Dan’s Blog

Why Phobias Can Feel So Intense

by Dan Regan | Feb 6, 2026 | Phobias and Fears

Why Phobias Can Feel So Intense (And Why They’re Not Logical)

If you’ve ever struggled with a phobia – whether it’s heights, spiders, injections, flying, enclosed spaces, or something else entirely – you might have wondered why the fear you feel can seem so intense, even when the danger is minimal or nonexistent. It doesn’t make sense logically, and that paradox can leave you feeling frustrated or worried.

Fears and phobias are pretty common things. You may have learnt to live with it or just to avoid things. Yet even this can be uncomfortable if your phobia feels intense just when things get mentioned in conversation or you see something related on a screen. You live on edge and in fear of having to face your fear. And when that day comes, as it so often does eventually, you struggle with anxiety beforehand and either bail out or find yourself an anxious wreck as you try and do things that others seem to do so easily.

You may know when and why your phobia started. However, it’s far more common that at some point, probably when young, it started and then at some point it became problematic and limiting. The same thoughts, feelings and behaviours repeat when you see, hear or think about it.

You know that your fear is irrational but that knowledge doesn’t change anything. Your phobia feels intense. The way your brain works means that emotions always triumph over logic. Panic, tears, shaky legs, racing thoughts, heart palpitations and sleepless nights can all happen.

Many people I work with in Ely and the surrounding Cambridgeshire area describe the intensity of their phobic reactions as one of the most confusing and overwhelming aspects of their anxiety experience.

Low Confidence and Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Feb 4, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks, Confidence and Self Esteem

Low Confidence and Anxiety: Why They’re Often Linked

Low confidence and anxiety often go hand in hand. Many people notice that when anxiety becomes more persistent, their confidence gradually fades – even in situations that once felt manageable.

In the same way, if you struggle with low confidence, then it leads to worry, self-doubt, anxiety and dread. You worry about messing up, being found out, what others think and about whether you have the ability to do things. You may constantly criticise yourself and be harsh about what you do or what you feel you can’t do. This leads to feeling low and anxiety and so you avoid things and stay firmly within your comfort zone. You may find you take things personally and struggle when challenges arise or things go wrong.

Back when I used to struggle with anxiety and low confidence, there were some situations where I felt totally fine, comfortable and self-assured. Yet, there were other times where I was caught in a spiral of fear, doubt and worry. I would avoid things, escape from things and work hard to disguise how I really felt. I would try to orchestrate things to make them feel more manageable for me and would worry about expressing my opinion in case there was any backlash that could make me crumble.

Sometimes you may be able to hide how you feel from others. Yet the same cycle of negative thought and feelings repeat internally over and over. You get that feeling in the pit of your stomach, your mind races as you think the worst, and the anxiety and doubt increase.

People I work with in Ely often describe feeling less sure of themselves, more self-critical, or worried about how they come across to others. Over time, this can affect work, relationships and everyday decisions.

Why Anxiety Can Return After Feeling Better

by Dan Regan | Jan 25, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Anxiety Can Return After Feeling Better | Anxiety Support in Ely

One of the most unsettling experiences is when anxiety returns after you had started feeling better. You start to feel better and think things are going to keep improving… and then anxiety seems to return.

Many people describe feeling confused or discouraged when this happens. Thoughts such as ‘I thought I was past this’ or ‘Does this mean nothing has really changed?’ are very common. You start to worry about your anxiety coming back and that you will feel as bad as you used to.

The thing to keep in mind is that you definitely have the capability to feel calm, confident and in control. Anxiety is where negative thoughts and feelings start, and then they grow from worry and repetition. You already know how to take back control and feel better. So it is very possible to nip any little bits of anxiety, the sort of thing that everyone gets now and again, in the bud so that it doesn’t take over.

In my work with anxiety clients in Ely and surrounding areas, this fear of anxiety returning often causes more distress than the symptoms themselves.

Anxiety and Overthinking: Why the Mind Gets Stuck

by Dan Regan | Jan 19, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxiety and Overthinking: Why the Mind Gets Stuck

Overthinking is one of the most common and frustrating features of anxiety. Your mind goes over the same worries again and again – replaying conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios or searching endlessly for certainty.

You think the worst and feel anxious about what you are imagining and focusing upon. Your mind starts to race and you spiral from one catastrophe to the next. The more anxious you feel, the more you dread and worry about what will happen and how you’ll cope.

Many people describe it as feeling unable to ‘switch off’, even when they know logically that nothing bad is happening right now. It’s like your mind can always find something for you to worry about. It can become so habitual that if you aren’t worrying about something then you worry that you should be.

In my work with anxiety clients in Ely, overthinking is often one of the anxiety symptoms people find most exhausting.

Why Anxiety Often Feels So Physical | Anxiety Explained

by Dan Regan | Jan 11, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Anxiety Often Feels So Physical

This article expands on questions I’m often asked by clients locally, particularly around why anxiety symptoms feel so physical even when medical tests come back clear.

Many people are surprised by just how physical anxiety can feel.

In my work as an anxiety specialist in Ely, one of the most common things clients tell me is that the physical sensations are often the most frightening part – sometimes even more distressing than the anxious thoughts themselves.

Symptoms such as a racing heart, chest tightness, dizziness, breathlessness, muscle tension or a churning stomach can feel intense and alarming. When these sensations come on suddenly or without a clear cause, it’s easy to worry that something is physically wrong.

This is something I recently spoke about in my regular column published by the Ely Standard, exploring why anxiety so often shows up in the body rather than just the mind.

Weight Loss Mindset in Ely

by Dan Regan | Jan 10, 2026 | Weight Loss

Weight Loss Mindset in Ely: Why Mindset Matters More Than Willpower

For many people, weight loss feels like a constant battle with willpower. You might start with good intentions, follow a plan for a while, then find old habits creeping back in – often accompanied by frustration, self-criticism and a sense of failure. This article explains why your mindset matters more.

In my work as a hypnotherapist in Ely and Newmarket, I regularly meet people who are not lacking motivation or discipline. What they’re struggling with is something deeper: the patterns, habits and emotional responses that sit underneath eating behaviour.

It’s these habitual patterns that drive emotional eating, overeating, snacking and unhealthy choices. And it is these things that lead to excess weight and struggling to achieve your goals. You want to be slimmer, healthier and happier – yet your mind is currently working against you.

This is where mindset – rather than willpower – becomes important.

Can Hypnotherapy Help Calm Anxiety Quickly?

by Dan Regan | Jan 7, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Can Hypnotherapy Help Calm Anxiety Quickly?

When anxiety feels overwhelming, one of the most common questions people ask is how quickly it can improve. If you’re feeling constantly on edge, dealing with panic symptoms, or stuck in cycles of worry, it’s natural to want relief as soon as possible.

Many people I work with here in Ely come to me asking how quickly anxiety can begin to feel more manageable.

Anxiety leads you to think the worst and you feel all the uncomfortable physical sensations. Anxiety can be unsettling and frightening. You aren’t sure what is happening or why you feel this way. You also worry about it lasting a long time or even if it will ever go away.

In my work as an anxiety hypnotherapist in Ely, I often meet people who feel exhausted from trying to manage anxiety on their own. Many are surprised to learn that anxiety can sometimes begin to settle sooner than they expect – particularly when the nervous system is supported in the right way.

When Anxiety Feels Out of Control: How to Know What Really Helps

by Dan Regan | Jan 6, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

When Anxiety Feels Out of Control: How to Know What Really Helps

Sometimes anxiety can feel like it has taken over. It can show up as constant worrying thoughts, sudden panic, physical symptoms, avoidance, or a feeling that you’ve lost control of your own reactions.

In my anxiety therapy in Ely and Newmarket, people with anxiety and panic often tell me how they feel out of control. It can stop you doing things because there will be things outside of your control. And as well as external things, some people think they are going crazy because they can’t calm their own feelings and calm their own thinking.

Anxiety brings unpleasant physical symptoms such as feeling shaky, restless and tense. Your chest feels tight and your heart races.

You get that sense of dread before you do things and your mind races through all the worst cases. Your mind jumps from one imagined catastrophe to the next. Even when you feel okay, you still feel anxious because you know your anxiety is still lurking and could strike again at any time. You start to worry about feeling anxious.

Your confidence plummets, your sleep is broken and you feel fraught and exhausted.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone – and the most important thing is knowing that anxiety can be helped. The next step is understanding what tends to make the biggest difference.

January Weight Loss Mindset

by Dan Regan | Jan 6, 2026 | Weight Loss

January Weight Loss Mindset

Why ‘New Year, New You’ Thinking Makes Weight Shifts Harder – And What Actually Helps

Every January you might hear the phrase ‘New Year, new you over and over – but that idea can unintentionally create pressure rather than progress.

Rather than motivating, this mindset often leads to:

Stress about making the ‘perfect start
Feeling you must be disciplined from day one
Frustration when life doesn’t bend to your plans
A cycle of ‘start / stop / punish / restart’

You end up with so much stress, anxiety and frustration that you give up. You start January with a mindset for weight loss but struggle to maintain it. It’s why so many people in Ely and Newmarket tell me about their history of failed diets and their years of yo-yo dieting.

This article explores why the fresh start narrative can work against you, and how a calmer, more manageable approach helps sustainable change – especially when anxiety, emotions and habits play a role.

Driving Anxiety Hypnotherapy

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

Driving Anxiety Hypnotherapy: Fear, Confidence and Feeling Back in Control

Driving anxiety can make even short or familiar journeys feel overwhelming. This article explains why driving anxiety develops, how it affects confidence, and how hypnotherapy can help you feel calmer and more in control behind the wheel.

Driving anxiety is one of the common issues that I help people with in Ely and Newmarket.

Like all types of anxiety, you get caught up in a self re-enforcing spiral. You feel anxious thinking about driving even when you aren’t in the car. Those anxious feelings increase the closer a journey gets and the thoughts of the worst happening race through your imagination. You may avoid all driving or going on certain roads or in particular situations. If you do get in the car, your heart races, your chest feels tight and you worry about everything to do with what you are doing and what other drivers are doing.

The particular roads and situations that cause you anxiety can vary. In this area, it’s very common that people avoid the busy A14, especially the sections where there is no lay-by to pull into or no nearby junction to escape on if it were all to get too much. However, driving anxiety can equally apply to smaller roads, unfamiliar routes or anything that feels too far from home.

Sometimes driving anxiety arises because of something that previously happened when you were in the car. Or it can be that, in the solitude of the car with time to think, all the stress and anxiety from the rest of your life catches up with you. You feel anxious or have a panic attack and your mind associates the fear with where you are at that moment, in the car. Suddenly, even where driving was previously fine, being in the car triggers anxiety, tension and overwhelm.

However your driving anxiety started, and whatever the roads and situations, hypnotherapy can help you to start feeling more calm and confident behind the wheel again.

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