understanding anxiety
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is more than just worry. It’s a state of inner tension — often physical — that can make it hard to feel settled, safe, or present. For some, it’s constant; for others, it arrives in waves.
Anxiety is the nervous system’s way of preparing for danger — whether that danger is real, remembered, or imagined. While anxiety is a normal human experience, chronic or overwhelming anxiety can disrupt your ability to work, connect, or rest.
How Anxiety Can Feel
Everyone experiences anxiety differently, but common signs include:
Racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating
Tight chest, shallow breathing, or heart palpitations
Restlessness or agitation
Digestive issues or nausea
Trouble sleeping
Hypervigilance or fear of something going wrong
You might feel like you can’t switch off — or like something bad is just around the corner. These responses are the body’s way of trying to stay safe.
A Somatic Approach to Anxiety
In our work together, we’ll focus on how anxiety lives in the body. Somatic psychotherapy supports you to:
Recognise early signs of anxiety before it escalates
Develop internal resources for grounding and safety
Work gently with the sensations, thoughts, and emotions that accompany anxiety
Repattern the nervous system toward greater calm and connection
This isn’t about pushing anxiety away. It’s about building your capacity to be with it — with support, care, and curiosity.
What You Might Notice Over Time
As we work together, many clients begin to experience:
Greater ability to pause and reflect, rather than react
More restful sleep and deeper breath
Feeling more present in relationships
Confidence in navigating stress or overwhelm
A renewed sense of self-trust
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s resilience, flexibility, and greater ease.
Curious About Working Together?
If anxiety has been affecting your relationships, work, or sense of self, you’re not alone.
Book a free 20-minute consultation to explore whether somatic therapy might be a good fit for you.
Or read more about how I work or trauma therapy.
FAQs
Do I need a diagnosis to begin therapy?
Not at all. Many people experience anxiety without ever receiving a formal diagnosis. What matters is how you’re feeling and what support you need.
Will therapy make my anxiety go away?
Therapy doesn’t “fix” anxiety — but it can help you understand it, relate to it differently, and reduce its intensity and impact.
What does a somatic session for anxiety look like?
We might begin with a check-in and then track sensations or explore where anxiety shows up in your body. You’re always in charge of the pace and direction.
How long will it take to feel better?
Everyone is different. Some people feel relief after a few sessions; others engage in longer-term work. There’s no pressure — we go at the pace that feels safe and useful.
What if I feel anxious about starting therapy?
That’s completely normal. We’ll move slowly, with care. The free consult is a gentle way to start, with no commitment required.