Anxiety Counselling Archives - Counselling & Psychotherapy in St Albans, Hertfordshire | Counsellor in central St Albans https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/category/anxiety-counselling/ Wed, 27 May 2026 18:00:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/favicon.png Anxiety Counselling Archives - Counselling & Psychotherapy in St Albans, Hertfordshire | Counsellor in central St Albans https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/category/anxiety-counselling/ 32 32 Why Well-Adjusted Professionals Search for ‘Counselling Near Me’ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/why-well-adjusted-professionals-search-for-counselling-near-me/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/why-well-adjusted-professionals-search-for-counselling-near-me/#respond Sun, 31 May 2026 17:38:39 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1761 Another demanding week at work lies ahead of you. You delivered strong results again today, but you still feel detached and wired. You pick up my phone and search for “counselling near me”. Close the tab. Moments later, you search again. This cycle has become familiar. What is the Reality Behind the Polished Exterior? Many […]

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Another demanding week at work lies ahead of you. You delivered strong results again today, but you still feel detached and wired. You pick up my phone and search for “counselling near me”. Close the tab. Moments later, you search again. This cycle has become familiar.

What is the Reality Behind the Polished Exterior?

Many capable professionals live this exact pattern. You maintain a successful career on the surface. Colleagues admire your reliability and drive, but at home you withdraw emotionally. Small interactions leave you irritable. You tell yourself you manage fine, but late-night searches for anxiety counselling reveal something else.

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling, clients arrive looking composed and accomplished. Their private experience tells another tale.

Inside your head, your thoughts race constantly. You anticipate disasters that never materialise. Rest feels unproductive or unsafe. This is not a sustainable drive. It is anxiety wearing the mask of productivity.

Your nervous system stays alert for threats. You suppress emotions to remain professional. Over time, this masking creates burnout anxiety.

Signs you are Emotionally Overloaded

Several patterns signal that you carry too much:

  • You feel irritable with family despite no obvious trigger.
  • Simple decisions trigger overthinking and doubt.
  • Joy feels muted even during positive events.
  • You wake up already planning and worrying.

These are not signs of weakness. They show your system has reached overload. Many professionals ignore them for years before searching for counselling near me.

Why do ambitious people delay anxiety counselling?

Society celebrates relentless achievement. You fear that seeking help might damage your reputation. You worry colleagues would view it as a failure.

The belief that you should handle everything alone runs deep. Your perfectionism tells you that vulnerability means defeat. So you push on. You wait until the exhaustion becomes unbearable. At Penny Glazebrook Counselling, I understand this hesitation.

How unresolved anxiety affects daily life

Unresolved anxiety rarely stays contained. It spills into relationships. Conversations stay superficial. You feel present yet emotionally unavailable. Parenting turns into another arena for perfection. You organise everything yet miss a genuine connection. Sleep fragments because worries surface at night.

How Counselling Supports Ambition and Wellbeing

Counselling does not dim your edge. It sharpens it. You gain clarity and sustainable energy. Boundaries become natural. You respond thoughtfully rather than react from exhaustion.

Many professionals report better focus and deeper satisfaction after addressing their anxiety. They keep their standards while reclaiming rest and connection.

FAQs:

Can anxiety counselling help with burnout?

Yes. Targeted support tackles the roots of prolonged stress and emotional suppression. You recover nervous system balance. You develop strategies that protect your career while preventing future collapse.

Why do successful people feel empty?

External success without internal connection creates a void. You chase validation for years and neglect personal needs. Anxiety counselling helps you reconnect with your values. Fulfilment grows from this balance.

What happens in a first counselling session?

We meet in a confidential, calm setting. I listen to your story without pressure. You set the direction. The session builds understanding and safety from the start.

You have built impressive success through skill and determination. The same strengths that fuel your career can support your healing. A more balanced way of living is available. You do not need to continue alone.

When you feel ready, take that step. Many professionals who started exactly where you are now describe profound relief once they began. They wish they had acted sooner.

Be kind to your future self. Call me at 07739 106062 for a FREE 30-minute telephone initial consultation.

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Let’s Finally Stop Your Anxiety From Coming Back https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/lets-finally-stop-your-anxiety-from-coming-back/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/lets-finally-stop-your-anxiety-from-coming-back/#respond Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:09:25 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1739 Why Self-Help Is Not Enough Self-help tools address the immediate symptoms. They calm the racing heart or quiet the worried thoughts for a short time. These methods rarely reach the deeper layers that keep anxiety alive. Without touching those layers, the relief stays temporary. The same triggers pull you back into the familiar loop. This […]

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Why Self-Help Is Not Enough

Self-help tools address the immediate symptoms. They calm the racing heart or quiet the worried thoughts for a short time. These methods rarely reach the deeper layers that keep anxiety alive.

Without touching those layers, the relief stays temporary. The same triggers pull you back into the familiar loop. This explains why so many people ask why self-help stops working. The techniques teach skills. Anxiety counselling resolves the sources.

You may seek approval constantly or fear conflict in close bonds. These triggers activate during interactions at work or home. Journaling captures the thoughts. It seldom explores the relational roots. The anxiety returns because the triggers remain active. Every day exchanges reignite the old responses.

Is Discipline Enough?

Why do we relapse even when we practise discipline? Discipline builds habits. It strengthens the surface tools. Relapse happens because the roots stay buried. The mind and body hold onto what they know until something shifts the foundation. Another question follows naturally. Persistent anxiety demands a different approach. It requires professional guidance to reach what self-help cannot touch.

How Anxiety Counselling Can Help You

Counselling approaches the issue differently. At Penny Glazebrook Counselling, I use an integrative method. I examine the underlying causes together. I help clients identify the sources of stress that feed their anxiety. I look at troubling thoughts and emotions. I trace maladaptive behaviours back to their origins. This exploration reveals connections that self-help overlooks.

One key difference appears in how I reframe thinking patterns. That will allow you to challenge deep rooted beliefs. I can help you to replace assumptions of inadequacy with clearer self-understanding.

Clients learn to recognise when old patterns activate. They develop ways to respond rather than react. Psychodynamic work uncovers the historical roots in family experiences or past relationships. I address co-dependency and the need for belonging.

These help clients access hidden depths. I explore recurring dreams or unspoken fears. The goal remains collaborative. I guide the process while clients discover their own answers. This differs sharply from self-help. Self-help offers general advice. Counselling psychotherapy tailors every step to the individual. It accounts for unique life circumstances and personal history.

The result moves beyond temporary relief. Real transformation emerges when the root causes receive attention. Clients report reduced anxiety because the old drivers lose their power. They experience renewed vigour in daily life. A sense of direction returns. These changes last because they rest on a solid foundation. The mind no longer defaults to the anxiety loop.

Many people searching for counselling near me in Hertfordshire reach this point. They have tried everything else. They recognise the need for expert support.

Why You Should Choose Anxiety Counselling

Consider how this differs from a standalone discipline. Discipline maintains progress. Counselling psychotherapy creates progress in the first place. It resolves the painful feelings that fuel relapse. More importantly, they gain the internal resources to sustain those insights. Anxiety no longer defines their days. They regain control and curiosity about life.

The journey requires commitment. It asks for openness in a supportive environment. Yet the rewards prove worthwhile. Persistent anxiety fades. Self-esteem strengthens. Relationships improve. Life regains balance. This outcome explains why so many choose professional “counselling near me” after self-help plateaus. They want more than management. They seek resolution.

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling, I prioritise early intervention. I know unchecked stressors can escalate. I help clients act before anxiety deepens into panic or low mood. Insights accumulate. Change becomes possible.

If the pattern of returning anxiety sounds familiar, the next step matters. Explore how anxiety counselling can address your specific roots. The right support makes that possible. Take that step toward genuine transformation.

Call at 07739 106062 to explore what my counselling at Penny Glazebrook Counselling & Psychotherapy has to offer.

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Neurodivergent Parents and Children https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/why-women-with-undiagnosed-adhd-experience-night-time-anxiety/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/why-women-with-undiagnosed-adhd-experience-night-time-anxiety/#respond Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:34:46 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1738 Neurodivergence awareness has dramatically risen in the last 10 years driven by grassroots social media movements and an explosive rise in adult diagnoses.  Shifting from a clinical, deficit-based model to a broader, strengths based understanding of neurological differences. As clinicians, we are still finding out more and more about neurodivergence so that we are better […]

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Neurodivergence awareness has dramatically risen in the last 10 years driven by grassroots social media movements and an explosive rise in adult diagnoses.  Shifting from a clinical, deficit-based model to a broader, strengths based understanding of neurological differences. As clinicians, we are still finding out more and more about neurodivergence so that we are better able to recognise traits as natural variations as opposed to a fixed deficit-based model.  The key benefits of understanding neurodivergence include innovation and creativity, enhanced problem-solving, hyper focus and detail orientation and increased productivity to name but a few.  However, in my practice I have observed that many neurodivergent people feel that they don’t “fit in” and therefore still feel marginalised. 

My theory, that has been refined over many years of practicing in Counselling in Hertfordshire, is that neurodivergent individuals are trying to fit into societal neurotypical ‘norms’ that they are not supposed to in the first place.  A lot of my work with individuals and couples is to understand their differences, accept who they actually are and to celebrate self-acceptance within themselves.  That said, how will that influence how they raise their children who may also be neurodivergent?

There are a host of questions that may be asked but for the purposes of this short article I feel that it may be beneficial to discuss not only accepting our own individual differences but also accepting our children’s individual differences.  It may seem a simple question but the vagaries of raising neurodivergent children, especially if you are neurodivergent yourself, can be full of misunderstandings, prototypical reactions rather than authentic responses that can shape the child’s psychological view of themselves and the world around them.

The cornerstone of understanding your children is by way of understanding yourself.  A deep dive into identifying your particular traits and triggers from the outset and exploring your own childhood.  The nature/nurture debate is still very prevalent in clinical circles.  Discord in the home can exacerbate neurodivergent traits rather than accommodate them.  I feel that it’s safe to assume, that we all want our children to thrive and be happy and autonomous in the choices that they make in their adult lives.  Whether it be career, relationships and/or creating a realistic overall vision for their futures.

Self-expression and authenticity are key to most people’s happiness, especially to the neurodivergent population. Self-expression and authenticity are vital for neurodivergent people because they are essential for survival, mental health, and long-term well-being, acting as a necessary countermeasure to the exhaustion and distress caused by constant masking.  For many neurodivergent individuals, authenticity is a form of resistance against a world designed for neurotypical norms, helping to avoid burnout and reclaim energy.

My integrative practice at counselling near me can help you to underpin and ground your understanding of yourself and your children.  Paving the way to understanding some of the following examples:

  • Mental health and Well-Being
  • Effective Self-Regulation
  • Authentic Communication and Connection
  • Embracing Unique Strengths

My practice is also effective for neurotypical individuals who are less than confident in expressing who they truly are for fear of disapproval and the anxiety that may arise for various reasons including learned behaviours and working models of thinking instilled from a very young age. If you would like to explore more, please contact me today at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy or contact: 07739 106062

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Adult ADHD Anxiety and Interpersonal Relationships https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/adult-adhd-anxiety-and-interpersonal-relationships/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/adult-adhd-anxiety-and-interpersonal-relationships/#respond Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:00:58 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1728 Do you suspect that you are neurodivergent and need an experienced and specialist therapeutic approach to help you discern which ADHD traits that you suspect are presenting problems in your personal relationships?  Individuals with ADHD often experience social difficulties and interpersonal problems as a result of their inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. If left unmanaged, these […]

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Do you suspect that you are neurodivergent and need an experienced and specialist therapeutic approach to help you discern which ADHD traits that you suspect are presenting problems in your personal relationships? 

Individuals with ADHD often experience social difficulties and interpersonal problems as a result of their inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. If left unmanaged, these general traits can cast shadows and disrupt healthy relationships.  Anxiety and depressed mood are most common casualties when miscommunications are prevalent.

You may have lived with anxiety and disruptive relationships for many years, unaware that your undiagnosed ADHD was the main culprit.  My counselling near me at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy can help you to disentangle your feelings of low self-worth that contributes to your lack of confidence in interpersonal relationships.  ADHD and Anxiety Counselling is a worthwhile strategy to help you to ring fence off many stressors in your life.  It can help you to identify your behavioural patterns and how to modify them.

I have many years of psychotherapy experience including working with ADHD adults who have been plagued with anxiety and low mood that is commonly treated with SSRIs, yet the underlying ADHD remains undiagnosed.

I incorporate individual differences when assessing people with undiagnosed ADHD.  Not all neurodivergent people are the same or fall into the exact same category.  Childhood and peer experiences, personality traits and lifetime experiences can all influence and exacerbate ADHD traits.

I can help you to unpick and make sense of your experiences to date that can minimise anxiety and worry.  Another defining feature of my therapeutic approach is to help you define your lifestyle choices and what suits you best.  We all have unrealistic expectations of ourselves at times.  My practice helps you with self-exploration that includes reaching your best potential.

Understanding neurodivergence is key to living a more fulfilling life that you deserve to have that includes healthy and open communication with significant others.  My relationship counselling helps partners to understand how neurodivergence in the couple dynamic can create repeated misunderstandings that can breed resentments by both parties over a period of time.  I can help facilitate open communication without accusatory blame shifting that is most common.  This can damage relationships in the long term where couples tend to diverge away from one another and end up in crisis.  This is particularly painful experience if children are involved.

It is typical for neurodivergent parents to have neurodivergent children that can add extra strain on the family dynamic.  I am here to facilitate understanding and better ways of coping and managing expectations of one another.

If you feel that you could benefit from my practice experience and expertise.  Please contact me today at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy contact: 07739 106062 for a free 30 minute telephone consultation.  I will answer any questions that you may have, and we can book some counselling sessions thereafter.

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Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): The ADHD Anxiety No One Talks About! https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-rsd-the-adhd-anxiety-no-one-talks-about/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-rsd-the-adhd-anxiety-no-one-talks-about/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:33 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1707 Have you ever received a text message that was just a little bit too short, or noticed a friend’s tone change just a little bit, and felt an overwhelming feeling of doom? Maybe you spent the rest of the day worrying about it, thinking you’d done something wrong or that the friendship was coming to […]

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Have you ever received a text message that was just a little bit too short, or noticed a friend’s tone change just a little bit, and felt an overwhelming feeling of doom? Maybe you spent the rest of the day worrying about it, thinking you’d done something wrong or that the friendship was coming to an end. 

Does any of it feel familiar? 

If you live with ADHD, this isn’t just being sensitive and do not listen to anyone who says so. This is a real phenomenon called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and it is often overlooked because the focus is on the hyperactivity and inattentive focus traits of ADHD. The intense emotional vulnerability of RSD is the hidden symptom that fuels a very specific, agonising type of anxiety. It is the overwhelming sense of emotional distress, where even the tiniest hint of disapproval feels like a physical blow.

Why does rejection feel like a physical wound?

For those with ADHD brains, the circuits that control emotional response are hardwired differently. When you experience a social failure, whether it’s real or just perceived, you experience a full-blown fight or flight response in your brain. This is why you may catch yourself lashing out in sudden bursts of anger or, more likely, feeling the desperate need to flee and hide.

Because the pain is so severe, many adults develop a secondary anxiety disorder as a coping mechanism. You may find yourself becoming a people-pleaser, hyper-aware of everyone’s moods so you can fix the problem before it results in rejection. 

This is a never-ending cycle of being on high alert, resulting in what many people describe as a constant hum of fear in the background of their lives.

Connecting the dots between ADHD and your relationships

In my work providing ADHD counselling, I often see how RSD creates a push-pull dynamic in couples and friendships. You might find yourself testing people to see if they’ll leave, or perhaps you’ve become so afraid of the pain of rejection that you’ve stopped putting yourself out there altogether.

It is important to understand that this isn’t a character flaw. 

You aren’t too much or too sensitive. You are navigating a world that feels much louder and more demanding to your nervous system than it does to others. Fortunately, we can address this through specialised anxiety counselling in Hertfordshire at Penny Glazebrook Counselling & Psychotherapy. During my counselling sessions, I don’t just look at the anxiety itself; I try to find the neurodivergent roots that feed it.

How can we soothe the emotional burn?

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling & Psychotherapy, I use an integrative approach to help you build a buffer between the trigger and your reaction. Using tools like visualisations and psychodynamic work, we can begin to untangle the old scripts, perhaps from childhood or school, that told you that your worth was dependent on being perfect.

We work on regulating the nervous system so that when that stab of rejection hits, you have the internal resources to pause and realize it is a brain signal, not a survival threat. There is immense liberation in realizing that while you cannot change how your brain is wired, you can change how much power these emotions have over your life.

Would you like to find a way to quiet the internal noise? Contact Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy

If the fear of rejection is holding you back from the life you want to lead, I invite you to reach out. I offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation to explore how we can navigate these intense emotions together. 

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Stuck in the high-functioning trap? Know when anxiety looks like success https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/stuck-in-the-high-functioning-trap-know-when-anxiety-looks-like-success/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/stuck-in-the-high-functioning-trap-know-when-anxiety-looks-like-success/#respond Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:04:22 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1706 Do you often find yourself lying awake at 3:00 AM, mentally scrolling through tomorrow’s to-do list, despite having achieved everything you set out to do today?  On the surface, your life in St Albans or your career in the City looks enviable. Almost perfect, you would think. You are reliable, productive, and perhaps even the […]

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Do you often find yourself lying awake at 3:00 AM, mentally scrolling through tomorrow’s to-do list, despite having achieved everything you set out to do today? 

On the surface, your life in St Albans or your career in the City looks enviable. Almost perfect, you would think. You are reliable, productive, and perhaps even the person everyone else leans on. But does that external success feel like a fragile mask that might slip at any moment?

While the feeling might be overwhelming, you are not alone. For many high-achievers, what looks like ambition or dedication is actually a sophisticated survival strategy. This is the high-functioning trap. It is a state where your nervous system is permanently stuck in overdrive, but because you are still meeting your targets, no one realises you are struggling. 

You might not be having visible panic attacks, but the internal noise of perfectionism and the constant fear of being found out are exhausting. Keep reading to understand when your success is the actual reason behind your anxiety. 

The hidden cost of doing it all

In my practice, at Penny Glazebrook Counselling & Psychotherapy, I often see clients who have spent years perfecting this mask. High-functioning anxiety doesn’t always stop you from doing things; it often drives you to do too much, and this is the reason why many of you mistake it for success. 

You might find yourself:

  • Over-preparing for simple meetings to avoid any perceived failure.
  • Struggling to say no because your self-worth is tied to being helpful.
  • Feeling a deep sense of guilt the moment you try to rest.

When you are constantly doing, you lose the ability to simply be. This leads to what I call cumulative stress, which is a slow-burning exhaustion that eventually affects your sleep, your physical health, and your closest relationships. You might feel irritable with your partner or distant from your children, even when you are physically present, and this is when you should start looking for counselling near me

Moving beyond the surface to uncover the truth 

If you have been searching for counselling near you, you might have encountered generic advice about time management or breathing exercises. While these tools have their place, high-functioning anxiety usually has deeper roots. 

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling & Psychotherapy, I believe in looking beneath the surface of your productivity. By using an integrative and transpersonal approach, we explore the why behind the drive. 

Are these patterns rooted in childhood scripts where being good was the only way to feel safe? Is your anxiety a signal from your deeper self that your current lifestyle is out of alignment with your true needs? 

Through the incorporation of my integrative work, we can bypass the rational mind that keeps you trapped in high-performance mode and begin to heal the underlying tension.

Let’s find a different way to live with anxiety counselling 

Specialised anxiety counselling isn’t about making you less productive; it’s about making your life more sustainable and authentic. It’s about learning that you are enough, even when you aren’t achieving. 

Imagine the liberation of walking into a room without the weight of perfection on your shoulders. I can work with you to help you make this a reality. 

Are you trapped in this high-functioning trap? Contact me! 

If you recognise yourself in this high-functioning trap, there is a way to find balance without losing your edge through anxiety counselling at Penny Glazebrook Counselling & Psychotherapy

If you would like to explore a different way of being, I offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation to discuss how we can work together to ease the pressure. Please feel free to call me on 07739 106062 or get in touch via my website to book a session. 

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Grief and Anxiety During the Holidays: Why This Time of Year Feels Heavier https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/grief-and-anxiety-during-the-holidays-why-this-time-of-year-feels-heavier/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/grief-and-anxiety-during-the-holidays-why-this-time-of-year-feels-heavier/#respond Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:43:15 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1654 For many of us, this time of year is supposed to feel warm and joyful, but for those people living through any sort of grief or anxiety, it can be a very different experience altogether.  You may find yourself wondering why the lights, music, and celebrations feel heavier rather than comforting. You may notice that […]

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For many of us, this time of year is supposed to feel warm and joyful, but for those people living through any sort of grief or anxiety, it can be a very different experience altogether. 

You may find yourself wondering why the lights, music, and celebrations feel heavier rather than comforting. You may notice that old memories rise up when you least expect them or that you feel on edge even when nothing seems to be going wrong. 

These tender moments bring people to anxiety counselling because they’re looking for a safe place in which to make sense of what they’re carrying.

When the Holidays Bring Up What You Thought You Had Packed Away

Grief is not neatly categorised. 

For months, it may be all quiet and then suddenly, as the world begins to build up to merriment, there it is again. You might miss someone who is no longer here, or you might feel the loss of a changed relationship. Positive memories can still be painful because you could realise life moved on without that person or that version of you.

Anxiety often accompanies grief. 

You may be apprehensive about how you will make it through gatherings or be concerned that people place demands on you to appear cheerful when your heart is weary. 

Many individuals are anxious about being asked questions they are not ready to answer, or worse, fear becoming emotional in front of others. These concerns happen more often than you may think. It does not mean you are failing. It means you are human and in pain.

Why Does the Season Feel So Intensely Emotional?

The holidays encourage togetherness and tend to make not having someone close all the more noticeable. Where you might otherwise feel quite capable of handling the loss, there are reminders everywhere. Songs, traditions, smells of foods, family routines, photographs, and memories linked with a specific time of year open old wounds.

On top of this, the season can disrupt routine. Things change. There can be trips, social gatherings, and pressure or expectations from others. When your emotional world already feels tender, these extra layers can heighten anxiety. You might feel tension in your body, difficulty sleeping, or a feeling like you are bracing for something you cannot name.

I make it a point in counselling sessions to remind people that feeling heavier at this time of year does not mean one is moving backwards. It’s a natural response to a season that comes with emotional weight.

Learning to Treat Yourself with Gentleness

One of the most healing things you can do during the holiday period is to listen to yourself. This may mean allowing for quieter days or taking breaks from social events. It may mean creating new traditions or stepping back from activities that feel too painful this year. Not every moment needs to be filled. It is completely acceptable to choose what feels manageable.

Talking about it openly with trusted people can help, too. You may be surprised by how many others feel the same way but have been afraid to talk about it. When grief and anxiety are carried silently, they feel heavier. When they are shared, even gently, there is relief.

In therapy, we explore what your grief looks like today and what your anxiety needs in order to settle. I support you in noticing the triggers that feel sharper during this season and finding ways to soothe yourself without judgment. Over time, that helps you move through the holidays with more steadiness and less fear.

Finding Support When You Need It

If you’re feeling the weight of your grief or finding holidays more overwhelming than comforting, reaching out for support can make a difference. This is where anxiety counselling in Hertfordshire offers calm guidance as one navigates such a complicated time. We look together at what you are carrying, what feels frightening, and what might help you breathe a little more easily.

I offer a free initial telephone consultation, giving you space to talk through your worries and ask any questions before beginning therapy. It is my aim at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy to help you feel understood, supported, and better equipped to negotiate this emotionally demanding season.

If you feel ready to explore how counselling might help, I’m here to help walk you through it. You don’t have to manage these heavier moments alone.

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I Just Want to Make You Happy… But I’m Stressed Too”: People-Pleasing vs. Anxiety https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/i-just-want-to-make-you-happy-but-im-stressed-too-people-pleasing-vs-anxiety/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/i-just-want-to-make-you-happy-but-im-stressed-too-people-pleasing-vs-anxiety/#respond Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:15:01 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1591 It’s a feeling many couples identify with. You wish to do all for your partner, maintain peace, and make them feel loved. And yet, there’s also this tension lurking beneath. You’re exhausted, anxious, or stressed, and it’s becoming difficult to sustain.  You find yourself wondering, “Why can’t I let go? Why does this weigh on […]

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anxiety counselling

It’s a feeling many couples identify with. You wish to do all for your partner, maintain peace, and make them feel loved. And yet, there’s also this tension lurking beneath. You’re exhausted, anxious, or stressed, and it’s becoming difficult to sustain. 

You find yourself wondering, “Why can’t I let go? Why does this weigh on me so much?”

If that resonates with you, it’s not necessarily about being a failure at being a partner. More often than not, it’s about people-pleasing and anxiety patterns that have crept up on you over the years.

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy, I specialise in relationship and anxiety counselling to assist couples and individuals in identifying these patterns and learning how to attain healthier ways of connecting without losing themselves.

Why People-Pleasing Can Feel So Strong

People-pleasing usually stems from a fear of conflict, rejection, or disappointing others. You may have learned early that maintaining others’ happiness brings safety, acceptance, or love. This may appear in relationships as predictable appeasing, conflict avoidance, or prioritising your partner’s needs over yours.

At first glance, it can seem like you’re being a supportive, nurturing partner. But, after a while, it becomes stressful, resentful, and draining. You might see that:

  • You’re hard-pressed to say no, even when you’d rather not.
  • You second-guess your words or actions, worried that they’ll offend your partner.
  • You disregard your own needs to avoid arguments or feelings of disappointment.

These habits are normally tightly associated with anxiety. 

The anxiety that “I have to get this right” or “I can’t disturb them” fills up mental space, and not much is left for relaxation and pleasure in the relationship.

How Anxiety Affects Communication

Anxiety can strengthen people-pleasing behaviours. When your mind is continually on the lookout for potential errors or means of irritating your partner, you’re prone to mishear things or overreact to slight conflicts. You may catch yourself:

  • Often apologising for little things.
  • Being defensive or feeling guilty about stating your own needs.
  • Steering clear of tough conversations to avoid conflict.

This cycle tends to create a feeling of emotional distance. Your partner picks up on your tension or feels annoyed that you’re not present, even though you’re doing everything you can to please them.

Counselling Can Help You Break the Cycle

Relationship counselling provides a safe environment to identify and break these patterns with your partner. We can explore:

  • Why do people-pleasing and anxiety keep appearing in your relationship?
  • How your stress impacts your relationship with your partner.
  • Practical approaches to express your needs without feeling guilty.

In relationship and anxiety counselling, we can also work on how you are triggered, learn some coping skills, and build self-compassion. I don’t aim to change who you are, but rather how you notice patterns and make decisions that feel congruent and sustainable.

Together, you can begin to make small changes: saying no when necessary, communicating your own preferences, and seeing that your partner can tolerate straight talk without it threatening the relationship.

Small Steps towards Balancing Care and Self-Care

You do not need to change a lot all at once. Counselling may emphasise small, realistic steps, such as:

  • Pausing before answering requests or suggestions.
  • Labelling your emotions out loud (“I feel stressed, I need a five-minute break”).
  • Understanding that looking after yourself doesn’t mean you love your partner less.

These little steps become confident behaviour, less anxiety, and a more authentic connection in your relationship over time.

Taking the First Step

If you’ve been struggling to balance your own needs with your partner’s, and the stress feels overwhelming, seeking support can help. Searching for relationship counselling or anxiety counselling near you is a good first step.

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy, I can support you in unpacking why people-pleasing and anxiety are showing up in your relationship and assist you towards more constructive means of connecting. You don’t have to do this alone. If you are willing to feel more confident, heard, and balanced in your relationship, please contact me. We can work together to discover the patterns that are keeping you stuck and begin constructing a relationship where both of you feel supported, respected, and truly happy.

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Parenting With Anxiety: Supporting Children While Managing Your Own Fears https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/parenting-with-anxiety-supporting-children-while-managing-your-own-fears/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/parenting-with-anxiety-supporting-children-while-managing-your-own-fears/#respond Fri, 24 Oct 2025 20:46:45 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1586 Have you ever found yourself worrying about your child’s future, their friendships, or their safety, only to realise that your own fears are clouding the way you parent?  It’s a common and challenging experience. You want to be a source of calm and security for your children, but you’re constantly battling an internal storm of […]

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Have you ever found yourself worrying about your child’s future, their friendships, or their safety, only to realise that your own fears are clouding the way you parent? 

It’s a common and challenging experience. You want to be a source of calm and security for your children, but you’re constantly battling an internal storm of anxiety. This battle can leave you guilty, drained, and worried that you are not providing your kids with the best of yourself.

So how do you balance your own fears with building your child’s emotional strength? This is not something that you need to struggle with alone. In fact, seeking anxiety counselling in Hertfordshire can give you the tools to get back on track, not just for you, but for your family.

anxiety counselling in Hertfordshire

The Ripple Effect of Parental Anxiety

Anxiety isn’t something you turn on and off like a tap. It can show itself in so many ways: constant worry, controlling behaviours, staying away from new situations, or even snapping at the people you love. 

When you’re a parent, these actions have a ripple effect. Children are so sensitive. They detect your stress, your tension, and your unease even when you’re trying to conceal it. This can unconsciously show them that the world is a threatening place and that it is normal to feel anxious, which may stifle their growth to explore and be independent.

It is simple to fall into a trap of fearful overprotectiveness that can stop children from gaining confidence to overcome their own challenges. You might not know it, but your desire to control a situation could be a sign of your own anxiety, rather than a protective measure for your child. The goal is to manage your own emotional state so that you can respond with calm and presence instead of reacting out of fear.

Finding a Path to Calm

The first step in coping with your anxiety is to own it. Acknowledge that it is an actual challenge that needs to be addressed, as with any other health issue. This is not weak; it is a strength of character to face what is keeping you from moving forward. This is where professional assistance steps in. As a psychotherapist I am able to help you pinpoint the reasons behind your anxiety and equip you with proper coping strategies. You’ll become aware of anxious thoughts and behaviours and learn how to react to them in a more balanced manner.

For most individuals, just the idea of therapy can be intimidating, but finding an appropriately qualified specialist is the initial step towards regaining a sense of calm. A search for counselling near me can assist you in discovering a caring mentor at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy who can provide you with an unbiased environment to discuss your fears and vulnerabilities.

Building Emotional Resilience for Yourself and Your Child

By managing your own anxiety, you are providing your child with the most precious gift: a demonstration of what it means to meet fear with courage. As you are able to navigate your own emotional landscape, you are more present and emotionally available to your child. Rather than overreacting in fear, you are able to respond with empathy and calm, letting them know they are safe and secure. You’ll also learn how to separate real risk from irrational fear, giving your child the liberty to expand and learn from their own experiences.

Engaging in anxiety counselling in Hertfordshire gives you a focused area to concentrate on your own wellbeing. This isn’t selfish; it’s self-care. If you were able to take care of your own needs, you are better equipped to support your family.

At Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy, I walk parents through this journey, enabling them to develop emotional strength and end the cycle of fear. I aim to assist you in feeling more empowered, so that you can parent from a position of strength, rather than fear. The resources available to help parents who are trying to cope with their mental health are vast, and reliable anxiety counselling in the UK can give you the advice you need to assist your children while doing so effectively for yourself. You and your loved ones are worth living with less fear and more peace.

If you feel that you could benefit from scheduling some therapy sessions with me at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy to overcome your anxiety and parent your kids with confidence. Contact me for an initial discussion and let’s schedule your first session. 

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Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Counselling St. Albans https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/generalised-anxiety-disorder-counselling-st-albans/ https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/generalised-anxiety-disorder-counselling-st-albans/#respond Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:01:17 +0000 https://www.pennyglazebrookcounselling.co.uk/?p=1475 We all have the inbuilt capacity for ‘fight/freeze/flight’.  From an evolutionary perspective, we relied on those inbuilt instincts in order to survive.  However, as time has evolved, we have moved passed the hunter/gatherer instincts, in that our day-to-day needs have become more sophisticated. Sophisticated needs and modern society can exacerbate mental health conditions such as […]

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We all have the inbuilt capacity for ‘fight/freeze/flight’.  From an evolutionary perspective, we relied on those inbuilt instincts in order to survive.  However, as time has evolved, we have moved passed the hunter/gatherer instincts, in that our day-to-day needs have become more sophisticated. Sophisticated needs and modern society can exacerbate mental health conditions such as generalised anxiety.  There are some general factors that are worthwhile to consider.

Societal pressures can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety, as people feel the need to meet cultural or societal expectations, or norms.  As such, I feel that there is a need to step outside of this thinking state in order to fulfil our true needs and to reach our full potentials.  Ways of self-expression are unique to who we truly are and could be viewed as the gateway to self-fulfilment.

Generalised anxiety disorder Counselling in St. Albans is one of the primary topics that I concentrate on in my practice.  For good reason.  Anxiety is the body’s way of alerting us to the fact that something is fundamentally wrong and that our well-being is being minimalised and/or neglected.  For various reasons. 
Some of these factors may include:

  • You are feeling under lots of pressure
  • Big milestones in your life feel overwhelming
  • Constantly worrying about certain factors in your life
  • Feeling that your situation is out of control
  • Limited in your core beliefs
  • Too many responsibilities
  • Under stimulated (perpetual boredom) or over stimulated (stress) in your day to day living
  • Breakdown of communications in your interpersonal relationships
  • Money problems
  • Problems with how you identify with yourself and others

The above list is not exhaustive.  For example, unconscious memories of our childhood upbringing and the ways in which we have had to navigate ourselves could have resulted in negative core beliefs.  These inbuilt psychological factors can still be motivating factors in our lives, but we choose to believe that “it’s all in the past” and they are not worth exploring.  This way of thinking could lead to a myriad of wrong turns being taken in our lives and the inevitable consequences.

Another factor that may exacerbate generalised anxiety and correlated low mood is the need for modern day quick turnarounds.  Multifaceted social media apps that are available at a tap of a finger and their various algorithms can lead to an ever-increasing need for stimulating information that encourages us to embark on a labyrinth of confusing choices.  A psychological term known as ‘delayed gratification’ or ‘patience is a virtue’ seem to be distant echoes of the past.  In that, people seem to want quick fixes. 

Within my 23 years of treating generalised anxiety disorder counselling in St. Albans the only clear-cut and concise way of truly healing stress, anxiety and low mood is that of seeking professional counselling and psychotherapy.

If you feel that you could benefit from professional counselling and psychotherapy when considering how to heal your individual anxieties, please contact me at Penny Glazebrook Counselling and Psychotherapy today and make a true difference to your everyday lives.

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