When Your Mind Won’t Switch Off
Do you know that feeling when your mind races at 2 am? Or when you lie in bed, feeling tired, but your mind won’t stop thinking about what might go wrong tomorrow, next week, or next year?
Maybe you seem to have it all together – successful at work, a reliable friend, a devoted parent. But inside, you battle worries that feel out of control. You could check and recheck things, stay away from what makes you anxious, or have trouble deciding because of all the “what ifs.””
Anxiety isn’t just pre-presentation nerves. The constant voice whispers fears and worst-case scenarios. It speeds up your heart about things that probably won’t happen. This leaves you tired from fighting battles in your mind.
You’re Not Broken – Your Anxiety Served a Purpose
Many people misunderstand anxiety. It’s not a flaw or weakness. Your anxiety developed for good reasons, often to help you face challenging situations or keep you safe.
You may have learned that being alert and prepared helped you cope with unpredictability. Perfectionism became your shield against criticism or failure. Worrying about others was your way of showing love and staying connected.
The issue isn’t that you developed these habits; they’ve outlived their usefulness and now create more problems than they solve.
How Anxiety Shows Up in Real Life
Anxiety isn’t just in your head. It affects every part of your life:
At Work: You might delay essential projects because you fear not doing them perfectly. You might work long hours, not because of job demands, but because you worry if you’ve done enough. In Relationships: You look at every text, chat, or interaction to find signs of trouble. You might avoid hard conversations, or you might keep bringing up issues because anxious thoughts won’t go away. Your body shows signs of constant worry. You may have tight shoulders, headaches, stomach issues, trouble sleeping, or feel wired yet tired.
Decision-Making: Simple choices can feel overwhelming. You might spend ages searching for the “perfect” option or avoid decisions out of fear of making the wrong one.
Social Situations: You may avoid gatherings because they seem too much. Or, you might go but constantly worry about how others see you.
My Approach to Treating Anxiety
I work with adults who are tired of anxiety controlling their lives and want to reclaim their mental space. My clients typically want practical strategies, not just someone to listen.
We Start With Understanding Your Unique Pattern
Anxiety isn’t the same for everyone. What triggers yours, how it appears, and what keeps it going is unique to you. We’ll work together to chart your specific anxiety pattern, so we can focus our efforts where they’ll work best.
Building Your Toolkit
We can explore techniques to combat your anxiety from evidence-based therapies. Therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
- Recognise anxious thoughts before they spiral.
- Challenge unhelpful thinking patterns.
- Manage physical anxiety symptoms in healthy ways.
- Make decisions without being stuck in worry.
- Handle uncertainty without losing your day.
I also use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you:
- Unplug from or “turn down the volume” on complex thoughts and beliefs
- Move toward and face complicated feelings and experiences
- Uncover your values and “compass” towards a better version of you
- Be your coach in helping you move towards a better version of you
Real-World Application
After more than twenty years in demanding business environments, I get how hard it is to handle anxiety. Balancing work, family, and life’s surprises can be challenging. We’ll develop strategies that fit your life, not theoretical ideas. No worksheets, no “think positive thoughts” here.
What to Expect in Our Work Together
Initial Sessions: We’ll work on understanding your anxiety pattern. We’ll spot triggers and develop coping strategies you can use immediately.
Skill Building: You’ll learn practical techniques for managing anxious thoughts and physical symptoms. We’ll practice these skills in session, and you’ll have “homework” to apply them daily.
Addressing Root Causes: While you develop coping skills, we will examine the beliefs and patterns that may drive your anxiety. These might include perfectionism, the need for control, or fear of failure.
Building Resilience: The aim isn’t to eliminate anxiety entirely. It’s about building your confidence to handle anything life throws you without feeling stressed.
Why My Background Helps
From my experience in change management, I’ve found that lasting change occurs when you understand the system you want to change. This means knowing how your family and workplace shape your experiences. Your anxiety didn’t appear suddenly. We must understand what keeps it going before we can tackle it properly.
I’ve also faced challenges with stress and uncertainty. This is especially true during career changes and personal struggles. I understand what it’s like to lie awake worrying about things you can’t control or to feel overwhelmed by competing demands.
You Don’t Have to Live Like This
Many clients wish they had reached out sooner. They spent years thinking they should manage their anxiety alone or that seeking help meant weakness.
The truth is, getting professional support when anxiety affects your life is one of the smartest things you can do. You wouldn’t try to fix a broken leg yourself – so why navigate complex anxiety patterns without guidance?
Ready to Take Control?
If you’re tired of anxiety controlling your life and want to gain confidence and a sense of peace, I’d be honoured to help you.
Individual sessions available Saturdays at BREED Quakers Hill
“Like Kintsugi turns broken pottery into art with gold, we can change your anxiety from a weakness into wisdom and strength.””