Do you ever snap at someone out of nowhere, and later wonder where that came from? Maybe you’ve noticed your breath quickening over something small, or your thoughts looping endlessly, as if worrying enough will somehow fix things. Or find yourself raiding the kitchen, not because you’re hungry, but because something inside feels too restless to ignore? These aren’t just quirks. They’re pieces of a puzzle—your mind and body working hard to deal with something they can’t quite name.
You might not call it anxiety, but that’s exactly what it is. Not the textbook definition you’ve heard a hundred times, and not just a vague feeling of unease. Anxiety is an energy, coursing through you, looking for somewhere to go. It’s what keeps you alert when you’re walking home alone at night. It’s what pushes you to triple-check your work before hitting “send.” It’s a part of you, alive and kicking, trying to protect you in a world that often feels unpredictable. But when it doesn’t have a clear direction, this energy gets tangled. That’s when it shows up as outbursts, hunger pangs, or that crushing weight of endless “what-ifs.”
Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: anxiety isn’t just worry. It’s not just panic attacks or spiraling thoughts. It’s the reason you feel overwhelmed when your inbox fills up or why you wake up exhausted after a night of tossing and turning. It hides in perfectionism, in the rituals of OCD, in the constant need to stay busy. It’s the body’s way of saying, “Something needs your attention.” But without clarity, it’s like a fire that spreads instead of keeping you warm.
Anxiety isn’t the enemy. It isn’t something you can—or should—eliminate. In fact, you can’t. It’s woven into you, a part of being alive. And while it can feel overwhelming, it’s not inherently bad. Anxiety is there to help you, to sharpen your focus, to push you toward action. The problem comes when it doesn’t get what it needs—when it isn’t channeled or understood. That’s when it turns into emotional outbursts, racing thoughts, or that knot in your stomach that won’t go away.
Managing anxiety isn’t about shutting it up or pushing it down. It’s about learning how to work with it. For some, that means releasing its energy through movement—running, yoga, or just a long, brisk walk. For others, it’s about stillness—deep breathing, mindfulness, or simply sitting with the discomfort instead of running from it. There’s no single solution because anxiety isn’t the same for everyone. What works for one person might not work for another, and that’s okay.
This is why seeking help matters. A therapist can help you untangle your anxiety—figure out what’s driving it, what it’s protecting you from, and how to live with it instead of fighting it. Because anxiety isn’t just a problem to solve; it’s also a guide. It shows you what you care about, what you fear, what you need. The more you understand it, the less power it has to overwhelm you.
Anxiety isn’t a flaw. It’s a force, sometimes wild and unruly, but also deeply human. It’s not about silencing it; it’s about finding its rhythm, listening to what it’s trying to tell you, and making space for it without letting it take over. When you do, anxiety stops being something that holds you back and becomes something that helps you move forward. Not perfectly, not without effort, but with the kind of strength and self-awareness that only comes from learning to live with all parts of yourself—even the messy ones.
Regards,
Komel Chadha
Psychologist
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