Why Anxiety Feels So Bad in Your Body and How Somatic Therapy Can Help

Anxiety isn’t just in your head, it shows up in your body.

If you’ve ever felt your heart racing before a meeting, a knot in your stomach before a difficult conversation, or tension in your shoulders that never quite goes away, you’re not alone.

For many people, anxiety feels just as physical as it does mental.

But why does anxiety feel so bad in the body, and what can you do about it?

Why Anxiety Shows Up Physically

Anxiety is part of your body’s natural stress response system. When your brain perceives a threat, whether it’s an actual danger or just the possibility of something going wrong, your nervous system shifts into high alert. This “fight or flight” response floods your body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

That’s why anxiety can feel like:
- A racing heart
- Tight chest or shallow breathing
- Sweaty palms
- Stomach discomfort or nausea
- Muscle tension
- Feeling restless or “on edge”

Even if your mind knows you’re safe, your body hasn’t gotten the message.

Why Talk Therapy Isn’t Always Enough

Traditional talk therapy can be incredibly supportive for understanding your thoughts and emotions. But for many people, insight alone doesn’t calm the physical symptoms of anxiety.

That’s because anxiety lives in the nervous system as much as it lives in the mind. If your body is stuck in a cycle of hyper-alertness, you may feel like you can’t simply “think” your way out of worry or panic.

How Somatic Therapy Helps Calm Anxiety

Somatic therapy takes a body-based approach. Instead of focusing only on your thoughts, it helps you tune into the signals your body is sending and gently shift them.

Through somatic experiencing and other body-focused practices, therapy can help you:
- Notice and release tension patterns that keep you stuck
- Learn simple grounding techniques to calm racing thoughts
- Rebuild a sense of safety in your body
- Strengthen your nervous system’s ability to move between stress and relaxation

Over time, you begin to feel less hijacked by your body and more in charge of your responses.

You’re Not Broken, Your Body Is Doing Its Job

If you struggle with anxiety, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or flawed. It means your nervous system has been working overtime, trying to protect you. Therapy is about helping your body learn that it’s safe to rest again.

Taking the Next Step

If you’re tired of feeling like anxiety runs the show, somatic therapy can help you reconnect with your body’s natural ability to regulate and heal.

I offer anxiety therapy in Santa Monica, both in-person and online, and I’d be honored to support you.

Schedule a free consultation to learn more about how body-based therapy can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded.