By Jen Keay Therapy. Counselling in Telford and online.
Anxiety is something many people are experiencing at the moment. It can show up as a racing mind that will not settle, a tightness in your chest, a restless feeling in your tummy, or a quiet but persistent sense that something is wrong.
It is easy to interpret anxiety as a personal failing. You might wonder why you cannot just “calm down” or cope the way you think you should. But anxiety is not a weakness and more often, it is a signal; a message from your nervous system that something needs your attention.
When anxiety builds, it makes sense that you would want to escape it by staying busy, scrolling on your phone, seek comfort in food, distract yourself, or emotionally shut down. These responses are understandable as they are attempts to soothe or protect yourself, and they rarely address what is happening underneath.
Anxiety as information
Rather than seeing anxiety as something to get rid of, it can sometimes be helpful to become curious about it.
Anxiety can be a sign that something in your life feels out of balance. It may be pointing towards a relationship or situation that is weighing on you, it might suggest that you have been carrying too much emotionally for too long, or that your own needs have been quietly pushed aside. Sometimes, anxiety is the part of you that is asking for rest, space, or support.
When you begin to see anxiety as information, the question gently shifts from “How do I stop this?” to “What might this be trying to show me?”
Noticing the bigger picture
Anxiety often grows when one area of life starts to dominate everything else. Work may take up most of your energy, relationships might feel strained or demanding. You may have very little time for rest, hobbies, or simple moments of enjoyment or perhaps there is not enough alone time, or not enough meaningful connection. Your physical health may also have slipped down the list of ‘things to do’.
Taking a step back and looking at the balance of your life can offer important clues. And, importantly, you don’t need to solve everything at once, simply noticing where your energy is going can begin to bring clarity.
Listening to your body
Instead of trying to silence anxiety, try experimenting with sitting with it for a moment and gently notice where you feel it in your body. Is it a tightness, a fluttering, a heaviness? What thoughts seem to accompany it? Does the sensation shift at all as you pay attention?
You might try naming it to yourself; “I am feeling nervous about tomorrow.” Or, “I am feeling overwhelmed by everything I have going on.” Placing words around a feeling often reduces its intensity and can transform something vague and frightening into something more defined and manageable.
Gentle ways to support yourself
Supporting anxiety does not have to mean dramatic change and often, small and consistent acts of care are more powerful. Creating a few minutes of quiet in your day can help you tune in to what is happening inside. Turning off distractions and allowing yourself to simply notice can bring unexpected relief.
You might also ask yourself what you need in that moment as beneath anxiety there is often another feeling, perhaps fear, tiredness, loneliness, or a longing for reassurance. Meeting that underlying need, even in a small way, can soften the intensity.
A short walk, a warm drink, an early night, or a brief pause between tasks can all help regulate your nervous system. Tending to yourself in a supportive and compassionate way, repeatedly over time, makes a difference.
If you would like support
Sometimes anxiety has deeper roots, shaped by past experiences or long-held patterns of coping. Therapy offers a space to explore this gently and at a pace that feels safe. Together, we can begin to understand what your anxiety is connected to and find steadier ways of responding to it.
If you would like to explore therapy for anxiety in Telford or online, you are welcome to book a free consultation. It is simply a space to talk and begin to make sense of what you have been carrying.