"I just can't switch off." It's one of the things I hear most often. Thoughts race at night, the same worries loop round, and the body stays on alert even when there's nothing obviously wrong.
What anxiety is trying to do
Anxiety is the mind trying to protect you. It scans for danger and rehearses what might go wrong, hoping to keep you safe. The trouble is that it can't tell the difference between a real threat and an email you haven't answered, so it keeps sounding the alarm.
How it shows up
A racing or looping mind
Tension, a tight chest or a churning stomach
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Avoiding situations that feel risky
Irritability, or feeling constantly on edge
Getting out of your head and into your body
Trying to think your way out of anxiety often feeds it. In my Heart and Mind model, we work the other way round. By coming back to the body, to the breath, a hand on the heart and belly, and putting into words what you actually feel, the nervous system has a chance to settle. From there, it becomes easier to notice the anxious mind without being run by it.
Understanding where it comes from
Therapy also gives us space to look at where your anxiety began and what it might be holding. Patterns learned early in life often make more sense once we can see them clearly, and that understanding can loosen their grip.
If anxiety is taking up more of your life than you'd like, individual therapy can help.
