If you’ve ever thought “I understand why I feel this way… so why do I still feel it?” this one’s for you.
I often meet smart, capable clients who tell me:
I know this anxiety is irrational, but I just can’t seem to shake it.
It’s so frustrating. I thought I was smarter than this.
You know, logically, that:
- Tonight’s date will go fine.
- Flying is safer than driving to the airport.
- You’ve turned the gas off.
- You don’t need to Google that ailment.
- [Insert your own personal flavour of anxiety here]
And yet, your body still reacts as if something is wrong.
You’ve analysed and re-analysed these fears to death.
Maybe you’ve even spent years talking about them in therapy.
But understanding hasn’t made them stop.
It’s not your fault. The message we often get is: “You can beat anxiety with logic!” But if that were true, you’d be feeling better.
We need a new way of doing things. One that takes into account how the brain actually works.
Anxiety doesn’t live in the “thinking” part of the brain
Think of your brain as having two different bits of software:
Your Intellectual mind (aka the prefrontal cortex + main cortex) is responsible for logic, reasoning and perspective. It can think clearly and come up with solutions based on a proper assessment of the situation.
But anxiety doesn’t live there. Anxiety is primarily driven by older, survival-based parts of the brain: the Primitive brain. This is the part that’s responsible for keeping you alive by pressing that fight-or-flight button. And it gives zero f@*s if you’re happy or not.
When anxiety is active, the threat system is switched on.
At that point, trying to solve anxiety with logic is like trying to put out a fire by engaging it in a clever debate.
Why overthinking can make anxiety worse
It’s tempting to tell ourselves that if we could just analyse every possible angle of a problem, we’d feel safe and in control.
But it doesn’t work. Because:
A) It’s a bottomless pit. There will always be another “what if”.
B) Arguing with anxiety can actually feed it.
Trying to reason with an anxious thought forces your nervous system to relive that thought over and over again, making you feel even more dysregulated.
And that’s not all. The more you focus on the anxious thought, the more you train your brain to believe your anxiety is important, the more you feel the urge to analyse. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps anxiety alive.
This is why highly capable, logical people often feel stuck with anxiety. Not because they lack insight, but because insight alone can’t soothe our nervous system.
What actually helps calm anxiety
To calm anxiety and regulate your nervous system, the brain needs signals of safety, not arguments.
How? Spoiler alert. You probably already know ALL of this.
Sleep matters. Movement matters. Eating regularly. Getting daylight. Breathing properly.
Some studies show that exercise can be as effective as medication or talking therapy for mild to moderate anxiety.
None of this is new or groundbreaking.
But (and this is important) knowing what helps doesn’t always mean being able to do it. When anxiety is high, the brain is stuck in protection mode. Motivation drops. Habits feel impossible.
This is where support from a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist can be really helpful.
How hypnotherapy supports an anxious brain
Hypnotherapy works with the brain’s natural systems, rather than against them.
But that’s not all we do. In our Solution Focused Hypnotherapy sessions, we also:
- gently refocus on where you want to be, rather than endlessly trying to “fix” you
- improve your sleep, the body’s natural and oh-so powerful system for lowering anxiety
- use relaxation and imagery to support neural change
- strengthen the brain’s ability to respond rather than react
- break the cycle of overthinking that feeds anxiety
Hypnosis can create the conditions for the brain to:
- settle
- reorganise
- and learn that it’s safe to switch off “anxiety mode”
Many people notice improvements in:
- Sleep
- Emotional regulation
- Perspective
- Resilience
- Work
- Relationships
- Motivation
- Creativity
…without needing to analyse every single anxious thought.
Logic still matters
This doesn’t mean logic is useless.
Once the nervous system is calmer, the Intellectual mind can come back online. That’s when reflection and insight become supportive, rather than exhausting. Your worst-case scenarios require a huge amount of creativity… imagine putting it to good use!
In short:
- Calm your nervous system
- Then work with the mind
(Not the other way around.)
If you’re stuck in an anxiety spiral
If you’ve tried to think your way out of anxiety and found it hasn’t worked – you’re not alone.
It may be that your brain needs a different kind of support.
I offer Solution Focused Hypnotherapy in Brighton & Hove and online, supporting adults who feel stuck in cycles of anxiety and overwhelm. This is what my clients have to say about working with me:
Frances helped me to feel confident dealing with situations that would previously have caused fear and anxiety. My mind feels calmer and quieter, and my general stress levels have been significantly reduced since starting the course.
M, Brighton
Why not book a free consultation? It’s completely zero cost and no-strings-attached. Just a gentle opportunity for us to meet, to chat, and to explore whether this approach feels right for you.
