What's worrying you?

What's worrying you?

From anxiety and depression to stress, loneliness and relationship problems, there are many reasons why people seek the support of a professional. Browse our "What's worrying you?" section to learn more.

Are you looking for help? Select from the areas below or browse the full list to learn more about each topic and the various avenues for support.
Image
View All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Image
Meet our expert panel Our content is reviewed by professionals Find out more
Kaye Bewley Julie Crawford Laura Duester Fran Jeffes Sulette Snyman Nora Allali-Carling

Abortion

There are many reasons why someone may decide to end their pregnancy and, in Great Britain, the law allows people to do so up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. This experience can be a dif... Read more

Abuse

Stay safe: Read our information on how to cover your tracks online and browse the Internet privately. There are many different types of abuse. Commonly known forms of abuse inclu... Read more

Addiction

Addiction is the term used when someone is unable to control certain habits and behaviours, to the point where they are becoming harmful. Some examples of addiction include an addi... Read more

ADHD

Counselling for ADHD can help both adults and children learn effective strategies to make everyday life easier, and cope with associated mental health challenges. Read more

Adoption counselling for adults

If your life has been affected by adoption, you may be looking for some answers to specific questions, or you may just feel as though you require some additional support in your li... Read more

Adoption counselling for children

If you or a young person you know has felt an impact following adoption, it can be helpful to know that there is support available for parents and children, which can guide both yo... Read more

Affairs and betrayals

Affairs and betrayals can break trust and greatly affect the well-being of everyone involved. Relationship counselling provides an opportunity for individuals to work through hurt... Read more

Alcoholism

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, describes the repeated misuse of and dependence on alcoholic substances. On this page, we'll explore alcoholism,... Read more

Anger management

Feeling angry is a natural response to certain life experiences. It’s a basic emotion; occurring at times when we come under attack, feel deceived, insulted or frustrated. W... Read more

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia is an eating disorder that sees sufferers restrict their food intake. Often this is due to a fear of weight gain, an attempt to regain control and/or as a way to cope with... Read more

Antisocial personality disorder

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) can affect people in various ways, such as a lack of empathy and insensitive behaviour. Here we take a look at the symptoms, causes, and the... Read more

Anxiety

Anxiety is used to describe feelings of worry, fear and unease. Typically, it incorporates both the emotional and physical sensations we experience when worried or nervous. We will... Read more

ARFID

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, is a type of eating disorder that results in people restricting food in some way. Here psychotherapist and counsellor Maggie Le... Read more

Asperger's syndrome

Asperger’s syndrome is part of a group of neurodevelopment conditions collectively known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While Asperger's Syndrome is no longer an official... Read more

Attachment disorder

From birth, we develop a bond with our main caregivers. When this bond is not formed, this can lead to attachment difficulties that continue into adulthood.  Here, we’ll... Read more

Attachment disorder in children

Attachment disorder is a condition that can develop in young children who have, for whatever reason, not been able to establish an emotional connection (known as the attachment bon... Read more

Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects how people interact with the world. While autistic people may share similar traits, they will be affected in different ways. Here... Read more

Avoidant personality disorder

Many of us can feel shy in certain situations but for around 2% of the population, extreme shyness and fear of rejection make forming relationships near impossible. This is known a... Read more

Behaviour problems

Children can behave in ways we find to be inappropriate for many different reasons, such as being tired, hungry, overexcited, frustrated, or even bored. Pushing the limits can be n... Read more

Bereavement

If you have experienced the death of someone who was important to you, you might be finding it difficult to adjust to the changes happening in your life right now. Grief can shake... Read more

Binge-eating disorder

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a mental health condition that causes people to eat large quantities of food, often feeling unable to stop.  Read more

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterised by dramatic shifts in mood, energy, behaviour, and thinking. On this page, we'll explore what bipolar disorder is, inclu... Read more

Blended family

Families come in all forms, and sometimes the way we define our family unit can change over time. This can mean old relationships fall apart and new families are formed. A blended... Read more

Boarding school syndrome

Counselling allows a safe space for people struggling with boarding school syndrome to express feelings such as abandonment, guilt, and sadness. Here, integrative counsellor and bo... Read more

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), otherwise known as body dysmorphia, is a condition that causes a person to have a distorted view of their appearance. Considered an anxiety disorder... Read more

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD), also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), is a type of personality disorder. You may be diagnosed with a personali... Read more

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that involves eating large quantities of food (known as bingeing) and then purging to 'get rid' of the food. Here we will look at bulim... Read more

Bullying

Being bullied is a hurtful experience that can have long-term effects on our mental health. Here, we look at what bullying is, how counselling can help, and how to support someone... Read more

Burnout

If a constant cycle of stress has left you feeling empty, helpless, and completely drained, you may be on the road to burnout. On this page, we’ll explore the signs of burnin... Read more

Cancer

Many of us are touched by cancer at some time in our lives, whether we've been diagnosed ourselves or know of someone who has been. Regardless of whether it’s yourself, a fam... Read more

Career counselling

Career counselling is an option for when an individual needs confidential support and advice about areas of study and possible career movements, developments or changes. It provide... Read more

Carer support

Unpaid carers are people who look after a friend, partner or loved one who is ill, disabled, old, or experiencing mental illness. Whether you help around the clock or for a few hou... Read more

Child counselling

Child counselling offers young people a safe space to discuss and work through anything they may be struggling with. This could include family worries, exam stress and mental healt... Read more

Childhood bereavement

When a child or young person experiences death for the first time, they can grieve just as deeply as adults. The way that children show and cope with their grief can be different.... Read more

Childhood bullying

Most people have been teased by a friend or a sibling at some point in their lives. It’s normally playful, friendly and both of you will find it funny. But, sometimes it&rsqu... Read more

Childless not by choice

Involuntary childlessness (also known as childless-not-by-choice, or childless by circumstance) refers to people who have wanted to be parents, but who have not been able to due to... Read more

Children’s learning difficulties

A person with learning difficulties may be described as having problems developing their knowledge and skills to the normal level expected of their peers, and others the same age. Read more

Christian counselling

Christian counsellors aim to support people towards personal growth through a caring therapeutic relationship. Here, integrative and Christian counsellor, Christel Ceraline (MACC A... Read more

Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalopathy (ME) is a long-term condition that can make it difficult to carry out daily activities, lead to changes in life... Read more

Chronic illness

A chronic illness is a long-term health condition that currently has no cure. These conditions can usually be managed by medication and other treatments to improve quality of life.... Read more

Climate and eco-anxiety

We can all feel worried about the future of our planet from time to time, but eco-anxiety is more than this. It is a fear of environmental doom. This can make people feel hopeless,... Read more

Dementia

Coming to terms with the diagnosis of dementia can be very difficult, not only for the person who has been diagnosed but also for family and friends. While dementia is not physical... Read more

Dependent personality disorder

Dependent personality disorder is a mental health condition where people exhibit an intense need to be taken care of, resulting in behaviours that others may characterise as &lsquo... Read more

Depression

We all have times when we feel sad, but depression is something that affects your daily life, making it hard to find enjoyment in day-to-day activities. We take a look at what depr... Read more

Depression and anxiety in children

Counselling for children struggling with their mental health provides a safe, confidential space that can help them express and understand their emotions. Read more

Disabilities

In the UK, there are over 14.1 million people with a disability, impairment or limiting long-term illness. Here, we will explore the types of disabilities, and the options availabl... Read more

Discrimination

Discrimination is the act of treating someone unfairly because of who they are, their beliefs or because they possess certain characteristics. Read more

Dissociation

Dissociation refers to the mental process of disconnecting from your thoughts, feelings, memories, or identity as a way of trying to protect yourself. We explain more about the sid... Read more

Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse (also known as domestic violence) can involve physical, emotional, mental, financial and/or sexual abuse. Usually, it happens with someone you are close to, either w... Read more

Drug addiction

There are many reasons why someone may start using drugs, from curiosity and peer pressure to seeing family members use and trying to cope with difficult emotions. For some pe... Read more

Dyslexia

A dyslexic person can be described as someone who has problems with the way they process information. Dyslexia isn't related to intelligence and it usually runs in the family. Here... Read more

Dyspraxia

A dyspraxic person can be described as someone who has problems with physical coordination. Dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder (DCD) causes a person to go about daily... Read more

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect people emotionally, physically and socially. They centre on a person's relationship with food, eating and themselv... Read more

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse (also called psychological abuse) is a type of abuse where someone tries to use emotions to manipulate, embarrass, shame, blame, criticise, or otherwise try and gai... Read more

Family issues

We all start life with a family, whether that family is blood relatives, adopted parents, or a foster family. Our families influence almost every aspect of our lives, from our firs... Read more

Feeling sad

Feeling down? You're not alone. Everyone feels sad or experiences a low mood at times. Sadness is a natural human emotion and, like other emotions, sad feelings come and go; they&r... Read more

Gambling

Gambling is an activity where people take part in a game by placing something of monetary value at risk in order to win money or a prize. Gambling is not necessarily a bad thing, b... Read more

Gender dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a term used to describe the distress a person feels when their gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Here we look more closely at what gend... Read more

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Generalised anxiety disorder (also referred to as GAD) is a long-term condition that causes sufferers to feel anxious about a variety of situations/issues, rather than one specific... Read more

Health anxiety

We all worry about our health from time to time. However, when it's when these worries start to take over your life that things become problematic. Read more

Hearing voices

Hearing voices, or experiencing auditory hallucinations, is not as rare as you might think. It’s estimated that as many as one in 10 people hear voices on a more regular basi... Read more

High sensitivity

Do you often walk into rooms and know when there’s been an argument? Do TV shows and movies seem to affect you more deeply than others? Perhaps you feel like the only one who... Read more

Histrionic personality disorder

Histrionic personality disorder is a mental health condition that is primarily characterised by unstable emotions, attention-seeking behaviour and a distorted self-image where self... Read more

HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system, making it harder to fight everyday illnesses. When the immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus, this c... Read more

Hoarding

Hoarding disorders are when someone acquires an excessive number of things, storing them in a chaotic way and typically resulting in unmanageable clutter. We explain more about hoa... Read more

Infertility

If you want to have a baby, experiencing fertility problems or infertility can be a hugely emotional time. Getting the right support can help you navigate your situation and find a... Read more

Internet addiction

Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is the term used to describe excessive Internet use that affects a person's daily life. While in many ways, it's a positive step that we can conne... Read more

Jealousy

Many of us have felt jealous, but what happens when it becomes overpowering? Here we look at jealousy in more detail and how it can impact mental health. Read more

Kink-aware therapy

What is a BDSM-aware or kink-aware therapist, what can they help with, and how can you find the right therapist for you? We explain more. Read more

Learning difficulties

A learning difficulty impacts the way someone learns. There are several different types of learning difficulties and someone may have one, or a combination. Here we'll explore lear... Read more

Learning disabilities

There are approximately 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability. A learning disability affects how someone manages everyday activities and learns new things. Here w... Read more

LGBTQ+ counselling

Our sexuality and gender can form a big part of our identity and those who don’t fit society’s heteronormative ideal can come up against more challenges. Those who iden... Read more

Loneliness

Loneliness is something we all may experience at some point in our lives. For many, it’s a feeling that only lasts a moment, appearing in certain situations. But others may f... Read more

Low self-confidence

Low self-confidence is something that many of us experience but, over time, it can have a negative impact on our mental health. Here, we'll explore self-confidence in more detail,... Read more

Low self-esteem

Over time, low self-esteem can have a negative impact on our mental health. You may also find having certain mental health conditions impacts your self-esteem. Here, we will be loo... Read more

Menopause

Menopause is the time that marks the end of your menstrual cycles. While it's a natural part of the normal ageing process, menopause can be more emotionally and physically challeng... Read more

Mental health

When we talk about mental health, there is often a misconception about what it is and who it affects. First and foremost, mental health is not the same as a mental health issue or... Read more

Miscarriage

Miscarriage is the term used to explain the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks. Later loss (at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy) is known as a stillbirth. If you’ve been affec... Read more

Money

Whilst the ‘m’ word is one that many of us feel uncomfortable thinking or talking about, it is something that affects all of us in some way. With the cost of living cri... Read more

Narcissistic abuse

Living with a narcissistic partner or family member can result in narcissistic abuse, also known as narcissistic abuse syndrome. This can weigh heavily on a person's mental health... Read more

Narcissistic personality disorder

We all display some degree of narcissism from time to time. For some, however, it is a permanent fixture. Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) gives those with the condition an... Read more

Neurodiversity

Originally used by the autistic community who were keen to move away from the medical model of autism, neurodiversity has become an umbrella term to describe the diverse ways of th... Read more

Non-monogamy

If you’re thinking about or practising non-monogamy and you need a little extra support, you’re not alone. Counselling can help you individually, or you and a partner o... Read more

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) involves intrusive and obsessional thoughts, often followed by compulsive urges. These obsessions can be overwhelming, and the only way a person... Read more

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is a condition where people get very caught up in rituals and routines. Their preoccupation with orderliness and control can overta... Read more

Older people's counselling

The World Health Organization notes that by 2030, one in six adults will be aged 60 or over. With the population of over 80's expected to triple between now and 2050, we are set to... Read more

Panic attacks

When we feel anxious, we can feel uneasy and may experience physical symptoms such as chest pain and dizziness. For some people, this anxiety can become so intense that it triggers... Read more

Paranoia

Paranoia is when we think or feel that we’re in danger or under threat, with little to no evidence. On this page, we’ll look into the topic of paranoia in more detail,... Read more

Paranoid personality disorder

Paranoid personality disorder is a mental health condition whereby people are strongly suspicious and distrustful of others. Here, we will take a closer look at what paranoid perso... Read more

Passive-aggressive behaviour

Also described as non-verbal aggression, passive-aggressive behaviour refers to when you are angry or upset with someone, but don’t or can’t tell them. Frustrating and... Read more

Perfectionism

Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to meet extremely high standards? Do you then find fault with yourself when you don’t meet these expectations? You may be a perf... Read more

Personality disorders

Living with a personality disorder may mean your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are more difficult to understand and manage. This may also mean that your attitudes and actions... Read more

Phobias

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder where anxiety is experienced regularly and sufferers feel constantly restless, worried, and usually unable to sleep and concentrate properly.... Read more

Physical abuse

Physical abuse is when somebody intentionally causes physical harm to another person. This can take many different forms and affect people of all ages. This form of abuse often co... Read more

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after being involved in (or witnessing) something traumatic. The condition was... Read more

Postnatal depression

While having a baby is often a time of happiness, not all new parents experience this joy right away. Exhaustion, shock, and stress can lead to many feeling emotional and tearful a... Read more

Pregnancy and birth

Pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year after having a baby can be both an exciting and scary time. With as many as one in five women developing a mental illness during pregnancy... Read more

Psychosis

Psychosis is when a person loses touch with reality, and the line between what is real and what is not becomes blurred. Psychosis often prevents a person from thinking clearly and... Read more

Race and racial identity

Mental health and race are two complex aspects of the human experience that intertwine intricately, often contributing heavily to lived experiences. The more diverse our societies... Read more

Racism

Racism is when someone discriminates against another person based on them being in a particular racial or ethnic group. This discrimination takes place individually and more widely... Read more

Redundancy

The dictionary defines redundancy as the state of being no longer needed or useful, and whether that description applies to machinery or humans - the implications can be gloomy. Lo... Read more

Relationship problems

Relationships are a key part of our lives. They bring happiness and support, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy. When we encounter problems in our relationships, it can... Read more

Schizoid personality disorder

Schizoid personality disorder is a condition where sufferers have a significantly limited range of emotional experience and expression. As a result, they often avoid social situati... Read more

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects people’s ability to think clearly and decipher fantasy from reality. This can lead those affected to become withdrawn,... Read more

Schizotypal personality disorder

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterised by cognitive or perceptual distortions, behaviour that might be considered ‘excentric’ and difficulty in relating to o... Read more

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. SAD is sometimes known as "winter depression", as symptoms are usually more app... Read more

Self-harm

Self-harm is when someone harms themselves on purpose, usually as a way of coping with difficult emotions. Here we will look further into self-harming, including why someone might... Read more

Separation and divorce

Deciding to end a relationship is difficult, no matter what your circumstances are. Not only are there a lot of deep-rooted emotions involved, but there are also a lot of practical... Read more

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is a condition where the child becomes nervous and fearful when separated from a parent, carer or are away from home. Read more

Sex addiction

Sex addiction (or hypersexuality) can be defined as any sexual activity that feels irrepressible. This could be through sex with a partner, but may also involve masturbation, porno... Read more

Sex problems

Sex problems are common and can occur for any number of different reasons. In most cases, sexual problems can be linked to other challenges or difficulties you are facing within yo... Read more

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse or sexual violence describes any type of sexual activity that is unwanted. There are many different types of abuse, including rape, child sexual abuse, female genital... Read more

Sexual assault

Sexual assault is a crime and can happen to anyone of any age. It’s an act that is carried out without the victim’s consent and is a form of sexual violence. Here, we t... Read more

Smoking

Smoking is one of the greatest causes of illness and premature death in the UK. It can create a number of problems, not only for the smoker but also for the people around them. Se... Read more

Social anxiety

The term social anxiety, or "social phobia", is used to describe a long-term overwhelming fear and excessive self-consciousness in social situations. We take a look at what social... Read more

Spirituality

Generally, spiritual practices involve exploring a deeper sense of meaning and purpose, a sense of belonging, and a connection with the universe. Spirituality can work in tandem wi... Read more

Stress

Almost everyone experiences stress from time to time and, while a small amount of stress can motivate us, too much or prolonged stress can be damaging to both our physical and ment... Read more

Suicidal thoughts

If you need immediate help and are worried you can’t keep yourself safe, please: go to your nearest A&E department call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital as... Read more

Tourette's syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition that involves repetitive involuntary movements and vocalisations, known as tics. These tics are deemed simple or complex depen... Read more

Trauma

Psychological trauma typically occurs after a particularly distressing event or a series of enduring events. Experiencing trauma can affect your mental health, leading to you feeli... Read more

Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania, also known as trich or hair-pulling disorder, is when someone experiences an uncontrollable urge to pull out their own hair. They may pull out hair from their hea... Read more

Work-related stress

When you enjoy your job, it can provide happiness and fulfilment. But, when work is causing you stress and unhappiness, it can take over your life. On this page, we'll explore wor... Read more

Young carers

A young carer is someone under 25 who helps to look after someone in their family or a friend. On this page, we'll explore the impact of being a young carer, and the types of suppo... Read more

Young people's counselling

As adolescents, the transition from childhood to adulthood can be daunting. Nowadays, young people can be exposed to pressure, whether that’s at home from family members, or... Read more