Anxiety & Overwhelm
When everything feels too much
From the outside, you might look like you’re coping. You’re getting through work, keeping up with responsibilities and carrying on as normal. But internally, things can feel very different.
Your mind might rarely switch off. You may be constantly overthinking, worrying about what could go wrong, putting pressure on yourself or feeling like you’re always trying to catch up.
Sometimes anxiety and overwhelm can leave you feeling exhausted, irritable, disconnected or stuck, even when you can’t quite explain why.
Lora offers a calm, confidential space where you don’t have to keep everything together. You can talk openly about what’s happening, make sense of what you’re experiencing and begin to understand the patterns that may be contributing to how you feel.
When You’re Feeling Anxious or Overwhelmed
Anxiety and overwhelm can look different for everyone.
You may notice that:
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Your mind is constantly busy or difficult to switch off.
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You overthink conversations, decisions or what might happen next.
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You put a lot of pressure on yourself to get things right.
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You struggle to relax, even when you have time to do so.
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Small things can suddenly feel like too much.
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You find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no.
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You feel exhausted from constantly trying to keep on top of everything.
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Your confidence or self-worth has started to suffer.
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You feel stuck but don’t know what needs to change.
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Other people think you’re coping, while you feel very differently underneath.
This is where therapy helps
In your sessions with Lora, you’ll have the time and space to slow things down and explore what is really going on beneath the surface.
Together, you can look at the thoughts, feelings, expectations and patterns that may be contributing to your anxiety or sense of overwhelm. There is no pressure to have the right answers or to arrive with everything figured out.
Therapy isn’t about simply telling you to worry less or giving you a list of things to do. It is about understanding your experience, developing greater self-awareness and considering what you may need moving forward.
Lora takes an active and engaged approach to therapy. She listens closely, asks thoughtful questions, reflects on what she notices and, where appropriate, gently challenges patterns or perspectives that may be keeping you stuck.
You don't have to keep holding everything together
What Can Help With Anxiety & Overwhelm
There is no single solution to anxiety or overwhelm, and what helps will be different for everyone. These are not rules or quick fixes, but some things that can create space to understand what is happening and begin to feel more grounded.
1. Notice what is happening.
When everything feels like too much, it can be difficult to know where to start. Paying attention to your thoughts, emotions and physical responses can be the first step towards understanding what you need.
2. Give yourself space to pause.
Constantly moving from one thing to the next can leave little room to process how you are actually feeling. Even small moments of pause can create space to check in with yourself.
3. Notice the pressure you put on yourself.
Anxiety can be closely connected to expectations, perfectionism and the feeling that you should always be doing more. Becoming aware of these pressures can help you begin to question them.
4. Talk about what is going on.
You don't have to make sense of everything before you talk about it. Saying things out loud in a space where you don't need to protect anyone else's feelings can help you understand your experience differently.
5. Make room for what you need.
When you are used to putting everyone and everything else first, your own needs can become difficult to recognise. Learning to notice and respond to those needs can be an important part of feeling less overwhelmed.
6. Remember that thoughts aren't always facts.
An anxious mind can quickly move towards the worst-case scenario. Learning to step back and explore your thoughts rather than automatically believing them can create a little more perspective.
7. Understand your patterns.
Overthinking, avoidance, people-pleasing, perfectionism and constantly staying busy can sometimes become ways of managing difficult feelings. Understanding these patterns can be the beginning of doing things differently.
8. Let yourself be supported.
You don't have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help. Having somewhere to talk openly can make it easier to understand what you're carrying.
9. Focus on what is within your control.
Anxiety often comes from trying to predict or control what might happen. Exploring what is within your control — and what isn't — can help create a greater sense of clarity.
10. Take things one step at a time.
You don't need to solve everything at once. Sometimes progress begins with simply understanding where you are, what you need and what you want to be different.
"Lora has a deep warmth and empathy. As a counsellor, Lora brings these natural qualities, offering a supportive space where clients feel safe, heard and truly understood. I would highly recommend her."
- Grace, 31 Cheshire