Let’s get one thing straight: nobody chooses anxiety. It’s not like anyone wakes up and thinks, “You know what would really spice up my Tuesday? A nice bout of chest-tightening dread and some overthinking until 3am.” Yet, despite our best efforts, anxiety can cling on tighter than a toddler to your leg on nursery drop-off day. So, if you’ve been doing all the things and still feel like your brain is hosting its own internal episode of Doomwatch, it might be down to a few common habits that keep anxiety ticking over like a badly behaved boiler. Here are five mistakes that are surprisingly common—and what to do instead. 1. Trying to “think your way out of it” If anxiety were logical, we’d all be cured by lunchtime. But it’s not. You can’t reason with a part of your brain that’s gone full gremlin. Anxiety comes from the emotional, reactive part of your mind—not the calm, rational, bit. The fix: Instead of fighting thoughts with more thoughts, learn to feel your way out of it. This is wher

Here are the most common reasons 1. Can’t switch off the mind-chatter You know the drill – you’re exhausted, but your brain has other ideas. An endless loop of worries, to-do lists, and worst-case scenarios. 2. Physical symptoms are taking over Chest tightness, nausea, shakiness, headaches, or that feeling like you’ve just had six espressos on an empty stomach – but all you’ve done is check your emails. 3. Social events feel like a performance review Whether it’s work meetings, parties, or even small talk at the school gates, anxiety can make socialising feel like you’re walking a tightrope in clown shoes. 4. Panic attacks Shortness of breath, racing heart, dizzy spells, and that terrifying “something bad is going to happen” feeling. Panic attacks can be so intense that people think they’re having a heart attack. 5. Life just feels too much Big changes (job loss, breakups, grief), long-term stress, or just the relentless juggle of modern life – any of these can push anxiety into overdr