You might recognise...
- Replaying conversations and wondering if you said the wrong thing
- Preparing for problems long before there is any sign of them
- Feeling tense, restless or unable to switch off, even when things appear fine
- Finding everyday decisions difficult because of everything that might go wrong
- Avoiding situations where you might feel anxious, embarrassed or out of control
- Feeling frightened by sudden physical sensations or fearing another panic attack
Anxiety is not simply a failure to relax. Sometimes it develops around understandable pressures; at other times it feels automatic and hard to explain. You may know logically that a feared outcome is unlikely, but still find yourself responding as though it is about to happen.
What your mind has learned to predict
One helpful way to explore anxiety is to ask: What am I expecting will happen next? If it happens, what do I think it will mean—and will I cope? Worry, checking, over-preparing and avoidance can offer short-term relief, yet sometimes reinforce the idea that the situation is dangerous.
How we might work
We start by understanding your circumstances, the anxiety itself and the ways it is affecting your life. Depending on what is appropriate, I may draw on clinical hypnotherapy, BWRT®, psychotherapy and practical psychological strategies. We agree what we're aiming to change rather than assuming one method suits everyone.
How will we know things are changing?
- Less time lost to rehearsing every possible outcome
- Greater confidence making decisions with some uncertainty
- Being able to approach situations you've been avoiding
- Finding physical feelings of anxiety less alarming or disruptive
If your main difficulty is sudden surges of fear, you may find the dedicated panic-attacks page more relevant.