Kirsten Williams,
Psychologist & Child Psychotherapist
The Grove Psychology Practice
The Gardens Medical Centre
Support for Anxiety and Related Difficulties
Anxiety can feel urgent and overwhelming, or show up as quiet unease, irritability, or shutdown. You might seem steady on the outside while inside everything feels stretched thin.
What Anxiety Can Feel Like
Anxiety doesn’t always look like nervousness before a big event. It can feel like a restless mind, a body that won’t settle, or a sense of dread that lingers. You might notice changes in sleep, concentration, or energy, along with constant “what ifs” that loop in your head.
For some people, anxiety feels like being on high alert all the time. For others, it’s tied to certain places, people, or situations — or it can surge suddenly as panic. Whatever shape it takes, anxiety is often your nervous system working overtime to protect you, even when you’re not in real danger.
Even though anxiety can feel overwhelming, there are ways to ease its grip. Simple practices like grounding in the present, steady daily rhythms, and supportive relationships can all help the nervous system settle. Therapy can also offer space to understand what lies beneath anxiety, practise calming strategies, and build confidence in facing challenges. These steps don’t erase anxiety, but they can create more room for calm, connection, and steadiness in daily life.
Read More
When Panic Hits
Understand what happens in the body during panic and discover grounding tools to steady yourself in the moment.
Links to articles and information sheets on themes such as anxiety and overwhelm, nervous system responses, self-compassion, trauma recovery, parenting, and more.
