Anxiety can show up in obvious ways, like a racing heart, trouble sleeping, or a mind that won't shut off. It can also be quieter. Replaying a conversation on the drive home because you're worried you said the wrong thing. Feeling a wave of dread when you see an unexpected message from your boss. Running through every possible outcome before making a decision. Feeling like you're constantly anticipating the next problem, even when everything is technically okay.

Sometimes anxiety is connected to what's happening in your life right now. Sometimes earlier experiences have taught your nervous system to stay alert, anticipate problems, or pay close attention to other people's reactions. Stress, relationships, work, hormones, sleep, major life changes, and the sheer amount you're carrying can all affect how anxious you feel. It's rarely just one thing.

I work with women who are often very self-aware and understand their anxiety intellectually, yet still feel it in their bodies. You may know there's no immediate danger and still feel the tightness in your chest, the knot in your stomach, or the sense that you can't quite exhale. This is where I find Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Therapy especially helpful. We can get curious about the parts of you that worry, anticipate, plan, and stay vigilant while also helping your nervous system develop a greater capacity to settle and recover from stress.

Therapy for anxiety can help you recognize what sets your anxiety in motion, understand the patterns that keep it going, and develop practical tools for working with it when it shows up. We can also pay attention to what your anxiety may be drawing your attention toward: a boundary you've been avoiding, a pace of life that has become exhausting, a difficult relationship, an old fear that's been activated, or a nervous system that simply needs more support.

Having a place to slow things down, understand what's happening, and practice responding differently can make a real difference.