“I Didn’t Know It Was Anxiety”: My Journey from Struggle to Support and How I Help Others Now

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a worrier. As a little girl, I would lie awake at night with a knot in my stomach, panicking over things most kids wouldn’t give a second thought to. I was constantly bracing for something bad to happen, even when life seemed calm on the outside. For years, I thought that everyone felt this way.

It wasn’t until I reached my 20s that I finally realised what I’d been living with all along; anxiety.

Looking back, it all makes sense. The racing heart, the tight chest, the need to be “perfect,” the overthinking, the fear of getting things wrong or letting people down. Anxiety had been the background noise of my life, but because I’d always been that way, I thought it was just my personality.

Therapy Changed Everything

It was only when I found myself feeling completely overwhelmed that I decided to try counselling. I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew I couldn’t carry on feeling that way.

Therapy gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time; space. Space to slow down, reflect, and finally start listening to myself with kindness instead of judgement. I learned how anxiety had shaped my thoughts, my relationships and even how I saw myself. Then for the first time, I began to see that I wasn’t scared and weak, I was simply human and in need of some care.

With time, therapy helped me reconnect with who I really was underneath the anxiety. It didn’t make life perfect, but it made life mine.

Now I Help Others Do the Same

After that experience, I trained as a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, and today, I work with people who are going through what I went through, even if they don’t have the words for it yet.

If you’ve ever felt like your mind is constantly in overdrive, like you’re living in a state of tension or like you’re just “not coping” the way other people seem to, you’re not alone. So many people experience anxiety without even realising it, especially if it’s been with them since childhood.

What Counselling Can Do

In my private practice, I offer online counselling sessions and in-person counselling sessions for adults and young people who are experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, or just a general sense of being lost or stuck. Together, we explore what’s going on underneath the surface. My approach is warm, non-judgmental, and grounded in real understanding, because I’ve been there too.

I believe therapy is about more than just “talking.” It’s about reconnecting with your true self, finding clarity, and healing so that you can grow.

You Deserve to Feel at Home in Yourself

If you're tired of feeling anxious, overwhelmed or like you’re constantly pretending to be okay, therapy can help and you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes, all you need is the courage to take that first small step.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. You can book a free consultation by clicking “Book an Appointment” in the top right had corner, or get in touch by clicking “Contact”.