Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Anxiety Comes Back

by Dan Regan | Apr 28, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Anxiety Comes Back (Even When You Thought It Was Gone)

One of the most frustrating experiences with anxiety is when it feels like it’s gone – and then suddenly, it’s back again.

You’ve been through all the physical discomfort and mental anguish. Maybe the anxiety passed on its own, or you may have benefited from anxiety therapy.

You’ve started feeling better and more like yourself. And then your unwanted thoughts and feelings come back.

You might find yourself thinking:

“I thought I’d dealt with this”
“Why is this happening again?”
“Am I back to square one?”

It can feel discouraging, especially when things had been improving.

For example, you might have felt calmer for weeks or months, only to notice the same thoughts or feelings returning in a familiar situation.

Why Do Some Thoughts Stick In Your Mind?

by Dan Regan | Apr 27, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Do Some Thoughts Stick in Your Mind More Than Others?

Have you ever wondered why some thoughts get stuck in your head?

You have hundreds of thoughts every day. Most of these thoughts pass through your mind quickly.

They don’t bother you too much and you probably don’t even notice the majority of them.

But every so often, a thought appears that feels different.

It might feel:

more important
more uncomfortable
harder to ignore

And instead of passing, it seems to stay.

These are often thoughts that create an emotional response, such as anxiety, These thoughts can seem to get stuck in your head.

OCD and Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Apr 17, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

OCD and Anxiety: Why Thoughts Can Feel So Real

OCD and anxiety can make your thoughts feel very really – and very difficult to ignore. Your thoughts scare you because of what you are imagining. That anxiety leads to more intrusive thoughts. You start to doubt what you’ve done or worry about what you could do.

You might find yourself having thoughts that feel completely out of character.

They may be:

intrusive
repetitive
difficult to ignore
upsetting or confusing

And often, the more you try to push them away, the stronger they seem to come back.

They may be about harming yourself or others. Your thoughts mess with your recollection of events and what may have happened. You worry why you are thinking such intrusive thoughts and what that means about you and what you are capable of. Your own thoughts scare you.

Sometimes it can lead you to do certain repetitive behaviours to bring some temporary relief. Other times it can all be about that ongoing cycle of intrusive thoughts that torment you inside your own mind.

OCD and anxiety can feel very real – and often quite frightening.

Introverts and Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Apr 14, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Introverts and Anxiety: When Socialising Feels Draining

Today I’m covering introverts and anxiety and writing about how socialising can feel draining.

If you’re an introvert and social situations feel draining, it’s usually not because you lack confidence, it’s because of how your mind processes stimulation, combined with patterns of anxiety and overthinking.

You might feel like social situations affect you differently to other people. It’s not that you can’t do them, you can. And you can enjoy social situations.

But they can feel draining, effortful, or mentally tiring in a way that’s hard to explain.

And as someone who is more of an introvert, you might:

need time to recover after socialising
feel more comfortable in smaller groups
find too much interaction overwhelming
feel ‘on’ rather than relaxed
feel like you need time to recharge afterwards

From the outside, it may look like calmness and confidence. But internally, it can feel like a lot of effort.

This is more common than many people realise, particularly for people who are naturally more thoughtful and inward focused.

If this sounds familiar

How to Stop Overthinking in Social Situations

by Dan Regan | Apr 13, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks, Confidence and Self Esteem

How to Stop Overthinking in Social Situations (Without Forcing Yourself)

Do you have a habit of overthinking in social situations?

If you find yourself overthinking in social situations, it’s usually linked to patterns of anxiety, self-focus, and a natural desire to come across well – rather than a lack of social ability.

You’re physically present but the whole time you are mentally elsewhere. That little voice in your head just keeps on going. You might struggle to join in or find that things have moved on while you were thinking of what to say or how to say it. It’s like having an non stop running commentary criticising, analysing and overthinking every detail. It stops you relaxing and being yourself.

Around the people you feel most comfortable with you can relax and be yourself. You can be yourself and the words come easily.

Yet that overthinking in social situations creates a whole different, more anxious and awkward, experience. Many people struggle with overthinking in social situations, especially when they’re already feeling slightly self-conscious or under pressure.

You might notice it most in conversations.

You say something and then immediately start thinking:

Why Panic Attacks Feel So Frightening – Ely Standard Feature

by Dan Regan | Apr 3, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Panic Attacks Feel So Frightening – Ely Standard Feature

I was recently featured in the Ely Standard discussing panic attacks – something I see regularly in my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely.

Panic attacks are one of the most frightening experiences people can have, and many people initially believe something serious is happening to their body.

Many people describe their first panic attack as feeling like a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or something seriously wrong with their body.

The feelings are so overwhelming that you can become anxious about having another panic attack. You get caught in a loop of dreading the worst and felling on edge.

This is completely understandable.

You may start to avoid certain situations where you have previously experienced a panic attack. And, because your mind works on patterns, you may find they start to occur more frequently.

Panic attacks feel frightening, especially when you don’t know what is happening or how to deal with it.

High Functioning Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Apr 2, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

High Functioning Anxiety: Why You Can Seem Fine But Feel Struggled Inside

High functioning anxiety: From the outside, everything might look fine – you’re coping, getting things done, and keeping things together. But on the inside, it can feel very different.

You may be working, managing responsibilities, supporting others and appearing calm and capable. People may even describe you as organised, reliable or successful.

Externally you come across as confident and self assured.

But internally, it can feel very different.

You struggle with overthinking, negative thinking and you may worry ab out messing up or being judged. You push yourself and place yourself under pressure to perform. It may feel exhausting.

This is more common than many people realise, especially among people who are used to being capable, reliable, and ‘holding things together.’

High functioning anxiety often means you are coping on the outside, while feeling under constant pressure on the inside.

How to Support Someone with Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Apr 1, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

How to Support Someone With Anxiety (Without Making It Worse)

One of the most common questions I get asked from people in Ely is, how can I support someone with anxiety? When someone you care about is struggling with anxiety, it’s natural to want to help.

It can be difficult to know what to say or do when someone you care about is struggling with anxiety – especially when you can see they’re finding things hard, but nothing you try seems to make a lasting difference.

You may find yourself trying to reassure them, offer advice, or encourage them to ‘push through’ what they’re feeling.

There may be times when you also feel helpless and frustrated, especially if you have no personal experience of anxiety.

From the outside you know that their negative thoughts and feelings aren’t logical and rational. They may also know this, but that doesn’t stop the endless cycle of thinking the worst and feeling distressed.

Often, it’s not always clear what actually helps – and what can unintentionally make things harder. Supporting someone with anxiety isn’t about finding the perfect words – it’s about understanding what they’re experiencing and how anxiety works.

Anxiety in Ely: Why More People Are Struggling

by Dan Regan | Mar 31, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxiety in Ely: Why More People Are Struggling (And What Helps)

Today I’m taking about the experience of anxiety in Ely. In recent years, more people in Ely and the surrounding areas have been reaching out for help with anxiety.

Anxiety is becoming more common in Ely not because something is “wrong”, but because many people are living with ongoing pressure, mental overload, and difficulty switching off.

In my work locally, I’ve seen a noticeable increase in people experiencing overthinking, panic, and ongoing feelings of being on edge – even when life appears to be going well on the surface.

Some describe it as constant overthinking and being unable to switch off. Others notice physical symptoms, panic, or a feeling of being overwhelmed that doesn’t seem to switch off.

The cycle of thinking the worst and feeling anxious starts to take hold – and then keeps going.

While anxiety has always existed, it is something that many people are noticing more in their day-to-day lives. And it is a pattern that can be positively changed.

Some people have more of a tendency to worry and think negatively, others find it creeps up then seems to take over.

Anxiety is not a sign that something is wrong with you – it is often a sign that your system has been under pressure for a period of time.

How to Find the Right Anxiety Therapist in Ely

by Dan Regan | Mar 30, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

How to Find the Right Anxiety Therapist in Ely (What to Look For)

If you’re looking for an anxiety therapist in Ely, the most important things to look for are experience with anxiety, a clear and calm approach, and someone you feel comfortable talking to.

Whether you’ve never had therapy before, or you’ve done some things but still struggle, taking the step to look for support can feel like a big decision.

You may have already been thinking about it for a while – or perhaps things have reached a point where you feel ready to get help.

Either way, one of the most common questions people ask is:

“How do I find the right anxiety therapist for me?”

In this article I’m drawing upon my fifteen years of helping people in Ely and Newmarket to cover what to look for in an anxiety therapist.

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