Dan’s Blog

Returning to Work Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Dec 26, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Returning To Work Anxiety: How To Ease Post Holiday Stress

Returning to work after the holidays can trigger anxiety.

During the festive break you may have found time to relax, rest, see people and do fun things. If you’ve had time off you’ll have fallen into new patterns and routines, perhaps staying up later and sleeping in. There may have been changes to what you eat, drink and how you have used your time.

Now you face the prospect of returning to the work routine. That likely means getting up earlier and dealing with the rush. You’ll have deadlines, demands and people to deal with. It may feel overwhelming just to think about it after your break from it all. The decorations and lights are taken down, the weather is dark and cold, and the next real break is not for quite some time.

Your anxiety about returning to work may mean you notice tension, restlessness, overthinking and a sense of overwhelm as you face emails, tasks and deadlines. Post holiday anxiety and stress affects countless people each year.

New Year Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Dec 26, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

New Year Anxiety: How To Prepare Yourself Mentally for January

Christmas is over and January approaches. It’s the time when New Year anxiety starts to rise.

The activities, celebrations, resting and festivities are all over and done for another year. And now comes the dread and worry as January arrives. Your normal routine and rushing around is about to kick back in. Even worse, the weather is rubbish and the nights are dark.

Many people start to notice their anxiety increasing between 27 December and early January.

You might have a sense of dread about returning to work or getting back into the school run. This can come with racing thoughts about demands, routines and responsibilities. There will be people, tasks and things that you’ve enjoyed being away from and that you now need to face. You might also feel under pressure to make healthy changes or improve yourself.

You might notice that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, or an increasing restlessness and irritability. It’s like a mental countdown where all these things get closer and closer, robbing you of peace and enjoyment right now. It can affect your sleep and lead to low motivation mixed with anxiety.

These thoughts and feelings are often called New Year anxiety or January anxiety. You dread things, think the worst and feel agitated. However, it is possible to successfully tackle these negative thoughts and feelings and to enter January feel calm, confident and positive.

Social Anxiety vs Low Confidence

by Dan Regan | Dec 23, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Social Anxiety vs Low Confidence

In this article I’m covering the difference between social anxiety and low confidence and how hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket can help you.

Feeling uncomfortable in social situations is very common. Some people describe it as anxiety, others as low confidence — and many aren’t sure which applies to them.

I’ve covered in previous articles about how I used to struggle with social anxiety and low self esteem. When I first became aware of how I would dread and avoid certain social situations, I assumed it was just low confidence. There was all the self doubt, overthinking and worry about what others were thinking. And there was all the thinking the worst, negative inner commentary and ruminating. It was exhausting and limiting.

It was a constant theme in my life for years until hypnotherapy helped me to overcome my social anxiety and move forward with confidence. Knowing how bad it feels is why I love helping others to end that fear of being judged. It’s life changing and allows you to move forward feeling lighter and more free.

Wondering “Is this social anxiety, or am I just not very confident?” is very common. The two experiences often overlap, but they aren’t always the same thing. Understanding the difference can make it much easier to find the right kind of support (spoiler: hypnotherapy can help you with both).

What to Expect in Your First Hypnotherapy Session

by Dan Regan | Dec 22, 2025 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

What to Expect in Your First Hypnotherapy Session

In this post, I’ll walk you through what happens in your first hypnotherapy session so you feel prepared, calm and confident — from your free consultation to the hypnotherapy experience itself.

Starting hypnotherapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. You may not have seen a therapist before but someone has recommended me or you’ve read through my reviews. Or perhaps you’ve had hours of therapy and you feel no better so coming to see me seems like your last hope.

Either way, you may feel curious, positive, sceptical or slightly nervous before your first session. This may be because it is all new to you or it may be influenced by myths and misunderstandings about hypnosis.

It’s why I always suggest starting with a free consultation. We can meet in person, talk through how I work and how I can help you, and I’ll answer any questions you have. Once you go ahead we have a shared understanding and you’ll have already met me and seen my office before your first hypnotherapy session.

If you’re considering hypnotherapy and wondering what actually happens in a session, this guide will help you feel more prepared, reassured, and confident about taking that next step.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

by Dan Regan | Dec 21, 2025 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

It’s that time of year again…already! I’ve still got a whole load of gift buying to do and the clock is ticking down quite quickly to Christmas Day! Thank goodness for the awesome local Ely shops and Amazon.

I feel like I’m less organised than last year but think I’m just about going to get everything done on time. Luckily my girls are now old enough to just tell me what they want and I just need to add a few little surprises. Then there’s just the dreaded wrapping it all up to go! At least I can watch my favourite version of A Christmas Carol while I’m fighting the sellotape again.

This year I took the opportunity to go out and help Santa on his annual journey around the streets of Ely. The Rotary Club organises the annual fundraiser as part of their work to raise funds for local charities. Santa is pulled around on his sleigh each night through different streets. I remember how excited my kids would get when they were little and Santa was coming. You can hear the Christmas music before he arrives and they would be sitting at the window looking out for the first glimpse. Then it was run downstairs, shoes on and out to see him. It was a delight to be on the other side and to see so many excited children on our rounds (and a few very excited adults too!).

And here is the man himself:

Post Christmas Anxiety and Emotional Crash

by Dan Regan | Dec 17, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Post Christmas Anxiety: Feeling low or anxious after Christmas?

Do you struggle with post Christmas anxiety? The build up and the rushing around are all over. You stop and pause. And you experience a wave of anxiety, low mood and negativity.

You knew the Christmas pressure would pass but you also know how you usually feel once it’s all over. Every year, many people experience a sudden dip in mood or a rise in anxiety in the days after Christmas. It’s a sort of post Christmas emotional crash or holiday letdown. It can feel confusing, especially if you’ve enjoyed the festive period or feel you should be grateful and content.

If you feel anxious or low after Christmas, then you may find the days after are harder and more draining than the build up. Once the pressure, anticipation and activity stop, you may notice a sudden drop in mood, anxiety without a clear cause and that you feel emotional or even tearful. You start overthinking everything, have trouble relaxing and may have trouble sleeping.

The most frustrating part is that you looked forward to these quieter days. They were a sort of reward to look forward to and that you used to push on in the build up to Christmas itself. Just when you think you can enjoy relaxing and resting, you get post Christmas anxiety, sometimes called a post Christmas emotional crash.

Like all anxiety, once it starts, you may have trouble stopping it. You dwell on how bad you feel and worry about it continuing. You start to think about how you will cope in January if you haven’t had time to recharge. And outside of your normal routine, those anxious thoughts and feelings can expand and accelerate. You find yourself feeling lower, more drained and more anxious.

In this article I’ll be covering why anxiety increases after Christmas, and more importantly, how to calm your post Christmas anxiety.

End of Year Reflection Anxiety and Overthinking

by Dan Regan | Dec 16, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

End of Year Reflection Anxiety and Overthinking

Do you struggle with end of year reflection anxiety and overthinking? Sometimes it can be hard to quiet a busy mind in December.

As the year draws to a close, many people notice their minds becoming busier than usual. Even before Christmas arrives, it’s common to start mentally reviewing the past twelve months. For some, this reflection quickly turns into overthinking. Thoughts loop and regrets resurface. Self-criticism creeps in – often at the same time as festive pressure and emotional overload. The tiredness from the Christmas rush can play a part in where your mind goes, along with the increased alcohol and sugar. Your normal routines can be thrown out and you can have more time to think. Old family and festive triggers and memories can also create anxiety.

The end of the year can feel like something significant. It’s a time of endings and the coming of a fresh chapter with the twelve months ahead. You find all sorts of overthinking can fill your mind. Thoughts about the past twelve months, what went well, what didn’t, what should have been different, what you didn’t achieve and what the New Year might bring can all start circling at once.

For some, this reflection can feel positive and motivating. For others, their end of year reflection triggers overthinking, anxiety, regret, guilt or self criticism. End of year reflection anxiety can dominate your mind and leave you feeling low frustrated and full of worry. It could be part of your general anxiety and habitual thinking processes. Or it may be something that just hits you as the year draws to a close.

You can find yourself overthinking and replaying moments from the year, worrying about the future, or feeling uneasy instead of peaceful in December. End of year anxiety can trigger and exacerbate anxious thoughts and feelings that then quickly take hold.

Alcohol Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Dec 15, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks, Excessive Drinking and Binge Drinking

Alcohol Anxiety: Why Drinking Makes Anxiety Worse

Does drinking alcohol seem to make your anxiety worse?

You may have a drink or two as a way to relax. It can mark the end of the busy day and the transition into evening. You have a couple of drinks to take the edge off, to unwind or to feel more at ease socially. Perhaps you look forward to that first sip, or you long for that initial nice feeling it can give you.

But rather than helping you feel relaxed, you may have noticed the opposite effect happening afterwards. You experience a spike in worry, racing thoughts, poor sleep and that familiar feeling of dread. Rather than waking up the next day feeling refreshed, you drag yourself out of bed fearing the worst.

With anxiety and social anxiety you may drink at social situations to try and feel more comfortable and confident. It may work for a bit but it’s easy to drink too much, too quickly. The following morning you are filled with anxiety and overthink what you may have said and done. It’s well known that hangovers often come with anxiety alongside all the other after effects of drinking too much. And some anxious people avoid alcohol as much as possible because they hate the feeling of being out of control.

I’ve worked with many people who binge drink, drink excessively or drink too much. They promise themselves (and others) that they will cut back this time. But the same habits and patterns creep back in again. They are no longer in control over their drinking.

If you’ve ever woken up the day after drinking with a pounding heart, low mood and a sense that something is wrong, then that is the alcohol anxiety. Alcohol can significantly increase your anxiety, even in people who don’t usually struggle with anxious thoughts and feelings. And if you already struggle with anxiety, despite the promise of relaxation, alcohol often makes it much worse.

As my anxiety clients have discovered, it is possible to take back control over your drinking habits and behaviours.

Anxiety in Ely at Christmas: Ely Standard

by Dan Regan | Dec 15, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxiety in Ely at Christmas

Christmas is billed as a time of joy, connection and fun. Yet if you are struggling with anxiety in Ely at Christmas, then it can be more about worry, overthinking, fear and dread.

As well as your usual anxiety, there can be changes in routine, social situations, pressures, expectations and a whole host of additional festive factors. It can all exacerbate your anxious feelings and negative thoughts.

My latest Ely Standard column, ‘Why Christmas can be difficult for those with anxiety’, has now been published on their website. In the article, I talk about anxiety at Christmas and offer a few practical suggestions to help.

Recently, I’ve also been covering many aspects in my website articles about dealing with the demands of the season. There are articles about social anxiety, money anxiety, family triggered anxiety, panic attacks at Christmas and sleep anxiety. There are also a couple of articles about festive eating without the guilt and managing Christmas stress eating. The articles contain a whole range of ideas and strategies for looking after your mental health so you can relax and enjoy yourself.

Be sure to take a look at those articles and you can find my latest column over on the Ely Standard website.

Holiday Money Anxiety & Financial Stress

by Dan Regan | Dec 15, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Holiday Money Anxiety & Financial Stress: How to Stay Calm This Christmas

Christmas is an expensive time of the year. Holiday money anxiety and financial stress can cause so much worry and tension that it stops you enjoying the season fully.

Christmas should be a time of joy, celebration and connection. But December may only be bringing you money anxiety and financial stress. On top of your usual monthly spending, there are presents, social occasions, extra expenses and more on food and drink. It can all overshadow the festive spirit.

That’s not to say we should all be like Scrooge at the start, where he was filled with misery and was miserly. Nor do we have to be like Scrooge after the ghosts had visited him where he was splashing the cash like nobody’s business. You still need to work within your means. But between gifts, social commitments, travel, food and household costs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

If you already experience anxiety, then financial pressures can amplify symptoms. For many people I work with here in Ely and Newmarket, Christmas can magnify existing anxieties.

You may struggle with racing thoughts and overthinking. You may panic or dread dealing with accounts, payments and money matters. There can be sleepless nights worrying about finances and expenses. Some people experience guilt, regret or are self critical about spending, others feel trapped or helpless. And, of course, some try to ignore their anxiety, avoid dealing with it and delay things until the credit card bill arrives in January.

When it comes to money matters, you might get all the typical symptoms of anxiety. You can get a tight chest thinking about money and finances, and a sense of overwhelm from the pressure to buy gifts, attend events or host other people. Money anxiety is common, particularly at this time of year. You can feel out of control of your own thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

If Christmas is causing money anxiety then hypnotherapy and some practical strategies can help you manage anxiety, deal with financial stress and regain a sense of calm this festive season.

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