Constant worry. Racing heart. Can’t switch off?

Anxiety isn’t always obvious from the outside. You can look functional, keep working, keep looking after everyone else, and still feel like your body is permanently braced for impact. For a lot of people this isn’t “a stressful week,” it’s a recognised mental health condition called Generalised Anxiety Disorder, or GAD. GAD is when worry doesn’t really turn off. It can dominate your thinking, sleep, and ability to focus day to day. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and structured anxiety coaching are two front-line, evidence-based approaches that are widely used to treat GAD and reduce symptoms such as overthinking, tension, and sleep disruption. CBT teaches you to spot the thought patterns that drive anxiety, challenge them, and replace them with something more accurate and less catastrophic, and it’s consistently shown to improve anxiety symptoms and functioning in both adults and adolescents in clinical studies. (This is the standard first-line psychological treatment recommended in practice guidelines for generalized anxiety.)
What GAD actually feels like
People with GAD don’t just “feel nervous.” The pattern is more physical, more relentless and often more exhausting. Common signs include: Feeling constantly on edge or unable to relax. A racing or heavy heartbeat, or tightness in the chest. Stomach discomfort, nausea, or a “sick feeling” under the ribs. Mental fog, where the mind suddenly goes blank in moments that matter, like a meeting, training session, performance, or exam. Struggling to get to sleep because the brain won’t switch off, or waking up tired because you never truly felt calm overnight. Irritability or snappiness because your system is already running hot. These symptoms can creep in so gradually that you convince yourself this is just “normal for me now.” It isn’t.
Why this happens
Anxiety is a survival response that’s become overactive. The brain is trying to protect you by scanning for threat, but it starts treating everyday situations as danger. Over time, your nervous system sits in a constant near-alert state. You might notice you’re planning for worst case outcomes automatically. You might notice you’re rehearsing conversations in advance and imagining problems that haven’t happened yet. You might also catch yourself avoiding certain situations that used to feel fine — driving somewhere new, social settings, work meetings, competitions — because they now trigger that “something bad is about to happen” feeling. In performance or sport that can present as freezing, choking under pressure, or sudden loss of confidence in skills you normally trust.
Can GAD be treated?
Yes. GAD is highly treatable. There are three main routes most people use: CBT and anxiety-focused coaching. This is about learning how your thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviours feed each other, then breaking the loop. We build practical strategies for calming the nervous system in the moment, reducing avoidance, and restoring a sense of control. CBT is one of the most researched psychological treatments for generalised anxiety in both adults and teenagers, and is generally considered first-line before or alongside medication in modern clinical practice. Medication. A GP may prescribe anti-anxiety medication or an SSRI (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, commonly used for anxiety and depression). For many people with persistent GAD, medication and therapy together is more effective than either alone. Lifestyle changes. Exercise, sleep hygiene, targeted breathing work, limiting caffeine, and having structured recovery time all help regulate the nervous system. These aren’t “just relax” tips. They’re part of restoring balance to a stress system that’s been stuck in high gear.
How I work with anxiety clients locally
My work is calm, private, and focused on function, not labels. I work with adults and also with young people from around age 11 and up who are struggling with anxiety, overwhelm, or pressure. The goal is not to talk about worry forever. The goal is to get you back in control of your body and your day. Sessions include: Identifying your specific anxiety pattern (racing mind, body symptoms, avoidance, sleep disruption). Building fast regulation tools you can use in real moments. Reframing the thinking style that keeps pulling you back into threat mode. Preparing you for the situations that currently spike the anxiety (school, work, interviews, auditions, sport, competition day). In performance cases, that means getting you stable under pressure without losing sharpness. You do not have to be “bad enough for crisis services” to get support. High-functioning people still deserve relief. You’re allowed to ask for help before you break.
Where I work
I’m Neil Sunley. I provide anxiety, CBT, and performance coaching in Beverley, Driffield, and across the East Riding. Sessions are available in person or online. For many clients, the first shift they feel is not “100% calm” but simply “I can finally breathe again.” That’s the point we build from.
Next step
If you’re noticing constant worry, physical anxiety, or disrupted sleep and you’re ready to get on top of it, you can book a confidential 1-to-1 consultation. You’ll be listened to and you’ll leave with a plan.