Anxiety, Overthinking & Feeling Overwhelmed
When Your Mind Just Won't Switch Off
Do you find yourself constantly thinking about what might happen, replaying conversations or worrying about whether you've said or done the wrong thing?
Perhaps you appear to be coping on the outside, but inside your mind rarely feels quiet.
Anxiety doesn't always look like panic attacks. Sometimes it can look like:
Constantly overthinking situations or conversations
Worrying about what other people think of you
Finding it difficult to switch off or relax
Feeling responsible for keeping everyone else happy
Avoiding situations because of what might happen
Needing reassurance that everything is okay
Feeling overwhelmed by seemingly small things
Struggling to say no or set boundaries
Always keeping yourself busy
Feeling tense, restless or constantly "on edge"
You may even find yourself saying, "I don't know why I'm anxious. Everything is actually okay."
This can be confusing and frustrating, particularly when logically you know you're safe, but your body doesn't seem to feel the same way.
“Anxiety is not your enemy. Sometimes it is your mind and body trying to protect you in the only way they know how.”
Why Do I Feel Anxious?
Anxiety isn't something I see as simply needing to be "got rid of".
Often, it can be helpful to become curious about what your anxiety might be trying to tell you.
As an attachment-based integrative counsellor, I look at both what is happening for you now and the experiences and relationships that may have shaped how you respond to the world around you.
For example, if you've experienced relationships where things felt unpredictable, you've frequently needed to keep other people happy, or you've learnt to anticipate other people's moods, you may have become very good at noticing potential problems.
Your mind and body may have learnt:
"I need to stay alert."
"I need to think ahead."
"I need to make sure everyone is okay."
"I can't completely relax."
These responses may have made sense at another point in your life. The difficulty comes when your mind and body continue responding as though they need to protect you, even when the situation around you has changed.
Anxiety Isn't Just in Your Thoughts
We often think about anxiety as something happening purely in our minds.
But anxiety can also be experienced throughout the body.
You might notice a racing heart, tension, difficulty sleeping, feeling restless, becoming easily overwhelmed or struggling to settle even when you have time to rest.
Part of our work together can therefore involve understanding your nervous system and beginning to recognise your own signs of becoming overwhelmed or dysregulated.
Rather than judging yourself for these responses, we can become curious about them.
What triggers them?
What does anxiety feel like in your body?
What helps you feel calmer?
And what might your nervous system need in that moment?
Developing this awareness can help you recognise what's happening earlier and begin finding ways of responding that work for you.
“Instead of asking, ‘How do I stop feeling anxious?’ perhaps we can begin by asking, ‘What is my anxiety trying to protect me from?”
How Can Counselling Help With Anxiety and Overthinking?
Counselling gives us the opportunity to look beyond simply trying to stop anxious thoughts.
Together, we can explore why they might be there in the first place.
Depending on what you bring to counselling, our work might include exploring:
Your experiences and relationships
Attachment patterns
Where particular fears or beliefs may have developed
Your relationship with yourself
Self-criticism and perfectionism
People-pleasing
Boundaries and difficulty saying no
Fear of rejection or abandonment
Why uncertainty feels difficult
Patterns of overthinking and reassurance-seeking
How anxiety shows up within your body and nervous system
There isn't a set programme you have to follow. As an integrative counsellor, I adapt how I work to you as an individual.
Understanding and Regulating Your Nervous System
Alongside exploring what's underneath your anxiety, we can also look at practical ways to help you manage how you're feeling in everyday life.
This isn't about giving you a list of techniques and expecting you to simply "calm down".
Instead, we can explore what helps your nervous system feel more regulated.
That might include developing greater awareness of your breathing and body, movement and exercise, spending time outside, grounding techniques, sensory strategies, creating routines or finding ways to pause when you notice yourself becoming overwhelmed.
We can experiment with different tools and understand which ones genuinely work for you.
The aim isn't to never experience anxiety again.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion.
Instead, the aim is to understand your anxiety, recognise when your nervous system is becoming overwhelmed and gradually develop more choice in how you respond.
You Don't Have to Figure It All Out Before Coming to Counselling
You don't need to know why you feel anxious before contacting me.
You don't need to have the right words.
And you certainly don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want to work on.
That's something we can explore together.
Sometimes the starting point really is:
"I just feel overwhelmed, and I don't know why."
That's enough.
Anxiety Counselling in Plymouth & Online
I offer attachment-based integrative counselling for adults experiencing anxiety, overthinking, overwhelm and relationship difficulties.
Sessions are available in person in Plymouth or online across the UK.
We can begin with a 45-minute initial consultation for £40, giving us an opportunity to meet, explore what has been happening for you and talk about how we might work together.
There is no pressure or obligation to continue afterwards.
If you're tired of constantly trying to think your way out of anxiety, perhaps we can begin by understanding it instead.
