Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy. Yet many people don’t realize when they’re anxious; especially those who appear high-functioning on the outside. You might be successful, dependable, and outwardly “fine,” while inside you feel tense, overwhelmed, or constantly on edge. Anxiety therapy helps make sense of this disconnect and offers a path toward relief.

High-functioning anxiety often shows up in subtle ways. You may overthink everything, have trouble making decisions or hold yourself to impossibly high standards. You might struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or a fear of disappointing others. Rest can feel uncomfortable. Slowing down may increase anxiety rather than ease it.

In the mind, anxiety often sounds like racing thoughts or constant “what ifs.” You may catastrophize or jump to worst-case scenarios. Many people experience intrusive thoughts or rigid all-or-nothing thinking. It can feel hard to quiet your mind, especially at the end of the day when it’s time to unwind.

Anxiety also lives in the body. Common physical symptoms include tight shoulders or jaw, headaches, stomach issues, shallow breathing, or a racing heart. Sleep may feel restless or unrefreshing. Some people feel disconnected from their bodies altogether. Others stay in a near-constant state of tension without realizing it.

For many people, anxiety builds over time. It can develop when emotions go unfelt or unexpressed. When fear, sadness, anger, or grief get pushed aside in order to function, the nervous system stores that energy. Anxiety becomes the body’s way of asking for attention. Effective anxiety therapy doesn’t just focus on symptoms. It helps you notice triggers and slowly build the ability to sense and feel emotions in a safe way. It’s a root cause treatment, not a band-aid.

There are several therapeutic approaches that can help. Somatic Experiencing and body-based therapy focus on noticing physical sensations without judgment. This helps the nervous system downshift into a sense of safety. Mindfulness teaches you how to return to the present moment using your senses. CBT can be helpful for intrusive thoughts, catastrophizing, and black-and-white thinking. ACT supports you in changing your relationship with anxious thoughts rather than fighting them. EMDR therapy may be appropriate when anxiety connects to past experiences or held negative subconscious beliefs.

At Holistic Psychotherapy with Jenna, anxiety therapy is individualized and integrative. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Therapy combines a safe, supportive relationship with evidence-based techniques that address both the mind and the body. The goal is not just coping with anxiety, but understanding it and healing at the root.

If anxiety feels like it’s always running in the background, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Support is available, and change is possible.