Anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety isn’t just “worry” it’s a whole‑body experience that can leave you feeling on edge, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself.

You might look like you’re coping on the outside, while inside everything feels tense or too much.

What anxiety can look

Anxiety can show up in different ways. You may notice a constant background tension, as if your body is braced for something without knowing what. You might find yourself overthinking conversations or scanning for mistakes, or feeling on edge even when nothing is actually wrong. Switching off can be difficult — your mind may race when you try to rest.

There can also be a sense of being too much or not enough, with self‑doubt woven into everyday moments. Your body might feel tight or heavy — in your chest, stomach, jaw, or shoulders — and even small tasks can feel overwhelming, as though things that “should” be simple suddenly take more energy than you have.

What causes anxiety

Anxiety often develops when your system has learned to stay alert. Past experiences can teach your body to stay switched on, even when you’re safe now. Stress can also build up over time — especially when you keep pushing through — and old patterns like people‑pleasing, perfectionism, or overthinking tend to resurface when you’re under pressure.

At its core, anxiety is your body trying to protect you, even when the response feels unhelpful or overwhelming. Understanding where your anxiety comes from can make the experience easier to make sense of.

What we may focus on in therapy

Together we can explore what’s contributing to your anxiety and how it shows up in your body and day‑to‑day life. Rather than trying to get rid of anxiety, we turn towards it and understand its function — what it’s trying to protect you from. From here, we build a different relationship with it and find ways to manage the symptoms when they arise.

This might include supporting your nervous system to settle and feel steadier through somatic practices, developing emotional regulation skills, finding ways to relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings, and working with the parts of you that feel anxious or overwhelmed and what they need to feel steadier again.

What may shift

Over time you may begin to notice moments where your mind feels a little quieter, with more space between you and your thoughts. You might find a growing ability to pause before reacting, and an easing of the physical tension or restlessness. Worry may take up less of your day, and small moments of calm or clarity can begin to return. As your system settles, you may also feel more energy and concentration coming back.