When anxiety shows up, it often isn't just thoughts. Your mind can get caught in endless loops of “what if?” questions, while your heart races and your body feels like it is going into overdrive.
You may find yourself replaying conversations, anticipating what could go wrong, trying to figure out every possible outcome, or going over the same question again and again without finding an answer. Your mind may feel so busy that it is difficult to focus, settle down, or sleep. Even when you know you are safe, your nervous system may still be reacting as though something needs your immediate attention.
In our work, we slow things down and pay attention to what is happening in real time. I support you with the anxiety itself while also looking at what may be underneath it, including nervous system patterns, past experiences, trauma, and learned ways of responding to threat.
Anxiety is not always a problem. Sometimes it is a helpful and appropriate response to what is happening in your life. Other times, it becomes overwhelming, persistent, or disconnected from present day reality. Your mind and nervous system can become so flooded that it is difficult to think clearly, rest, or feel settled. In therapy, we work with these differently.
If you're curious about what may be underneath your anxiety, you may also want to read What Anxiety Might Be Trying to Tell You.
Anxiety can affect your thoughts, your body, your sleep, your relationships, and your ability to feel settled. We can explore what is happening for you now while also paying attention to what may be contributing to it.
We look at what tends to set off your anxiety and what happens when it takes over. This may include racing thoughts, endless “what if” questions, physical tension, a racing heart, difficulty sleeping, or feeling like your brain is flooded and unable to switch off.
Understanding your patterns can help you recognize what is happening before anxiety becomes overwhelming.
Anxiety can keep you searching for certainty, replaying conversations, checking for signs that something is wrong, or trying to think your way out of discomfort.
We can look at these patterns and what keeps them going, including reassurance seeking, overthinking, avoidance, checking, and other ways you may be trying to feel safe or certain.
When your mind and body are overwhelmed, it can be difficult to think clearly or respond to what is happening around you. We can work on ways to recognize when you are becoming flooded and respond before the anxiety takes over.
This can include learning how to settle your body, stay present, and create enough steadiness to make decisions and respond rather than react.
Sometimes anxiety is closely connected to what is happening in your life now. Other times, past experiences, trauma, chronic stress, or learned patterns may be shaping how you respond to threat in the present.
When it is relevant, we can explore what may be underneath the anxiety rather than focusing only on the symptoms.
If past experiences continue to affect how you feel, think, or respond today, trauma focused approaches such as EMDR may be helpful. We can work with experiences that still feel emotionally charged without requiring you to repeatedly retell everything that happened.
I invite you to reach out for a brief introductory call. We can talk about what you’re experiencing and whether working together feels like a good fit.
Adrie-Anne Gamble
Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling (CPCA #3793)
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCPA #10001293)
Online Counselling for Adults in Regina & Across Saskatchewan