Why Do I Feel So Anxious?

Short answer: Anxiety often shows up when your mind and body feel overwhelmed or unsafe, and simple grounding techniques — alongside supportive counselling — can help you feel more regulated and understood.

Understanding Why Anxiety Feels So Heavy

Anxiety can feel like your whole system is on high alert. Your heart picks up pace, your thoughts get louder, and your body moves into “something’s wrong” mode — even if nothing dangerous is happening in that moment.

It’s important to say this clearly: that doesn’t mean you’re overreacting. It means your nervous system is doing its best to protect you, even if it’s misreading the situation. And that experience can feel exhausting, frightening, or just relentlessly wearing when it happens again and again.

Many people describe anxiety as a kind of background hum — or sometimes a wave that catches them off guard. You might feel tense without knowing why. You might worry constantly. You might find yourself always bracing for the next thing. It’s a lot to carry, especially if you’re carrying it alone.

What Helps in the Moment

When anxiety rises, you don’t need a perfect solution. What you often need is something gentle, grounding, and kind. A few soft steps can make a surprising difference:

You might start with your breath. Not the big, deep, “fix yourself” breath people often suggest — just a slightly longer exhale. Letting the breath fall out slowly can signal to your nervous system that it doesn’t need to stay on high alert.

You can take a moment to simply notice what’s around you. The colour of a wall. The sensation of your feet on the floor. A sound in the distance. This helps bring you back into the present when your mind is racing ahead.

And something as simple as naming the feeling — “I’m feeling anxious right now” — can gently interrupt the spiral. It doesn’t remove the anxiety, but it gives you a little more space around it.

These are small acts of care, but they matter. Especially when you’re overwhelmed.

Why Anxiety Happens

Anxiety has many roots. Sometimes it’s linked to old experiences that taught your body to stay alert. Sometimes it comes from high stress, pressure, or long periods of coping alone. And sometimes it arrives quietly, with no clear explanation, just a steady feeling that something isn’t quite right.

Whatever the reason, it doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. It means you’ve been trying to manage more than your system can comfortably hold. That deserves compassion, not judgment.

How Counselling Can Support You Through Anxiety

Counselling is a place where you don’t have to pretend you’re fine or hold everything together. It’s a place where your feelings make sense, where they’re explored rather than dismissed, and where you can begin to understand what your anxiety is trying to tell you.

Together, we might look at the patterns behind your anxiety, the situations that trigger it, and the moments when you feel most overwhelmed. We’ll explore ways you can regulate your body, soften self-criticism, and feel more grounded day to day.

We work at your pace, gently and steadily, so you feel safe and supported throughout. You don’t have to “push through” anxiety alone.

If You’re Feeling Anxious Right Now

Maybe you’re tired of always being tense. Maybe you feel like you’re constantly trying to keep things together. Or maybe you’re just scared of feeling this way forever.

You’re not alone, and you don’t have to deal with this by yourself. With warmth, space, and the right support, anxiety becomes something you can understand — and something you can move through, not feel trapped in.

If you feel ready, or even just a little curious about talking, I’m here.

Anxiety FAQ

• What are common signs of anxiety? Feeling tense, overwhelmed, worried, or unable to switch off can all be signs of anxiety.

• Can counselling help with anxiety?Yes. Counselling helps you explore the causes of anxiety and learn grounding strategies.