anxiety.

Margaret Turner who has been a therapist since 2006, said: “For many of us who have never experienced events that have an enormous impact on everyday lives, these are unprecedented times. Many people may already suffer with low-level anxiety and have found their symptoms have increased recently. Others might be experiencing feelings of physical and psychological stress for the first time.”

Uncertainty leads to many questions, such as ‘What will happen?’, “What is in the future for us?’, ‘What if my livelihood is threatened? – all questions can lead to frustration, anger, anxiety and worry.

To some degree it’s natural to worry, and we all do it — it’s how our brain handles problems or potential problems.

But it stops being useful if we become stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts about things that are out of our control. We should instead focus on those things within our control and how we choose to respond.

To help people through these challenging times Clem and Margaret have released a free relaxation download on their website, which will be available to everyone during this period of lockdown.

Anyone who is feeling stressed or anxious, whether directly affected by coronavirus or just generally worried, would benefit.

Just taking 15 minutes out of your day to focus on yourself, rather than the watching the latest virus news update, can help you regain a sense of balance and focus. It’s all about relaxing your mind, deflecting the negative thoughts, and replacing them with calm, positive ones.

Once you have downloaded the recording, find a safe, quiet space, where you can fully engage with Margaret’s soothing words. The 15-minute English-language audio recording can be accessed from any computer or device and will be available to everyone during this period of lockdown at www.clemturner.co.uk/coronavirus

Clem and Margaret Turner Therapy Practice, Sutton, 01623 556234