Perhaps your mind races at night when you're trying to sleep, you replay conversations over and over, or find yourself worrying about things that haven't even happened yet. Anxiety can also feel very physical. You might experience a racing heart, tightness in your chest, headaches, feeling restless or constantly on edge. Sometimes it can build to the point where everyday situations feel overwhelming or you experience panic.

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When anxiety or stress has been around for a while, it can be exhausting. You might find yourself avoiding certain situations, needing reassurance, struggling to concentrate or becoming frustrated with yourself because you feel you should be able to “just get on with things”. But how you're feeling is worth paying attention to rather than judging yourself for.

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As an integrative counsellor with a Person-Centred foundation, I offer a calm, supportive and non-judgemental space where you can slow things down and talk about what's going on for you. You don't need to arrive knowing exactly why you feel anxious or what needs to change.

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Rather than only looking at the anxiety itself, we can be curious about what might be underneath it. Sometimes there is something happening in your life right now; at other times, past experiences, relationships or patterns we've developed over the years can influence how we respond to situations in the present.

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Together, we might explore what tends to trigger your anxiety, the thoughts that come with it and what happens for you when you begin to feel overwhelmed. We can also notice what helps you feel calmer or more grounded, while developing a better understanding of yourself and what you might need.

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Counselling won't make all of life's worries or difficult situations disappear, but it can give you somewhere to put down some of what you're carrying. A space where you don't have to hold everything together, have all the answers or pretend you're coping when you're not.

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Whether anxiety has been part of your life for a long time or you've recently found yourself struggling with stress or feeling overwhelmed, you don't have to wait until things feel unbearable before reaching out for support.