Topics · Nicosia
Anxiety: when worry will not let you rest
Everyone feels anxious now and then. When the worry sticks around and starts to affect your work, school or sleep, it is worth talking to someone.
What anxiety is
Anxiety is the body and mind's natural response to pressure or danger. Feeling nervous before an exam or a job interview is normal, and a little of it can even help you focus.
It becomes a problem when it is stronger than the situation calls for, when it lasts for weeks, or when it makes you avoid things that matter to you. The World Health Organization describes anxiety disorders as among the most common mental health conditions. They affect children, teenagers and adults alike.
Signs you may notice
Anxiety looks different from person to person. Some things people often describe are:
- Constant worry that is hard to switch off
- Tension in the body, a racing heart, dizziness or feeling short of breath
- Trouble falling asleep, or waking up with your thoughts already racing
- Feeling irritable and finding it hard to concentrate
- Avoiding people, places or situations that make you anxious
- Headaches or stomach aches with no medical cause
Anxiety in children and teenagers
Children rarely say "I feel anxious". More often they show it through a tummy ache before school, tears, anger, or not wanting to leave your side. Teenagers may shut themselves away, avoid friends, or worry a lot about exams and how others see them.
As a parent, you can help by listening without rushing to fix things and by letting your child know their feelings make sense. If the anxiety keeps going, or stops them going to school or seeing friends, talking with a psychologist can give you a clearer picture.
How we can help
Therapy can help you understand what keeps your anxiety going, change the thoughts and habits that feed it, and find ways to calm your body and mind. Many people find that with the right support, anxiety becomes much more manageable.
At Safe Space Psychology Center in Latsia, our clinical and counselling psychologists are registered with the Cyprus Psychologists' Registration Board. We offer individual sessions for adults, children and teenagers, sessions with parents, and assessments where needed. We also work with an associate psychiatrist when that would help. Sessions take place in person or online, privately or through GeSY, in Greek, English or Romanian.
Your first session
In the first session, the psychologist will listen and ask about what you are feeling, when it started and how it affects your day. You do not need to have the answers ready. You set the pace, and what you share stays confidential. By the end, you will agree together on what comes next.
When to get help straight away
If you have chest pain or trouble breathing and are not sure what is happening, get medical help first. If you or someone close to you is thinking about self-harm or is in immediate danger, call 112 or go to the A&E department of your nearest hospital.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to feel anxious?
Yes, anxiety is part of life. It is worth asking for support when it lasts a long time, feels very intense, or stops you doing the things you want to do.
Do I need a referral?
Not for private sessions: you can contact us directly. To see a clinical psychologist through GeSY, you need a referral from your personal doctor or a specialist doctor.
Can I have sessions online?
Yes. Sessions take place either in person in Latsia or online. You will need a stable connection and a quiet space where you can talk freely.
My child gets very anxious about school. Where do I start?
You can start with a session just for you as parents, to tell us what you are seeing. Then we can decide together whether and how to work with your child.
Other topics we work with
Sources and further reading
- World Health Organization: Anxiety disorders
- NHS: Generalised anxiety disorder in adults
- NICE: Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults (CG113)
- American Psychological Association: Anxiety
This page is for information only and does not replace an assessment by a psychologist or doctor.