Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human response to stress and threat, but it can become difficult when it leaves you constantly on edge, emotionally exhausted, physically tense, or unable to properly switch off.
For many people, anxiety is not just worry. It can feel like your mind is constantly scanning for what could go wrong, replaying conversations, anticipating problems, or trying to stay one step ahead of discomfort, failure, rejection, or uncertainty.Often, people I work with are highly capable and functioning well externally, while internally feeling overwhelmed, restless, or exhausted by the constant mental load they are carrying.
How anxiety can show up
Anxiety can present in many different ways.
You might notice:
overthinking
difficulty switching your brain off
physical tension or tightness
a knot in your stomach
feeling emotionally reactive or sensitive
irritability
avoidance
procrastination
difficulty making decisions
trouble relaxing, even when you have time to rest
hyper-vigilance or constantly scanning for what could go wrong
For some people, anxiety shows up socially. For others, it appears more through perfectionism, overplanning, overpreparing, or a constant pressure to stay in control.
Many anxious people feel a strong urge to “do more” in order to feel less anxious. They may overwork, overthink, overprepare, seek reassurance, or try to anticipate every possible outcome. While these strategies can bring temporary relief, they often keep the anxiety cycle going over time.
Anxiety is not always obvious
Sometimes people come to therapy knowing they are anxious. Other times, they simply describe feeling:
overwhelmed
burnt out
constantly stressed
emotionally exhausted
unable to relax
stuck in their own head
unable to stop thinking
For many people, anxiety is also closely connected to relationships, self-esteem, perfectionism, and a sense of responsibility. They may feel like they are always trying to get things “right,” avoid disappointing others, or prevent something bad from happening.
Underneath this is often a nervous system that has learned to stay alert for danger, criticism, unpredictability, or emotional discomfort.
Different types of anxiety
There are many different ways anxiety can present.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
This disorder involves chronic, exaggerated worry and tension about everyday events, even when there is little to no cause for concern. People with GAD often find it difficult to control their anxiety and may experience physical symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Individuals with social anxiety disorder experience intense fear and self-consciousness in everyday social or performance situations. They may worry excessively about being judged, humiliated, or rejected by others, which can lead them to avoid social interactions altogether.
Specific Phobias
A specific phobia is an irrational, intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights, animals, or flying. Encountering the trigger causes immediate, overwhelming anxiety and often prompts the individual to go to great lengths to avoid it.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterised by sudden, unexpected, and intense surges of fear, known as panic attacks. These episodes often result in severe physical symptoms like a racing heart, trembling, shortness of breath, and a fear of impending doom or losing control.
Agoraphobia
This condition involves an intense fear of being in situations or places from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing, such as open spaces, enclosed areas, or public transit. People with agoraphobia often avoid these environments entirely because they fear having a panic attack without easy access to help.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Though often associated with childhood, this disorder can affect adults and involves an excessive, debilitating fear of being separated from attachment figures or home. The anxiety is disproportionate to the actual situation and significantly interferes with daily activities or relationships.
Health Anxiety
Also known as Illness Anxiety Disorder, this condition involves a persistent and excessive preoccupation with having or developing a serious medical condition. Individuals may constantly monitor their body for symptoms, frequently visit doctors, or experience severe distress over minor and normal bodily sensations.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
While not technically an anxiety disorder, OCD is heavily driven by anxiety and is characterised by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions). Individuals feel compelled to perform these rituals to reduce their distress, which can be highly time-consuming, distressing and also impede their functioning.
How therapy can help
Therapy can help you better understand the patterns underneath the anxiety, including the thoughts, behaviours, beliefs, relationships, and past experiences that may be keeping your nervous system stuck in a state of tension or threat.
Part of the work is not just reducing symptoms, but helping you understand why your mind and body may have learned to respond this way in the first place.
Over time, therapy can help you:
feel less consumed by worry
reduce avoidance and overthinking
respond differently to anxious thoughts
feel more present and less driven by fear
develop healthier boundaries with stress and responsibility
experience more calm, flexibility, and ease in your day-to-day life
Many people also find relief simply in understanding that anxiety is not a personal failure or weakness, but a pattern that makes sense in the context of their experiences and the ways they have learned to cope.