Anxiety

What Is It?

When people come to therapy, one of the most common things they say is: ‘I just want to get rid of my anxiety.’ To which Dr Russ Harris famously replies: "I’m sorry, but you've got dead people's goals". What does he mean by that?

Anxiety isn’t a flaw in your system; it’s your system doing exactly what it was designed to do. A natural, human response to threat, pressure, or uncertainty. Without it, we’d walk into traffic, ignore deadlines, or never prep for a job interview. It keeps us alert, helps us survive, and sometimes pushes us to act. But when anxiety becomes constant or overwhelming, when it’s running the show instead of playing a background role, that’s when support can help.

You might recognise it as:

• Racing thoughts or overthinking 

• Tight chest, nausea, or a racing heart

• Difficulty switching off or concentrating Trouble sleeping or relaxing

• A sense of dread or feeling ‘on edge’ most of the time

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Therapy doesn’t eliminate anxiety altogether. It helps you understand what's causing it and develop new ways to respond, freeing you from common anxiety traps that leave you exhausted. Anxiety does not have to define what you do, how you feel, or who you are. ​​

What Can Cause It?

There’s no one cause, but common contributing factors include: ​​

• Chronic stress or burnout

• Childhood experiences (e.g. growing up in unpredictable or high-pressure environments)

• Trauma, perfectionism or people-pleasing patterns

• Physical health issues (e.g. hormone changes or long-term illness)

• Family history or genetic predisposition

• Lifestyle factors, such as poor sleep, caffeine use, or alcohol​ ​​

 

In some cases, anxiety builds slowly over time. In others, it’s triggered by a specific event, like a loss, illness, or major change. ​Whatever's causing anxiety, we can help.
 

Need Urgent Help Right Now?

If things feel urgent and it's out of hours, support is available 24/7:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7) NHS

• Urgent Mental Health Helpline: Call 111 and press option 2

• Open Mental Health Somerset (24/7): 01823 276 892 ​

Want to Talk to a Therapist?
If you’re considering therapy, or simply want to speak to someone who gets it, one of our friendly team members is here to help. We offer confidential counselling in Yeovil, with no pressure and no assumptions. Just a supportive space to be heard, get to the root cause, and help your nervous system return to balance.

Therapy with us:

• £70 for individual therapy (trauma informed) 

• £80 trauma specialist therapy online and in-person

• £120 per session for couples therapy

• £30 per session with a student counsellor (ideal for clients with moderate mental health needs, life transitions, everyday challenges, or feeling stuck or lost). Student counsellors are in the final stages of training and work under close supervision.