Common symptoms & experiences
A gentle overview of the kinds of difficulties that can bring people to therapy.
You may not recognise yourself in everything here. But if parts of this feel familiar, it can be a useful starting point.
Often, these experiences interconnected ways your mind and body have learned to cope, adapt, or protect you.
Some of the ways this can show up
Difficulties in relationships and closeness
When connection feels hard, unsafe, or confusing.
recurring relationship difficulties or attachment wounds
loneliness, separation, or the impact of loss or divorce
difficulty trusting, receiving care, or feeling secure in closeness
Feeling anxious, on edge, or overwhelmed
When your system rarely settles and things feel too much.
a constant sense of anxiety, pressure, or alertness
panic, chronic stress, or feeling easily triggered
social anxiety, phobias, or health-related worries
Getting stuck in overthinking or repetitive patterns
When your mind will not let go, or you feel driven to find certainty.
intrusive or obsessive thoughts
checking, repeating, or seeking reassurance
difficulty tolerating uncertainty, avoidance, or mental rituals
Exhaustion, shutdown, or brain fog
When everything feels slowed down, heavy, or hard to access.
persistent fatigue, burnout, or low motivation
flatness, numbness, or difficulty concentrating
a sense of being “offline” or not fully present
Feeling disconnected, unreal, or not fully present
When you feel cut off from yourself, others, or the world around you.
feeling detached, distant, or unreal
disconnection from your body or emotions
going away or shutting off when things feel too much
Low mood, self-criticism, or feeling stuck
When things feel heavy, self-critical, or hard to shift.
low mood or depression
shame, low self-esteem, or harsh inner criticism
perfectionism, stuckness, or a sense of not being good enough
Attention, sensory, or regulation differences
When focus, organisation, or overwhelm are part of how your system works.
ADHD-related difficulties, including focus or executive functioning
autistic or other neurodivergent ways of experiencing the world
sensory overwhelm or challenges with regulation, pacing, or energy
Ways you have had to cope or protect yourself
Patterns that once made sense, but may now feel limiting.
people-pleasing, over-adapting, or withdrawing
shutting down under pressure
striving, perfectionism, over-control, or difficulty letting go
If you are not sure where you fit, we can work that out together.
A different way of understanding this
These experiences are not signs that something is wrong with you.
They often reflect how your system has learned to cope — especially under stress, in relationships, or in response to earlier experiences.
Therapy may begin with making things feel more manageable in the present, including supporting nervous-system regulation where needed, and can move into deeper trauma work when that feels appropriate and possible.
Therapy is about understanding these patterns with care, and gradually creating more space for choice, steadiness, and connection.
You may also wish to explore:
If some of this feels familiar
You are welcome to book a free 20-minute consultation.
We can talk about what feels difficult, what you are hoping for, and whether this way of working might help.
There is no pressure to continue.
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