Anxiety 101
Most people feel anxious from time to time. It’s that flutter in your chest before a big meeting, the racing thoughts before bed, or the tightness in your stomach when something feels uncertain. Anxiety, at its core, is your body’s built-in alarm system, a way of keeping you alert and safe.
But when anxiety sticks around, shows up too often, or feels overwhelming, it can start to interfere with daily life. That’s when it shifts from being a natural response to something that might need extra support.
What Anxiety Feels Like
Anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone, but some common experiences include:
Racing heart, tense muscles, or feeling short of breath
Difficulty concentrating or feeling on edge
Trouble sleeping or winding down
Worrying that feels constant, overwhelming, or hard to control
These symptoms can come and go, or they can hang around in the background like constant noise.
Why Anxiety Happens
Anxiety is part of our survival system. It’s tied to the fight or flight response, which kicks in when your body thinks there’s a threat. The tricky part is that the brain doesn’t always know the difference between a real danger (like a car swerving toward you) and a perceived one (like sending an important email).
When to Seek Support
If anxiety feels like it’s getting in the way of your sleep, relationships, work, or everyday choices, it may be time to reach out. Therapy offers a safe space to explore what’s fueling the worry, understand how your body responds to stress, and build tools to calm the nervous system.
A Final Note
Feeling anxious doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. It means your nervous system is working overtime. With the right support and strategies, anxiety can become more manageable — and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
