Counselling and Therapy for Generalised Anxiety Disorder
in Crouch End and Muswell Hill North London
Understanding and Working With Generalised Anxiety isorder (GAD)
What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Generalised Anxiety Disorder, often called GAD, is a persistent and exhausting form of anxiety. It involves ongoing worry about many different areas of life, rather than anxiety focused on one specific situation, such as Health Anxiety or Social Anxiety.
People with GAD often describe feeling tense or on edge most of the time, even when things are going reasonably well. The worry can feel difficult to control and may move quickly from one concern to another.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is characterised by excessive worry that feels hard to switch off. The mind may jump between everyday concerns such as health, work, finances, relationships, or the future.
Unlike situational anxiety, GAD does not usually attach itself to one clear trigger. Instead, the mind remains in a constant state of alert, scanning for possible problems and worst case outcomes.
Common Experiences Include:
• Constant overthinking or mental looping
• Feeling tense, restless, or unable to relax
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Sleep problems or waking with anxiety
• Physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, stomach discomfort, or fatigue
Many people with GAD describe feeling permanently “on edge”, or as though something bad is always about to happen, even when they cannot explain why.
How GAD Develops and is Maintained:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder often develops gradually. It can be linked to long periods of stress, responsibility, uncertainty, or feeling under pressure to cope.
Some people seem to have a mind that is naturally more alert to potential problems. They may notice risks more quickly, think things through more deeply, or feel responsibility more strongly than others. This does not cause anxiety by itself, but it can make someone more vulnerable to worry when life becomes demanding or uncertain.
Over time, worry can become a habit. The mind learns that worrying feels like a way to prepare or stay safe, even though it actually increases anxiety. Attempts to gain certainty or reassurance often make the problem worse rather than better.
Avoidance, reassurance seeking, over planning, and constant mental checking can all unintentionally keep GAD going.
Therapy for Generalised Anxiety Disorder:
Therapy for Generalised Anxiety Disorder focuses on changing the relationship with worry, rather than trying to eliminate uncertainty or force the mind to feel calm.
The work is gentle and collaborative. We spend time understanding how worry operates, what keeps it going, and how it has been trying to help, even when it has become exhausting. Gradually, therapy supports people to respond differently to anxious thoughts and feelings, in ways that reduce their impact on everyday life.
I use evidence based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other anxiety informed methods. Therapy is practical, carefully paced, and adapted to the individual, rather than following a rigid formula.
The aim is not positive thinking or reassurance, but to help anxiety loosen its grip, so that life feels calmer, more flexible, and easier to live with.
When to Seek Help:
If worry feels constant, exhausting, or is interfering with sleep, concentration, or enjoyment of life, it may be time to seek support.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is very treatable. Many people find that once they understand how their anxiety works, it becomes far less overwhelming.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Therapy in Crouch End:
I offer specialist anxiety therapy for Generalised Anxiety Disorder in Crouch End, North London. Sessions are confidential, non judgemental, and focused on helping you feel steadier and more in control.
If you would like to discuss whether therapy for GAD might be helpful, you are welcome to get in touch.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
You can also call me on |phone| if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.
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