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.
Victoria Gale
A qualified counsellor since 2019, she brings a warm, thoughtful approach grounded in nearly two decades as a primary school teacher. Her background gives her a strong understanding of childhood, parenting, family dynamics, SEN and neurodiversity, alongside experience living and working across Spain, Malaysia and Nigeria. She supports clients dealing with anxiety, stress, anger, grief and feeling stuck, often linked to trauma, loss or life transitions. Her work offers a steady, accepting space where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace, helping them make sense of their experiences and move towards greater clarity and emotional ease.
Matt Beale-Collins
I am a registered member of the BACP and work in line with its Ethical Framework. I have experience mentoring young adults excluded from mainstream education and currently volunteer as a grief counsellor attached to a hospice. I work with adults and young adults, offering a safe, non-judgemental space to explore difficult experiences, relationships, grief, and emotional struggles, both in person and online.
Adetola Fujah
Abuse, LifeTransitions, Adolescent Therapy, Grief & Loss, Mood Disorder, Family Issues, Suicidal Thoughts, Trauma.
Eoghan Naughton
I am a BPS chartered counselling psychologist with extensive experience and skills in working with psychological and emotional problems in the NHS and other settings. I offer short-term, long-term and open-ended therapy at my office in Fitzrovia. I offer a safe and confidential treatment setting and seek to facilitate therapeutic progress towards healing and living a more fulfilling life. I am accredited with the BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council) as a dynamic interpersonal therapist and supervisor. Areas of Specialism Extensive experience in workng with trauma, depression, anxiety, high stress work related issues, relatiional difficulties and many other varied presentations. Personal Approach Person centred approach focusing on understanding the conscious and unconscious aspects of a person’s psychology in order to help with mental pain.
Billi Silverstein
I am an experienced therapist working with adults from a wide range of backgrounds, offering a steady and thoughtful space to engage with therapy. I understand that starting therapy can feel complex and asks a lot of you, and I place importance on building a safe, respectful relationship where change can begin to take shape. My approach is inclusive and grounded in curiosity, with a focus on understanding your unique experience without judgement. I have supported clients with depression, anxiety, trauma and loss, and bring particular experience in addiction, including food addiction, OCD and eating disorders, as well as working with dual diagnosis in both private and hospital settings.
Michael O’Halloran
I work with people who’ve been through tough times. People who function well but are often anxious, depressed, overthinking, shutting down, avoiding, or second-guessing themselves. If that’s you, I want you to know: you don’t have to stay in that place forever. I am interested with helping you, by appreciating your uniqueness, and fostering a relationship built on trust. While focusing on your life now, we will explore and learn about your history, strengths, challenges, and aspirations. Helping you come to a place of understanding with reduced levels of anxiety and depression. I offer psychosynthesis counselling to help you understand and integrate the many parts of yourself, build the will to change, and reconnect with what matters. Sessions are collaborative, experiential, and tailored to your pace and goals. Our work together will include an initial assessment where we will clarify goals, values, and what matters to you. Ongoing sessions will be a mix of dialogue, creative exercises, and practical tasks. During reviews we will track changes, integrate learning, and plan next steps for continued growth.
Christina Tanner
I offer psychodynamic psychotherapy for adults who feel stuck, unhappy, or unfulfilled in their relationships or lives. You may be struggling with a difficult relationship, a major life transition, anxiety or low mood, or simply a sense that something isn’t quite right. Sometimes life can look good on the outside while feeling very different internally. Psychodynamic therapy offers an opportunity to explore the thoughts, feelings, relationships, and patterns that may be shaping your experience. By developing a deeper understanding of yourself and what may be happening beneath the surface, it can become possible to make meaningful and lasting changes.
Shae Grass
It is easy to find yourself sliding back into old, exhausting ways of coping—whether that is overworking to mask your feelings or relying on alcohol, tech, and other distractions to quiet a hyperactive nervous system at the end of the day. Therapy with me isn’t about giving you a rigid checklist to “fix” yourself. Instead, it is a collaborative, open space to face the realities of your life—holding both your individual agency and the social conditions shaping it. I partner with adults and late adolescents (18+) who feel stuck in repetitive cycles or overwhelmed by anxiety, burnout, and depression. Together, we focus on moving past “surviving” day-to-day stress so you can create genuine room to feel, regulate, and safely be yourself. Areas of focus in my practice include: – Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy: Providing specialised, validating support for individuals with ADHD and Autism who are navigating burnout, identity loss, or masking. – Breaking Addictive Cycles: Working relationally to build honesty and compassion while tackling substance use, alcohol, gambling, or video game and internet dependencies. – Modern Masculinity & Gender Identity: Supporting men and young adults moving through complex identity questions, relationship difficulties, or feeling stifled by constraining, heteronormative societal expectations. – Somatic & Bodily Re-engagement: Paying close attention to the body to explore physical embodiment, grounding, and nervous system regulation.
Susi Halley
Welcome! I’m Susi, an accredited, experienced Sex and Relationship Therapist. I work with a diverse range of clients to help them overcome challenges they are facing individually and those who want to resolve difficulties in their relationships.
Selina Rainford-Clarke
I am an Integrative Therapist with eight years of training and experience supporting a wide range of clients. My work focuses on helping individuals address current difficulties in a supportive and respectful therapeutic space. I have experience working with issues including trauma, sexual abuse, alcohol and substance misuse, depression, anxiety, PTSD, family and relationship difficulties, anger and behavioural struggles, and sexuality or LGBTQ+ related concerns.
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