Anxiety
When Worry Takes Over
Feeling anxious before a big presentation or during uncertain times is entirely normal - it’s your mind’s way of preparing you for potential challenges. But when anxiety becomes a constant companion, showing up uninvited and refusing to leave, it can start to control your life in ways that feel exhausting and overwhelming.
Recognising Anxiety
Anxiety manifests differently for everyone, but common experiences include:
In your body: A racing heart that won’t slow down, shallow breathing, muscle tension that never quite releases, difficulty sleeping, or that churning feeling in your stomach.
In your thoughts: A mind that won’t switch off, jumping from one worry to the next. “What if” scenarios playing on repeat. Difficulty concentrating because your brain is too busy scanning for threats.
In your behaviour: Avoiding situations that might trigger anxiety, seeking reassurance from others, or finding yourself unable to make decisions for fear of getting it wrong.
Types of Anxiety We Treat
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) When worry becomes your default setting - a persistent, free-floating anxiety that attaches itself to work, relationships, health, finances, and everything in between.
Health Anxiety An overwhelming preoccupation with the possibility of being or becoming seriously ill, often accompanied by frequent body-checking or medical reassurance-seeking.
Social Anxiety More than shyness - a deep fear of judgement, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations that can make everyday interactions feel impossible.
Panic Disorder Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks accompanied by ongoing worry about when the next one might strike.
Specific Phobias Intense fear of particular objects, situations, or experiences that leads to significant avoidance.
How We Help
Anxiety responds remarkably well to psychological treatment. Our Clinical Psychologists draw on approaches including:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift the thinking patterns that fuel anxiety
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you build a meaningful life alongside difficult feelings
- Compassion-Focused Therapy when anxiety is accompanied by harsh self-criticism
- EMDR when anxiety has roots in past experiences
- Mindfulness-based approaches to help calm an overactive nervous system
The right approach depends on your particular experience of anxiety, and we’ll work together to find what fits best for you.
Taking the First Step
Living with chronic anxiety can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to stay this way. With the right support, you can develop new ways of relating to anxious thoughts and feelings - ways that give you back choice and freedom in your daily life.
Get in touch to arrange an initial consultation.
Related Reading
- Anxiety 101: When Worry Becomes Overwhelming - Understanding when anxiety crosses the line
- CBT vs ACT for Generalised Anxiety: Which Works Best? - Comparing two effective treatments
- Simple Grounding Techniques for Anxiety - Practical strategies you can use today
