From the outside, your life looks fine.
You’re getting on with things.
You show up.
You do what needs to be done.
But inside, it feels like your mind never really switches off.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it — and you’re definitely not alone.
When anxiety doesn’t look like panic
For many women, anxiety isn’t obvious.
It doesn’t always show up as panic attacks or big emotional moments.
Instead, it shows up quietly, in everyday life.
It can look like:
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Overthinking conversations long after they’ve ended
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Replaying things you said and wondering if you sounded “wrong”
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Feeling tense in your body, even when you’re resting
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Struggling to switch off at night
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Doubting yourself, even when others see you as capable
From the outside, you’re coping.
Inside, you feel exhausted from holding it all together.
“I should be handling this better…”
This is one of the most common thoughts I hear.
You tell yourself:
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Other people seem to manage just fine
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Nothing is actually “wrong”
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I shouldn’t feel this anxious
So instead of asking for support, you keep pushing on.
You carry the worry quietly.
You put pressure on yourself to be calmer, more confident, more together.
And that pressure only adds to the anxiety.
Why anxiety feels so heavy day to day
Anxiety isn’t just in your thoughts, it lives in your body too.
When your nervous system is constantly on high alert:
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Your mind stays busy
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Your body struggles to relax
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Small decisions feel overwhelming
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Rest doesn’t feel restful
Even good things can feel draining when you’re always on edge.
This isn’t a personal failing.
It’s a sign your system has been under stress for a long time.
What therapy can actually help with
Therapy isn’t about “fixing” you or analysing every detail of your past.
It’s about:
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Helping your mind feel quieter
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Letting your body settle
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Feeling less tense in everyday moments
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Making decisions without hours of second-guessing
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Being kinder to yourself when things aren’t perfect
Over time, life starts to feel lighter.
Not perfect, just more manageable.
You don’t have to carry this on your own
If you’ve been telling yourself to just keep going, this is your reminder:
You don’t have to figure everything out before reaching out.
You don’t need the “right” words.
You don’t need to be at breaking point.
Support can start exactly where you are.
And sometimes, that first step is simply realising:
“It’s not just me.”
If this post resonated with you, you’re very welcome to get in touch and explore whether therapy feels like the right next step for you.