Understanding Anxiety: When Worry Takes the Wheel
At Relational Psychotherapy, I understand how anxiety can quietly (or sometimes loudly) take over daily life. From racing thoughts and sleepless nights to an overwhelming sense of dread, anxiety can feel like an invisible weight that’s hard to shake off. If you're reading this and nodding, you’re not alone — and more importantly, there is support.
What Is Anxiety, Really?
Anxiety is a natural human response to stress or perceived danger. In small doses, it can be helpful — keeping us alert, focused, and safe. But when anxiety becomes constant, intense, or starts interfering with everyday life, it can feel like you're stuck in a loop of fear or worry that’s hard to break.
Physically, anxiety might show up as:
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A tight chest or shortness of breath
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Racing heart or digestive issues
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Muscle tension or shakiness
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Sleep problems or fatigue
Emotionally, it might mean:
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Overthinking or catastrophising
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Avoidance of situations or people
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Feeling on edge or irritable
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A sense of dread that won't go away
Helpful Hints and Tools to Manage Anxiety
While therapy can be a powerful way to unpack and address anxiety at its roots, there are also small everyday tools that can help you feel more in control:
1. Name It to Tame It
Sometimes just acknowledging “This is anxiety” can create enough distance to take the heat out of the moment.
2.EFT emotional freedom technique.
What is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)?
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), often called “tapping,” is a gentle, holistic approach that helps reduce emotional distress by combining elements of psychology and acupressure. It involves tapping with your fingertips on specific meridian points on the body (similar to acupuncture points) while focusing on a troubling thought, emotion, or physical sensation.
The aim is to calm the nervous system, release stuck energy, and shift emotional blocks — helping you feel more balanced, grounded, and in control.
EFT can support people dealing with:
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Anxiety and stress
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Phobias or fears
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Negative self-beliefs
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Pain and somatic symptoms
It’s safe, simple, and often surprisingly effective. Whether used on its own or alongside other therapies, EFT can be a powerful tool for emotional healing and self-regulation.
3. Breathe With Intention
Try box breathing: Inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4. Repeat. Slow, intentional breathing signals safety to your nervous system.
4. Limit the Scroll
Excessive news or social media can spike anxiety. Create gentle boundaries — maybe a phone-free morning or digital detox days.
5. Move Your Body, Even Gently
Whether it’s a walk in nature, stretching, or dancing in the kitchen — movement can help shift anxious energy.
When It’s Time to Get Support
Sometimes anxiety becomes too heavy to carry alone. And that’s okay — it doesn’t mean you're failing, it means you're human.
At Relational Psychotherapy, I offer a welcoming, confidential space — both online and in-person in Plymouth — where we can explore your experience together. Whether you’re dealing with general anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety, or something that’s harder to name, we’ll work at your pace, with compassion and clarity.
Therapy can help you:
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Understand the roots of your anxiety
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Develop new tools and coping strategies
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Build a kinder relationship with yourself
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Reconnect with life in a more grounded, empowered way
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If anxiety is holding you back from living the life you want, you're not alone — and you don’t have to face it by yourself. I’m here to help.
📩 Get in touch today to arrange a free initial consultation or book a first session.
🌱 Visit Relational Psychotherapy to learn more.
🧠 Let’s work together to create lasting change — one small, supported step at a time.
