In a world full of Anxiety & Overthinking: How Counselling Can Help You Find Your Inner Calm

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges people face, yet it often feels incredibly isolating. For many, anxiety doesn’t just show up as a quick worry or passing nervousness — it can become a constant background hum or even a full-blown daily struggle that impacts every area of life.

If you’ve ever found yourself lying awake at night replaying a conversation, second-guessing every decision, or stuck in a loop of “what if” thinking, you’re not alone.

🧠 What It’s Like to Live with Anxiety

Anxiety can feel like your brain has its own internal alarm system — always on edge, always scanning for danger. It can make even small decisions feel overwhelming and can leave you exhausted, tense, or physically unwell. Some people experience:

* A racing heart

* Difficulty concentrating

* Feeling restless or on edge

* Digestive issues

* Sleep disturbances

* A sense of dread or panic for no clear reason

It’s not just “nerves.” It can be relentless, confusing, and incredibly draining.

 🔁 The Cycle of Overthinking and Rumination

Overthinking is often anxiety’s best friend.

You might find yourself going over every possible outcome, every possible thing you did wrong, and replaying past moments wondering, “Why did I say that?” or “What if I had done it differently?” This process is called rumination — and while it feels like problem-solving, it rarely leads to solutions.

Instead, rumination tends to:

* Increase feelings of guilt or shame

* Prevent you from taking action

* Fuel self-criticism

* Distract you from the present

Overthinking can become a coping mechanism — a way to try and feel more prepared or in control — but often it just leads to more anxiety, not less.

🔄 “What If?” Scenarios and Catastrophic Thinking

Many people with anxiety find their thoughts spiralling into worst-case scenarios:

“What if I lose my job?”

“What if they’re angry with me?”

“What if something bad happens to my family?”

These “what ifs” can become so vivid that they start to feel like reality. The emotional toll of living in the hypothetical can be just as intense as facing something real.

Over time, this kind of thinking can erode your self-confidence and make it harder to trust your own judgement.

💬 The Impact of Anxiety on Life, Work, and Relationships

Anxiety doesn’t stay in one part of your life — it can ripple into everything.

At work, anxiety might show up as perfectionism, procrastination, or burnout from never feeling like you’re doing enough.

In relationships, it can lead to over-apologising, people-pleasing, emotional withdrawal, or constant fear of rejection.

With yourself, it can create an inner critic that’s harsh and exhausting to live with.

It’s not uncommon for people to feel “too sensitive,” “too much,” or just overwhelmed — but these patterns are often learned responses to stress, not flaws in character.

📊 Anxiety in Scotland: You’re Not Alone

You are absolutely not alone. According to the Scottish Health Survey, around 1 in 5 adults in Scotland show signs of anxiety symptoms at any given time. For young people and women, the rates are even higher.

This means that millions of people across the country are silently managing daily anxiety — and many of them are finding support and recovery through counselling.

🧘‍♀️ How Counselling Can Help with Anxiety and Overthinking

Counselling offers a safe, non-judgemental space to explore the root of your anxiety, recognise your thinking patterns, and gently build tools for change. It can help you:

* Identify triggers and early signs of anxious thinking

* Learn how to break the cycle of overthinking and rumination

* Develop healthier responses to “what if” thinking

* Strengthen emotional regulation and self-soothing strategies

* Rebuild confidence and self-trust

* Understand the deeper emotions driving anxiety (like fear, guilt, or trauma)

You don’t have to do it all at once — even small steps can begin to shift how anxiety shows up in your life.

🤝 How Aberdeen Bespoke Counselling Can Support You

Anxiety can affect anyone, at any age, and for many different reasons — from hormonal changes and life events to difficult relationships, accidents, or even natural disasters. At Aberdeen Bespoke Counselling, I work with you to understand your anxiety: where it began, what triggers it, and most importantly, how you can regain a sense of control when it arises.

Together, we’ll explore practical tools to interrupt cycles of overthinking, develop healthier coping strategies, and gently build your confidence. As your self-trust grows, it becomes easier to listen to your instincts, set boundaries, and reach out for support when needed.

This is a deeply personal process, always taken at your own pace, and tailored to how you best learn, grow, and heal.

🌿 You Are Not Broken — You’re Carrying Too Much Alone

If you recognise yourself in any part of this, know this: your brain is doing its best to protect you, even if the ways it’s doing so aren’t helpful anymore. Anxiety doesn’t define who you are — and support is available. Let counselling be the space where you finally put some of those heavy thoughts down. Please do reach out when you are ready – www.aberdeenbespokecounselling.co.uk/contact