Understanding and managing anxiety

Anxiety is something we all experience but for some, it becomes more than occasional nervousness. It can feel constant, unpredictable and exhausting. You might not even remember the last time you felt relaxed.

At the Private Therapy Clinic, we offer compassionate, expert-led support to help you better understand and manage your anxiety and feel more in control of your life again.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to danger. When that response becomes too frequent or intense, it can affect how you live, think and feel.

People with anxiety may:

• Feel tense, or restless most days
• Struggle to relax even in safe situations
• Experience racing thoughts or a constant sense of dread
• Avoid everyday situations because of worry or fear

Anxiety can exist on its own, or it might be part of a wider condition such as:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety
• Health anxiety
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

You don’t need a formal diagnosis to seek help. If anxiety is interfering with your daily life, it’s worth talking about.

Contact us to book a private therapy session.

Common anxiety signs and symptoms

Physical symptoms:

• Racing or irregular heartbeat
• Shallow or fast breathing
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Muscle tension or trembling
• Stomach issues (nausea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Sweating or feeling hot

Psychological symptoms:

• Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling on edge or easily overwhelmed
• Low self-confidence or fear of judgment
• Irritability, emotional outbursts or tearfulness

If left untreated, anxiety can increase stress levels in the body and keep you in a constant state of ‘fight or flight’. Over time, this can impact both your physical and emotional wellbeing.

What causes anxiety?

There’s no single cause and anxiety looks different for everyone. You might feel anxious because of:

• Stress at work, school or home
• Major life changes or uncertainty
• Past trauma or unresolved experiences
• Health worries
• Genetics or family history
• Learned coping styles from childhood

Understanding what triggers your anxiety is an important first step in learning how to manage it.

How can anxiety be treated?

The good news is anxiety is highly treatable and there’s more than one way forward. Support can help you understand your thoughts, reduce avoidance behaviours and improve your emotional resilience and regulation over time.

We would always develop a deep understanding of your anxiety before recommending a particular therapy. However, these are the types we frequently use.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - Learn how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact and gain practical tools to reduce anxiety.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Helpful for generalised anxiety, social anxiety and worry. It teaches people to accept anxiety without fighting it and encourages values-led living.

For complex anxiety

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) - Useful when anxiety is linked to unhelpful patterns or self-beliefs. It explores how past experiences shape how you respond to anxiety.

Schema therapy - Often used for anxiety rooted in unmet emotional needs or self-criticism. It will support you if you surfer from long-term anxiety and relationship difficulties.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) - Especially effective when anxiety is driven by shame or self-criticism. It builds your self-compassion and helps you to manage responses to internal threat.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) - Helpful when anxiety co-occurs with emotional dysregulation, self-harm or impulsivity. This therapy teaches emotional regulation and how to tolerate distress.

Other methods for managing anxiety

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Practise calming your nervous system through breathing, meditation and body awareness.
• Lifestyle changes: Regular movement, a balanced diet and quality sleep all help regulate mood and reduce physical symptoms.
• Medication: In some cases, medication may support your recovery especially when used alongside therapy. You would discuss this with your clinician.
• Support from others: Talking to trusted friends or family, or joining peer support groups, can make a real difference.

You don’t need to try everything at once and we’ll help you find the approach that fits.

You’ve got questions and we’re here to help.

If you're unsure about whether you’re experiencing anxiety, we can guide you. Are you ready to take small steps towards a clearer future?

If you’re ready to address the anxiety you’ve been living with, we’re here to help by providing clarity, support and the right care, quickly.