Anxiety 101: When Worry Becomes Overwhelming
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal part of being human. It’s our body’s natural response to danger—our internal alarm system. A certain level of anxiety can even be helpful. It might motivate us to prepare for a presentation, drive carefully in the rain, or study for an exam. But when anxiety becomes persistent, overwhelming, or disconnected from actual threat, it can start to interfere with daily life.
At The Tunbridge Wells Psychology clinic, we see many people who feel stuck in cycles of worry, panic, or avoidance. They often tell us, “I know it’s irrational, but I can’t stop the thoughts,” or, “I feel anxious all the time and I don’t even know why.” If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and there are effective ways to feel better.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Anxiety can affect your mind, body, and behaviour. It might show up in different ways depending on the person or the situation. Some common signs include:
Racing thoughts or constant worry
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
Feeling on edge or unable to relax
Panic attacks (shortness of breath, racing heart, dizziness)
Avoiding certain places, people, or tasks
Trouble concentrating
A sense of dread or fear that something bad is about to happen
Physical symptoms like chest tightness, nausea, muscle tension, or headaches
For some people, anxiety centres around specific situations—like social interactions, health concerns, or public speaking. Others experience generalised anxiety that can be harder to pinpoint. Whatever form it takes, anxiety can be exhausting.
Why Does Anxiety Happen?
Anxiety can be triggered by a range of factors—past experiences, genetics, personality traits, and current stressors. Sometimes it’s linked to trauma, major life changes, work pressures, or health issues. In other cases, it might feel like it’s come out of nowhere.
What we do know is that anxiety is maintained by a cycle of thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviours. For example, someone might worry about an upcoming event, feel their heart rate increase, interpret that as a sign of danger, and then avoid the situation entirely. This avoidance brings temporary relief—but reinforces the idea that the situation is unsafe, keeping the cycle going.
How Therapy Can Help
The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable. At The Tunbridge Wells Psychologist, we use evidence-based approaches tailored to each person’s unique experience. Therapy doesn’t just provide coping strategies—it helps people understand what’s driving their anxiety and how to shift it.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most effective treatments for anxiety. It helps you identify and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns—like catastrophising (“What if the worst happens?”) or black-and-white thinking. You’ll also learn practical strategies to gradually face feared situations and reduce avoidance behaviours.
CBT can also include exposure techniques, which help retrain the brain to feel safer in situations it’s been avoiding. Over time, people often regain a sense of confidence and control in their lives.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
If anxiety is linked to trauma or unresolved memories, EMDR can be a powerful therapeutic tool. It helps the brain reprocess distressing experiences so that they no longer trigger the same emotional or physical responses. It’s often used for panic attacks, phobias, and social anxiety rooted in past experiences.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) and Mindfulness
For those who struggle with high levels of self-criticism or shame, CFT can be an empowering approach. It helps clients develop self-kindness and emotional safety. Mindfulness-based therapy can also help by increasing awareness of anxious thoughts without getting caught up in them.
Real Life, Reclaimed
The aim of therapy isn’t to eliminate anxiety entirely—some level of it will always be part of life. But it is possible to reduce anxiety to manageable levels, build emotional resilience, and regain the freedom to do the things that matter most to you.
Clients often tell us that they’ve stopped avoiding things, started enjoying life again, and even feel stronger than before. Therapy creates the space to make sense of what’s happening inside and offers a roadmap for moving forward.
Support in Tunbridge Wells and Kent
If you’re struggling with anxiety, whether it’s been there for years or has started recently, you don’t have to go through it alone. Our team of Clinical Psychologists in Tunbridge Wells provide therapy for anxiety using CBT, EMDR, CFT, ACT and integrative approaches tailored to your needs.
We offer a calm, supportive environment where you can explore what’s going on, develop new skills, and work toward lasting change. Whether your anxiety feels mild but persistent, or overwhelming and debilitating, support is available—and things can get better.
