Anxiety Therapy in Singapore

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response to perceived threat or uncertainty. It becomes problematic when feelings of worry, fear, or tension are persistent, overwhelming, or begin to interfere with daily life. Individuals experiencing anxiety may find themselves feeling constantly on edge, overthinking situations, or avoiding activities that once felt manageable. Anxiety may influence one’s interpretation of situations which can increase anticipation of negative outcomes and heightened sense of threat.

Common Signs and Experiences

People experiencing anxiety may notice a combination of emotional, physical, and cognitive responses. These can include excessive worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, racing thoughts, and sleep disturbance. Some individuals may also experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath, light-headedness and nausea during periods of heightened stress. Anxiety can also show up as avoidance of social situations, work tasks, or unfamiliar environments.

Types Of Anxiety

There are several types of anxiety. While some symptoms may be similar, they are all different conditions. Some individuals may experience one or more types of anxiety. These commonly include:

Generalised Anxiety Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder that can be characterised by persistent and excessive, ongoing worries that are difficult to control and interfere with daily functioning. Symptoms may include feelings of restlessness, constantly on edge, easily irritable or apprehensive. Individuals with GAD may experience cognitive symptoms including but not limited to, difficulty in concentrating on tasks, unable to stop worrying or avoiding situations that may be overwhelming. Physically, symptoms can include muscle tension, fatigue, insomnia, trembling, sweating and nausea.

Panic Disorder Panic disorder is characterised by panic attacks and having the fear of continued panic attacks. Panic attacks may look like sudden episodes of intense fear, triggering physical reactions without an apparent cause. Individuals may feel a loss of control. While many individuals may experience one or two panic attacks in response to stressful situations, recurring panic attacks along with constant fear of another attack may be a sign of panic disorder. Panic attacks may occur suddenly and typically include cognitive and physical symptoms, including but not limited to, sense of impending doom, fear of loss of control or death, rapid heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or tightness in throat, chills, hot flashes, nausea, chest and head pains as well as dizziness and numbness in body.

Social Anxiety Social anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder that can be characterised by high levels of fear and worry about social situations that might make the individual feel humiliated, embarrassed or rejected. Feelings of shyness and everyday nervousness are natural responses to different social situations and this differs in each individual. Unlike everyday nervousness, social anxiety disorder may include fear, anxiety and avoidance which can interfere in daily functioning. Physical symptoms may include blushing, heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, nausea and muscle tension.

How Anxiety Can Affect Daily Life (Anxiety-Avoidance Cycle)

When anxiety is ongoing, it can affect work performance, relationships, decision-making, and overall quality of life. Some individuals find themselves caught in a cycle where avoiding anxiety-provoking situations provides short-term relief but increases anxiety over time. This is commonly known as anxiety-avoidance cycle. By avoiding anxiety-inducing triggers, the brain never learns that the situation is safe and in the long term, individuals may become even more unwilling to confront anxiety. Fear may grow, leading to restrictive behaviours and false beliefs that emotion is dangerous and should be avoided. Anxiety may increase and be generalised to other situations. In addition to avoidance, some individuals may engage in “safety behaviours” or subtle avoidance to help cope with anxiety. These may include relying on medication, the security of your mobile phone, always having an exit plan for potentially-anxious situations, or making sure there is a companion. These safety behaviours also play a part in the vicious cycle of anxiety. Dependence on these measures provide temporary relief but the brain may not learn that emotions are not dangerous. As such, some individuals may seek short-term relief while strengthening long-term anxiety.

How Therapy Can Help Therapy provides a structured and supportive space to understand anxiety patterns, develop coping strategies, and build confidence in managing distress. Psychological therapy may help individuals relate differently to anxious thoughts, regulate physiological responses, and gradually re-engage with avoided situations. This may help individuals learn how anxiety patterns develop, what maintains them and how to respond to anxiety in more helpful ways.

Our Therapeutic Approach

Our psychologists use evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioural strategies, emotion regulation skills, and mindfulness-based techniques. These include, but are not limited to: Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Therapy is tailored to each individual’s needs and paced collaboratively. Grounded in dialogue, our therapy provides a supportive environment that allows you to talk openly with someone who’s objective, neutral and non-judgmental. You and your psychologist will work together to identify and explore changes that may support your improved well-being.

What to Expect in Sessions

Initial sessions focus on understanding your experiences, concerns, and goals. Together with your psychologist you will develop a shared understanding of anxiety patterns and agree on a therapy plan. Sessions are confidential and conducted in a respectful, non-judgemental manner. In earlier sessions, your psychologist may ask you to describe the problem that has brought you into his or her office. Thereafter, psychologists may gather relevant information on your background, as well as the history of your problems and other major areas of your life, and the ways you have tried to address the concerns. Sessions are typically an interactive and collaborative process based on dialogue which promotes your active engagement in joint problem-solving. Your psychologist may give you homework assignments so that you can practice new skills between sessions or reading assignments so that you can learn more about a particular topic. Together you and your psychologist will identify problems, set goals and monitor your progress.

Who This Service May Be Suitable For

Anxiety therapy may be helpful for adults experiencing persistent worry, panic symptoms, social anxiety, or stress-related difficulties that impact daily functioning. This service may also be helpful for individuals who notice avoidance patterns or recurring physical tension that feels difficult to manage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does therapy take?

The length of therapy varies depending on individual needs and goals.

Do I need a referral?

A referral is not required to see a psychologist.

Is anxiety therapy confidential?

Yes, confidentiality applies, with standard professional limits.

Call to Action

If you would like to explore whether anxiety therapy may be helpful, you are welcome to contact us for an initial consultation. If you think you may have anxiety, an initial consultation can help clarify the next steps.