Many People Struggle Quietly With Anxiety

Mental Health Awareness Week is often a reminder that many people around us may be struggling far more than we realise.

One of the things I’ve noticed repeatedly in my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely is just how many people appear to be coping outwardly while internally feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or stuck in constant worry.

Often, the people struggling the most are the ones who appear outwardly calm, capable and functioning. From the outside, they may still be going to work, looking after family, socialising and getting through their daily routines.

Yet internally they may be dealing with:

• overthinking
• panic attacks
• stress
• racing thoughts
• fear of judgement and failure
• difficulty switching off
• low motivation
• concentration problems
• loss of confidence.

It can feel like inner peace, joy and happiness have been switched off.

Often, people tell me they feel they ‘should’ be coping better, or that they have no reason to feel like they do, because their life may look fine to others. They may give themselves a hard time over it. But anxiety doesn’t only affect people during obvious crises. Sometimes it builds gradually over time, or from an accumulation of smaller stresses, until the nervous system becomes stuck in a constant state of pressure and alertness.

Some people know why their anxiety and overthinking started but many do not. It becomes an ongoing cycle of unwanted thoughts and feelings that they struggle with. By the time they realise that anxiety is a problem, the pattern seems to have an inevitable force of its own. However, support for anxiety is available.

 

Quick Summary

Many people live with anxiety without anyone around them realising.

In this article you’ll discover:

• why so many people struggle quietly with anxiety
• why outwardly coping doesn’t always mean someone feels OK
• how anxiety gradually becomes part of everyday life
• why you’re far from alone if this sounds familiar
• why things really can change

Feeling anxious doesn’t mean you’re weak or failing. It often means you’ve become caught in a pattern that can be changed.

 

Related Articles

• Anxiety Support Hub
• High Functioning Anxiety
• Anxiety and Overthinking
• Why Anxiety Isn’t Going Away On Its Own
• Signs Your Anxiety Is Getting Worse
• When Should You Seek Help For Anxiety?
• Hypnotherapy Reviews in Ely

 

Anxiety Starts To Feel Normal

One of the most difficult things about anxiety is that it can start to become something that feels familiar. You start to anticipate and expect it. You try to battle with your own mind but that just adds to the stress and frustration. It feels like part of who you are and  you may have come to almost accept it will always be there.

You get used to:

• constantly analysing and overthinking situations
• worrying about what other people think
• expecting the worst
• mentally rehearsing conversations
• avoiding things and cancelling plans
• struggling to relax properly

Over time, this becomes so normal that you may forget what it feels like to truly switch off and be mentally calm.

For some, anxiety shows up physically through panic attacks, dizziness, tension or disrupted sleep. For others, it appears more quietly through irritability, emotional exhaustion, avoidance or low confidence – even if they seem to be on top of things from the outside.

If you’d like a wider explanation of how anxiety affects thoughts, emotions and physical sensations, you may find the Anxiety Support Hub helpful: Understanding anxiety in Ely

 

One Thing I’ve Learned Working With Anxiety

When I struggled with anxiety, I didn’t think anyone else knew. I would think the worst, feel on edge and be running a constant negative commentary on the inside. From the outside, I just seemed ordinary. Even though I hid it, I thought everyone else could tell. Years later when I mentioned what I used to experience, people were always surprised. That taught me just how many people become experts at hiding what they’re going through.

One thing I’ve learnt over the years is just how often people apologise for struggling.

They’ll sit down in my therapy room and say things like:

• “I know it probably sounds silly.”
• “I shouldn’t feel like this.”
• “Other people have it much worse.”

The reality is that none of those things stop anxiety from feeling overwhelming. Anxiety is about your mind preparing you for threat, and no amount of logic on its own is usually enough to switch it off.

One of the biggest reliefs for many people is realising they’re not unusual, weak or somehow failing at life. They’re simply experiencing exactly the same anxious patterns that thousands of other people experience.

Once people understand that, they often stop fighting themselves quite so much.

And that’s often where positive change begins.

 

Many People Around You May Be Feeling The Same Way

One reason anxiety can feel isolating is because many people hide it extremely well. You can develop patterns, behaviours and ways of dealing with life that make it seem like you are on top of things.

You may have a constant worry in the back of your mind that others will notice your anxiety or pick up on it in some way and realise that you aren’t as on top of things as you try to make out. It’s like a fear that they will uncover the real you.

Despite advancements in mental health awareness, some people worry they’ll be judged negatively if they talk openly about how they feel.  Others minimise their own struggles because they believe other people have it worse. You might worry it will have a negative impact on relationships and friendships. You might try to seek reassurance sometimes to try and calm you anxiety and overthinking – it may bring some short term relief but creates a need to do it more.

But struggling silently is incredibly common.

Over recent years, I’ve worked with many people in Ely and the surrounding areas who spent months or years trying to manage anxiety completely on their own before eventually reaching out for support.

Often, the biggest relief initially is simply realising that they’re not weak, they’re not failing and they are definitely not the only person experiencing this (by a long way).

Anxiety is a normal human reaction that can become problematic for anyone at any time. Sometimes it is a short term thing, but for many, the anxiety develops its own ongoing cycle of dread, overthinking and despair.

 

Things Can Change

When anxiety has been present for a long time, it’s easy to believe this is simply how things are. You get caught up in the same ongoing cycle of thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

But anxiety patterns can change (just read some of the reviews and case studies on this website!).

One of the most encouraging things I see is how often people arrive believing anxiety has become part of who they are.

It hasn’t become who they are.

They’ve simply lived with anxious thoughts and feelings for so long that they feel normal.

Once those patterns begin changing, many people are surprised how quickly they start feeling calmer, more positive and more like themselves again.

As the nervous system becomes calmer and people begin responding differently to anxious thoughts and feelings, many notice improvements in:

• confidence
• emotional resilience
• sleep
• overthinking
• panic symptoms
• ability to enjoy life again

Change doesn’t usually happen overnight, but it absolutely can happen. You can start to feel calmer, more confident and more in control again.

 

Real Client Experiences

There are now over 500 reviews, including detailed case studies and video reviews from people who came for help with:

• anxiety
• panic attacks
• stress and worry
• fears and phobias
• confidence and self-esteem

One of the reasons I now share so many reviews, video testimonials and case studies is because people often tell me they simply want to know they’re not alone.

When you’re struggling with anxiety it’s easy to believe nobody else feels the same way. Hearing someone describe almost exactly what you’ve been experiencing can be incredibly reassuring.

You can read more real client experiences here: Hypnotherapy reviews in Ely

You can also watch video reviews and case studies here: Hypnotherapy video reviews in Ely

I’m busy adding and updating more so do check in on these pages regularly.

You can also explore recent podcast episodes covering anxiety, overthinking and emotional well-being here: Dan Regan Hypnotherapy Podcast

 

You Don’t Have To Keep Struggling Quietly

The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘action’. That can be physical action but can also mean taking action to learn how to manage your own thoughts and feelings, both proactively and reactively.

This week can also be a useful reminder that struggling emotionally is far more common than many people realise.

And while anxiety can feel overwhelming or deeply ingrained at times, support is available and things can change.

If anxiety, stress or overthinking have been affecting your life, you can find out more here: Anxiety hypnotherapy in Ely

Or, if you’d prefer to talk things through first: Book a free initial consultation

There’s no pressure, just a chance to understand what could help you.

To your health and happiness,

Dan Regan

Anxiety Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist in Ely and Newmarket

 

Could you use some help with your anxiety? Struggling with anxiety, stress, worry and fear and need some help? Find out how I can help with a Free Initial Consultation. Learn more here: Appointments

Find out what many hundreds of other people have said after their anxiety hypnotherapy sessions with Dan: Hypnotherapy Testimonials

And check out these popular and powerful hypnosis downloads that can start helping you right away with anxiety, confidence and more: Hypnosis Downloads