Anxiety as the Dizziness of Freedom
Existential anxiety therapy helps us explore the deeper meaning behind our fears, choices, and freedom. When the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard described anxiety as “the dizziness of freedom,” he wasn’t talking about a disorder—but about being human.
Anxiety, from this view, isn’t simply something to eliminate. It’s the feeling that arises when we realise we are free—the endless possibilities before us, and the responsibility that comes with choosing.
At Thrive Together Psychotherapy, we help clients explore anxiety not just as a symptom, but as an opportunity for growth, clarity, and self-understanding.
Freedom and Fear: The Human Paradox
Kierkegaard wrote that anxiety appears when we recognise our own freedom—the power to choose, to act, to love, and to change. Yet this same freedom can make us dizzy.
It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff and suddenly realising you could jump. Not that you want to—but that you could. This awareness shakes us. It reminds us that we alone must decide how to live.
For many people, this uncertainty can feel like chaos:
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“What if I make the wrong choice?”
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“What if I fail?”
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“What if I never find meaning?”
Existential anxiety therapy invites us to face these fears with honesty rather than avoidance—to see anxiety as a signal that something within us is awakening.
Listening to What Anxiety Is Trying to Say
In therapy, anxiety often reveals where we feel disconnected—from ourselves, from others, or from our sense of purpose. Instead of suppressing the discomfort, we explore it to uncover what it’s pointing toward.
Kierkegaard saw this kind of anxiety as a teacher—a doorway to self-knowledge. It’s the feeling that tells us change is possible.
When faced with freedom, we can either:
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retreat into safety and control, or
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step forward into growth, uncertainty, and authenticity.
At Thrive Together Psychotherapy, our role is to help you build the courage to take that second step—to face your anxiety not as an enemy but as an invitation.
How Existential Anxiety Therapy Helps
Our approach integrates existential and analytic principles, helping you find meaning in your emotions rather than fighting them.
We’ll work together to:
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Understand how freedom, responsibility, and choice influence your anxiety.
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Explore patterns that keep you feeling stuck or paralysed.
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Develop resilience and self-trust to handle uncertainty.
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Reconnect with your authentic values and direction in life.
This kind of therapy doesn’t offer quick fixes—it offers understanding. When we begin to comprehend why anxiety arises, we learn how to live meaningfully alongside it.
Read more: Therapy for High-Functioning Depression and Emotional Numbness →
From Paralysis to Possibility
Kierkegaard believed that courage isn’t the absence of anxiety—it’s our ability to act in spite of it. Every meaningful choice will bring some fear, but when we engage with that fear consciously, it transforms into energy for growth.
Existential anxiety therapy helps you harness that energy, turning paralysis into possibility. Rather than trying to escape anxiety, we learn to stand within it, breathe through it, and move forward with awareness.
Learn more about Kierkegaard’s philosophy of freedom (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
Begin Your Journey Toward Calm and Clarity
If anxiety has left you feeling lost, disconnected, or fearful of making the wrong choices, therapy can help you find your footing.
At Thrive Together Psychotherapy, we offer:
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Free 2-hour consultation to explore whether therapy feels right for you.
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In-person sessions in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.
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Online sessions available UK-wide.
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Flexible payment plans: £120 to £40 per session, based on the therapist’s experience.
Take the first step toward freedom—not away from anxiety, but through it.
