Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a natural response meant to help us handle challenges, but it can become overwhelming when it’s constant or out of proportion to the situation. It may show up as worry, tension, racing thoughts, or fear, and over time it can affect sleep, focus, and daily functioning.
When anxiety takes over, it can limit enjoyment, strain relationships, and make life feel exhausting or discouraging. Many people feel stuck or held back from the things that matter most.
The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable. Evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and exposure-based approaches can help you manage anxious thoughts and build skills to navigate life with greater confidence and ease.
Anxiety can appear in many forms.
Some of the more common subtypes include:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD involves chronic, excessive worry about everyday situations - such as work, health, relationships, or the future. People often describe feeling “on edge” or unable to relax, even when there isn’t an obvious reason for concern. Therapy focuses on helping you reduce overthinking, manage uncertainty, and develop more balanced ways of responding to worry.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder involves sudden, intense surges of fear or physical sensations such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or feelings of losing control. These experiences can feel frightening and unpredictable, leading some people to avoid certain places or activities. Through therapy, you can learn to understand and reduce panic symptoms, rebuild confidence, and regain a sense of safety in your body.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is characterized by an intense fear of judgment or embarrassment in social or performance situations. You might worry about saying the wrong thing, being negatively evaluated, or drawing unwanted attention. Therapy can help you face these situations gradually, build self-confidence, and develop more compassionate ways of relating to yourself and others.
Phobias
Phobias involve strong fears of particular objects or situations—such as flying, driving, needles, or certain animals. While these fears can feel overwhelming, gradual and supportive exposure therapy can help you face them safely and regain freedom in your daily life.
Health Anxiety
Health anxiety involves persistent worries about having or developing a serious illness, even when medical reassurance has been provided. It can lead to frequent body checking, online health searches, or repeated medical visits. Treatment focuses on reducing reassurance-seeking behaviours and learning to respond differently to uncertainty and physical sensations.
Emetophobia
(fear of vomiting)
Emetophobia is an intense fear of vomiting - either oneself or others - that can create significant anxiety in situations where vomiting feels possible, such as illness, travel, or around certain foods. This often leads to avoiding certain places, foods, or activities. With supportive, exposure therapy, it’s possible to gradually reduce these fears in a safe, structured way and reclaim a sense of ease in daily life.
Anxiety may take many forms, but it doesn’t have to define your life. You don’t have to live in fear. We’ll work together to identify the triggers that are holding you back, develop healthy coping strategies, and empower you to manage your anxiety more effectively.
Together, I’ll help you navigate the uncertainty of life without letting it control you.