Anxiety
Social anxiety
You might find it difficult to relax around other people, whether you're meeting someone one-to-one, spending time in a group, or simply being out in public. Rather than being able to enjoy the moment, you can become very aware of yourself—wondering how you're coming across, what other people think of you, whether you're saying the right thing, or if you fit in. It can feel hard to know how to be around other people, leaving you second-guessing yourself and holding parts of yourself back. You may really want close friendships and meaningful connections, but find it difficult to be yourself when you're worried about being judged, rejected or misunderstood. Over time, it can feel easier to avoid certain situations altogether, even though that can leave you feeling isolated and even more disconnected from the relationships you want. -I’d like to hear from you
Overthinking
You might find yourself replaying conversations long after they've ended, wondering if you said the wrong thing or what someone else thought of you. You spend hours weighing up decisions, trying to work out the best thing to do or worrying about making the wrong choice. Your mind jumps ahead to all the different possibilities, imagining what could happen and trying to stay one step ahead. It can feel as though if you just think about it for long enough, you'll finally arrive at the answer or feel more certain. Instead, you can end up feeling stuck, overwhelmed and mentally exhausted. It becomes hard to be present when your mind is always somewhere else—revisiting the past, analysing the present, or trying to predict the future. - Let’s explore this together
Living with hypervigilance
Sometimes anxiety isn't just worrying. It can feel like living in a constant state of alertness. Your mind and body are always scanning for danger, trying to anticipate what might happen next, never quite able to relax.
You might find yourself expecting something to go wrong, feeling on edge, or struggling to switch off. For some people this shows up as a racing mind, panic attacks or overwhelming physical anxiety. For others it's a constant sense of tension, as though you're always waiting for something bad to happen.
Often this way of living develops for a reason. If you've grown up in an unpredictable environment, experienced trauma, or learned that you had to rely on your own independence and self-reliance, staying alert may once have helped you cope. But even when life becomes safer, your nervous system doesn't always realise the danger has passed. - Start therapy