Written by Luisa Kos
Table of contents
Understanding anxiety and how it impacts your overall mental health
Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but when it becomes persistent or overwhelming, it can begin to affect your overall mental health. You may feel anxious without a clear reason, or find that everyday situations trigger a heightened sense of unease. Over time, this can develop into one of several mental health conditions that impact how you think, feel, and respond to the world around you.
When anxiety becomes more intense, it can move beyond occasional worry and develop into excessive anxiety or even severe anxiety. This can affect your ability to focus, make decisions, and feel in control. At The Therapist Finder, we understand that anxiety is more than just worry. It is a mental illness that can affect your confidence, relationships, and sense of wellbeing, especially when left unsupported.
Symptoms of anxiety
Anxiety can present in different ways, and your experience may not look the same as someone else’s. While the main symptom is often a persistent sense of worry, anxiety also includes a range of psychological symptoms and physical symptoms that can affect both your mind and body. Common symptoms include:
- Feeling tense or constantly on edge
- A rapid heartbeat or pounding heart
- A churning feeling in your stomach
- Feeling sick or experiencing digestive discomfort
- Trouble concentrating or feeling mentally overwhelmed
- Difficulty with sleeping habits
- Experiencing panic attacks that can last just a few minutes
- Avoiding social situations due to fear or discomfort
- Feeling trapped or unable to relax
- Persistent worry about everyday life or future events
If you recognise these other symptoms, it may indicate that anxiety is beginning to take a stronger hold. With the right support from a mental health provider, you can start to understand what is happening and take steps to reduce anxiety.
How anxiety symptoms can impact day-to-day life
Anxiety can affect your daily life in ways that feel subtle at first, but over time can become more disruptive. You may find it harder to complete routine tasks, manage responsibilities, or feel present in your everyday life. Even simple decisions can begin to feel overwhelming.
It can also affect your relationships. You might withdraw from social situations, struggle to communicate how you feel, or avoid interactions altogether. Conditions such as social phobia can make it difficult to engage with others, leading to isolation and reduced confidence.
In more severe cases, anxiety can worsen over time and can begin to impact your ability to work, maintain routines, or enjoy activities you once valued. Without support, anxiety can begin to shape your choices and limit your freedom, making it harder to feel in control of your life.
How can I benefit from therapy?
Therapy offers you a safe and structured space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours without judgement. Through talking therapies, you can begin to understand what may be contributing to your anxiety and how it is affecting your mental health. This process helps you gain clarity and build awareness around your experiences.
Working with a therapist through The Therapist Finder allows you to develop a personalised treatment plan that supports your needs. Therapy can help you manage overwhelming fear, improve coping strategies, and regain confidence in your ability to navigate life’s challenges. With the right guidance, you can experience anxiety in a more manageable way and start to feel more in control.
Therapeutic approaches for supporting your anxiety disorder
There are a range of effective treatments available for anxiety, and the right approach will depend on your individual needs. At The Therapist Finder, you can connect with professionals who use a variety of evidence-based treatment options to support your mental health.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. It helps you understand how your thoughts influence your feelings and actions, providing practical tools to reduce anxiety and manage triggers.
Psychodynamic Therapy
This approach explores past experiences and unconscious patterns that may contribute to anxiety. It is particularly helpful if your anxiety connects to stressful or traumatic experiences or a traumatic event in your life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the present moment. It can support you in managing racing thoughts, improving awareness, and reducing the intensity of anxiety symptoms.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
CFT helps you develop a kinder relationship with yourself. If you struggle with self-criticism or low self-worth, this approach supports emotional resilience and self-acceptance.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy focuses on the connection between mind and body. It can help address physical conditions linked to anxiety, such as muscle tension, fatigue, and other physical symptoms.
Integrative Approach
Many therapists use an integrative approach, combining different methods to suit your needs. This allows your therapy to adapt as you progress and ensures your support remains personalised.
What to expect in therapy
If you’re new to therapy, it’s natural to feel uncertain about what to expect. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:
- Initial session: This is an opportunity to explore your concerns, challenges, and goals in a safe and confidential space.
- Understanding your patterns: Together, we will identify patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be contributing to your anxiety.
- Developing strategies: You will learn practical tools and coping techniques tailored to your specific needs.
- Building emotional resilience: Over time, therapy will help you develop a healthier relationship with your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
- Sustained progress: The goal is not just symptom relief but lasting personal growth and well-being.
Therapy is a journey, and change takes time. However, even small shifts in mindset and behaviour can lead to significant improvements in your quality of life.
Anxiety can also impact your overall physical health
Anxiety does not only affect your thoughts and emotions. It can also have a direct impact on your physical health. Many people experience symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, fatigue, or tension that can feel like a physical health problem.
When anxiety continues over time, it can contribute to physical conditions such as headaches, digestive issues, and disrupted sleep. These symptoms can make it harder to maintain your wellbeing and can increase stress levels further.
If left untreated, anxiety may begin to affect your immune system, energy levels, and overall health. At The Therapist Finder, we recognise the importance of addressing both the emotional and physical impact of anxiety to support your recovery.
Most common types of anxiety disorder
Anxiety can take many forms, and understanding the different mental disorders can help you recognise what you may be experiencing.
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
GAD involves persistent and excessive worry about a range of everyday situations. You may feel worried most of the time without a clear cause.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks, often accompanied by intense physical symptoms. These episodes can feel sudden and overwhelming.
Social anxiety disorder
This condition, often referred to as social phobia, involves fear of social situations where you may feel judged or embarrassed. It can lead to avoidance and isolation.
Phobias
Phobias include specific phobias, where you experience strong fear of particular objects or situations. These fears can interfere with daily activities.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves fear of being in places where escape may feel difficult. You may avoid environments that feel unsafe or unpredictable.
Separation anxiety disorder
This involves intense fear of being separated from people you feel close to. It can affect both adults and children.
Understanding these conditions can help you identify your experience and explore suitable treatment options with support from The Therapist Finder.
What causes anxiety?
Anxiety can develop for many different reasons, and often a combination of factors plays a role. Some of the more common ways for anxiety to develop include:
- Genetics and family history of mental health conditions
- Stressful or traumatic experiences, including domestic violence or child abuse
- A significant traumatic event or ongoing life stress
- Environmental factors and lifestyle pressures
- Physical conditions or underlying health concerns
- Other mental health conditions such as depression
- Exposure to dangerous situations or prolonged stress
Understanding what may trigger anxiety disorders is an important step towards managing them. With the right support, you can begin to make sense of your experiences and move forward with confidence.
Take the first step with The Therapist Finder
If anxiety is making life feel overwhelming, you don’t have to face it alone. Therapy can help you break free from unhelpful patterns, build emotional strength, and move towards a life with greater peace, clarity, and connection.
Finding the right therapist for you
Not every therapist is the right fit for everyone. Here are some things to consider when choosing a therapist:
- Experience & specialisms: Do they have experience working with anxiety or related concerns such as trauma, depression or burnout?
- Therapeutic style: Do they take a structured, practical approach or a more exploratory, reflective one?
- Comfort & connection: Do you feel safe, understood, and comfortable sharing with them?
- Evidence-based approaches: Do they use scientifically supported methods like CBT, mindfulness, or psychodynamic therapy?
A good therapist will support you without judgment and help you gain insight, confidence, and tools to manage life’s challenges more effectively.
Find a specialist
Finding the right therapist for anxiety is a crucial step towards healing and personal growth. A good therapist should provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you feel understood and supported. Look for someone with experience in treating anxiety, ideally using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, or Mindfulness-Based techniques. Consider their therapeutic style – whether you prefer a structured, goal-oriented approach or a more open, exploratory process. It’s also important to feel a genuine connection with your therapist, as trust and rapport play a key role in effective therapy. Many therapists offer an initial consultation, which can help you determine if their approach aligns with your needs. The right therapist will not only help you manage symptoms but also empower you to develop healthier coping strategies and create lasting change. Back to The Therapist Finder.
Juliet Carr
I understand that it is never easy to open up about the things that hurt the most, so our work together unfolds at your pace as I hold confidential, non-judgemental space where you can talk about whatever is worrying you. I provide a supportive space and work collaboratively, bringing my holistic awareness – clinical, creative and transpersonal – to help you develop deeper self awareness and understanding of your situation, so you can move through your difficulty. My clients come from many different backgrounds and life situations, and I’m experienced in helping with range of issues including: Stress and Anxiety Depression Sexual Abuse Relationship issues Childhood issues PTSD, trauma and panic attacks Bereavement and Loss Cultural and Identity issues Low self esteem Midlife transitions Work and employment concerns As an integrative counsellor and therapist, I work holistically with awareness of mind, body, spirit and the imagination, fostering a soulful approach, to help you feel into the deeper meaning and purpose of your current difficulty. I provide counselling and therapy for individuals, for an agreed period of time or on an open-ended basis, with the aim of supporting you to find the inner resources to enhance your life and to live it more fully.
Angie Wong
I am an experienced transpersonal integrative psychotherapist and somatic EMDR practitioner specialising in trauma-informed therapy, psychedelic preparation and integration, and somatic approaches to healing. I offer sessions in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin to individuals, couples, and young adults, providing a culturally sensitive space for deep psychological work.
Giorgia Cagnoli
I predominantly work with adults and adolescents and I treat conditions such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma and personality disorders. I support people who struggle with mental health difficulties and feel stuck in dysfunctional patterns, and I help them to make a change in their life. My special interests are relational difficulties, neurodiversity, traumas and emotion regulation.
Justin Pryce
I am a qualified integrative counsellor with experience supporting individuals facing a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, anger, abuse, addiction, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties. My therapeutic approach is rooted in understanding your unique needs, and I believe in tailoring our work together to reflect your individual experiences, goals, and challenges. I offer a safe, compassionate, and collaborative space where you can explore what is happening in your life, gain clarity, and find new ways forward. I have experience working with people from a wide range of cultural, social, and personal backgrounds and am committed to offering a culturally sensitive practice. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed by work, navigating relationship difficulties, or experiencing anxiety or low mood, we will work together to explore what is going on beneath the surface. Our sessions may help you notice recurring patterns, understand how past experiences shape your present, and create space for the change you want to see. I bring a versatile and personalised approach to our sessions, drawing from different therapeutic approaches . This allows me to tailor our sessions specifically to meet your unique needs and personal goals. I work both in person and online. My in-person sessions take place in Shoreditch, East London, in a private and confidential setting. We can work short-term, medium-term, or long-term, depending on what feels most helpful for you at this time. Sessions last 50 minutes and can be held once per week, or bi-weekly. A key part of our work will be creating a space where you feel truly heard and understood. Through this, my hope is that you begin to build a kinder, more accepting relationship with yourself—one that positively impacts your relationship with others too.
Anna Orzech
Anna supports individual and couple clients with a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, low mood, anger, grief and loss, life transitions, identity, cross-cultural experiences, personal agency, communication, creativity, and relationship difficulties. In addition, she works with people who may be content in their lives but are interested in better understanding themselves and their existential situation.
In terms of couple and relationship therapy, as well as traditional “couples” therapy for romantic/intimate partners (this includes monogamous and non-monogamous structures), relationship therapy is suitable for friends, adult family members, colleagues and creative partnerships. Therapy creates a contained space without shame or blame for both people to speak and be heard, and to establish what’s really going on in the shared dynamic.
Anna welcomes adults of all backgrounds to get in touch and discuss further: please visit www.annaorzech.com for more information. Fee structure varies for individuals and couples; please reach out to find out more.
Alexia Anghelakou
I am an integrative psychotherapist providing counselling and psychotherapy across a range of contexts in the private and public sectors and offer short- and long-term therapy in London Bridge, South West London and online (via Zoom). Experience I have provided counselling and psychotherapy for various charities, like: – Mind, a UK mental health charity, a UK-based specialised residential charity for people with complex needs, – a London-based charity offering counselling to women. Beyond psychotherapy, I have been working for the last 15+ years in the corporate sector as a marketing research consultant. I understand the challenges of balancing the demands at a 9-5 job with family, personal relationships and personal growth. Qualifications I have a Masters in Integrative Psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute (London, UK), validated by Middlesex University. I am a member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and follow their codes of conduct and ethical principles.
Iryna Sachenko
If you are living with the effects of complex trauma, you already know that what you carry is more than a single difficult event. It may show up as a constant sense of unsafety in your body, difficulty trusting others, emotional overwhelm that seems to come from nowhere, or a deep feeling that something about you is fundamentally broken. I want you to know: it isn’t. And you don’t have to navigate this alone. I am a UKCP- and EAGT-accredited integrative psychotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience, specialising in complex PTSD, relational trauma, and identity reconstruction. I work with adults who have survived narcissistic abuse, displacement, and prolonged interpersonal harm — people whose nervous systems learned to adapt to impossible situations and who are now ready to reclaim a sense of wholeness. My approach integrates Gestalt therapy, Brainspotting, attachment theory, and somatic methods, allowing us to work not only with what you think and feel, but with what your body holds. I offer a space that is both warm and intellectually honest – where you will be met with genuine presence rather than empty reassurance. Sessions are available in person in South London and online worldwide. I work in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. If you have been searching for someone who understands the particular weight of complex trauma and who won’t shy away from depth – I would be glad to hear from you.
Grace-Anne Sharpe-Young
I am a fully accredited psychotherapist with a background in Social Psychology and Clinical Hypnotherapy, working online with adults across the UK. My integrative approach draws on Person‑Centred Therapy, CBT, Attachment Theory, mindfulness, deep‑mindfulness, and hypnotherapy, allowing me to tailor the work to each client’s needs rather than fitting them into a single model. I offer long‑term therapy as well as ad‑hoc and one‑off sessions for clients who need focused support around a specific issue or moment in time. I have extensive experience supporting clients with anxiety, stress, low mood, self‑esteem, relationship patterns, life transitions, and the deeper emotional themes that sit beneath recurring difficulties. My practice centres on creating a steady, grounded therapeutic space where clients feel safe enough to explore, reflect, and make meaningful change at a pace that feels right for them.
David Hargreaves
BACP Accredited integrative counsellor based in Penge, South East London. He holds a Diploma in Counselling with Distinction and his BACP Accreditation attests to the quality of his professional preparation and commitment. David works with adults using an integrative approach that blends person-centred, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioural traditions, offering therapy that is both relationally warm and practically grounded.
Chisom Deborah
I can help young people, adults and families make sense of what they are finding difficult and feel more supported in the process. My background in schools and family support means I understand the pressures children, parents and families can face, including learning needs, school life, emotional wellbeing and relationships at home. I offer a warm, down-to-earth and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly, feel heard and begin to find a way forward.
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