10/11/2025
What do you turn to when your feeling low or not quite yourself?
I always turn to the chocolate, sometimes that’s good, it soothes me, cheers me up, makes me feel better.
But there are times when I might keep turning to the chocolate and then I start to feel bad about myself, disappointed in myself and my critical voice gets very loud.
People who struggle with anxiety often turn to what we call safety behaviours, things that make them feel safe and reduce their anxious feelings.
But if they start to rely on these safety behaviours they can make things worse instead of better and anxiety continues.
Here are some safety behaviours that people with anxiety might turn to time and time again not realising that instead of helping them get over their anxious feelings they are collaborating with their anxiety, because all the while they turn to safety behaviours they never find out if they can tolerate the anxiety or get through the anxious moment without them.
Avoidance
Alcohol
Drugs
Medication
Worry
Googling
Never doing things alone
Asking for reassurance
Comfort eating
Always having an escape plan
Superstitious rituals
Perfectionism
Constantly checking in with others
Do you recognise any of these, do you turn to them often to help reduce your anxious feelings?
In counselling we work out how you can manage life without the safety behaviours.
This is part of your therapy to reduce your anxiety and manage life without constant anxious feelings.
If you’d like to know more, get in touch.
