What Anxiety Really Looks Like and Why It’s Not Just in Your Head
Your heart pounds.
Your mind won't stop.
You tell yourself its just nerves, but what if it's more than that?
Anxiety is something we all experience, but for some, it can become persistent, showing up in ways that feel overwhelming, confusing, or even exhausting. The tricky part about anxiety is that it isn't always obvious.
It doesn't just look like panic attacks or constant worry. It can sneak into your daily life in subtle ways:
- Feeling irritable or short-tempered when small things go wrong
- Overthinking decisions or replaying conversations repeatedly
- Avoiding situations that feel stressful or uncomfortable
- Physical sensations like headaches, tight muscles, a racing heart, or butterflies in your stomach
- Trouble sleeping or feeling "on edge" even when nothing seems wrong
Have you ever noticed how your body seems to take over when anxiety hits? Maybe your heart races, your stomach flips, or you feel a little dizzy? It's almost like your body gets the message before your mind does.
The funny thing is, your body isn't trying to make life harder. It's actually trying to protect you. It just can't always tell the differences between a real danger and an emotional one. So, whether it's a stressful meeting, a difficult conversation, or uncertainty about the future, your body might react as if you're facing a life-or-death situation.
While that "on alert" response can be useful in true emergencies, it can feel uncomfortable in everyday life. Tight shoulders, racing thoughts, shallow breathing, it's all your body doing its best to keep you safe. Over time, when this state sticks around, it can leave you feeling drained and burnt out. That's why caring for both your mind and body is key when managing anxiety.
Anxiety often has layers. It can come from past experiences, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or even the ways our bodies learned to stay on guard in high-stress environments. Have you noticed how your anxiety tends to show up in similar situations? Maybe when life feels unpredictable, when you're worried about what others think, or when you're facing a challenge. That's your body's learned way of saying, "I recognize this, and it feels unsafe"
The aim is to help you feel more in tune with yourself, notice what your body is telling you and respond with compassion. Over time, you can learn to sit with uncomfortable feelings with letting them control your choices, your relationships, or your peace of mind.
You're human.
Anxiety is not a weakness or a flaw. It's your body and mind trying to keep you safe, even if it sometimes overreacts. With support, you can learn to work with anxiety instead of feeling controlled by it.
If you've been feeling restless, tense, or "off", therapy can be a safe space to explore what's happening, develop coping tools, and reconnect with your calm.
You can even try these simple strategies:
- Breathe Like You Mean It
- Take a slow inhale for 4 counts, hold for 2, then exhale for 6. Repeat 5-10 times.
- Name It to Tame It
- Say out loud (or in your head), "I'm feeling anxious right now". Acknowledging the feeling can make it less overwhelming.
- Ground Yourself
- Look around and name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.
