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Learn more about anxiety
Anxiety is a natural stress response involving persistent worry, unease, or fear, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, tense muscles, or shortness of breath. Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, but when it becomes frequent, intense, or hard to control, it can develop into an anxiety disorder that interferes with daily activities. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, and different types, including generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and health anxiety, are shaped by what triggers the fear response and how it presents. Therapy is one of the most effective ways to manage anxiety, whether it's occasional or diagnosed as a specific disorder.
Anxiety can build gradually, and how it feels often depends on what triggers it and how long it has been present.
Common signs include:
- Persistent or excessive worry that is hard to switch off
- A racing heart, muscle tension, or shortness of breath
- Difficulty concentrating, or a mind that jumps between worries
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Irritability or feeling constantly on edge
- Avoiding situations, places, or conversations that trigger anxious feelings
- Sweating, trembling, or nausea during moments of intense anxiety
- A tendency to expect the worst outcome in uncertain situations
Several therapeutic approaches can help with anxiety, and the right one often depends on what's driving it and how it shows up day to day.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) helps you identify and challenge the thought patterns that fuel anxious feelings. It's often the first approach recommended for anxiety because of its structured, practical focus.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) focuses on changing your relationship with anxious thoughts rather than eliminating them. It can help when anxiety feels persistent despite other strategies.
Mindfulness builds awareness of anxious thoughts and physical sensations as they arise, without reacting to them straight away. It's often used alongside other approaches to reduce overall stress.
Psychodynamic therapy explores the underlying patterns and past experiences that may contribute to anxiety. It can help when anxiety seems connected to longer-standing emotional patterns.
Schema therapy addresses deep-rooted patterns formed early in life that can drive chronic anxiety. It's often suited to anxiety that has been present for a long time.
Choosing an approach isn't something you have to do alone. IC's matching can pair you with a therapist whose approach suits your situation. Get matched.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. The platform is free to use, with over 2,500 vetted therapists offering in-person sessions in cities including Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Vienna, alongside online sessions worldwide.
Choosing a therapist for anxiety can feel like one more thing to manage when you're already overwhelmed. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in anxiety, or browse all anxiety therapists in the directory.
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