Why Anxiety Often Feels So Physical

This article expands on questions I’m often asked by clients locally, particularly around why anxiety symptoms feel so physical even when medical tests come back clear.

Many people are surprised by just how physical anxiety can feel.

In my work as an anxiety specialist in Ely, one of the most common things clients tell me is that the physical sensations are often the most frightening part – sometimes even more distressing than the anxious thoughts themselves.

Symptoms such as a racing heart, chest tightness, dizziness, breathlessness, muscle tension or a churning stomach can feel intense and alarming. When these sensations come on suddenly or without a clear cause, it’s easy to worry that something is physically wrong.

This is something I recently spoke about in my regular column published by the Ely Standard, exploring why anxiety so often shows up in the body rather than just the mind.

Why the body reacts when anxiety is present

Anxiety is closely linked to the nervous system. When your brain perceives threat, whether real or imagined, it activates the body’s fight-or-flight response.

This response is designed to protect you in moments of danger. Breathing becomes faster, the heart rate increases, muscles tense and the body prepares for action.

There’s more about common physical anxiety symptoms in my related article: Common physical anxiety symptoms

The difficulty arises when this system becomes overactive. Ongoing stress, worry or prolonged anxiety can cause the body to behave as if danger is present even when it isn’t. Over time, this can lead to persistent physical symptoms that feel confusing, frightening and out of control.

You can learn more about anxiety in all its forms here: Understanding Anxiety in Ely

Why reassurance alone doesn’t always help

Many people are told to “’try to relax’ or ‘stop worrying’. While well-intentioned, this advice often falls short because anxiety symptoms are not created deliberately.

They are automatic physical responses driven by the nervous system. This is why anxiety can feel so real and intense even when you logically know you’re safe. Emotions, such as anxiety, will always prevail over clear, logical thinking. Your mind would rather keep you safe by preparing for a threat rather than doing nothing and there is some kind of danger. It’s part of our hard wired survival mechanism.

Understanding this can be a powerful first step. When people realise their body is responding automatically rather than malfunctioning, the symptoms often become less frightening. Your body is doing what it is designed to do but it is overdoing it when the response is not needed.

A calmer path forward

Because anxiety is rooted in the nervous system, approaches that help the body feel safe and settled are often more effective than logic alone. You need to be able to cam feelings in order to take back control over your thinking. This is how you end the spiral of anxiety.

Learning how to calm the nervous system, reduce baseline tension and break cycles of fear can make a meaningful difference.

If you’d like to read the full article published by the Ely Standard, you can find it here:
👉 Why anxiety often feels physical – Ely Standard

And if you’re looking for one-to-one support, you can explore anxiety therapy and hypnotherapy in Ely here:
👉 Anxiety therapy and hypnotherapy in Ely

With the right support, you can calm anxious physical feelings and start feeling more calm, confident and in control.

To your health and happiness,

Dan Regan

Anxiety Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Could you use some help with anxiety in Ely, Newmarket or Online? Struggling with anxiety, stress, worry and fear and need some help? Contact me to book your Free Anxiety Consultation: Contact Dan

Find out what hundreds of other people have said after their anxiety hypnotherapy sessions with Dan: Hypnotherapy Testimonials

And check out these popular and powerful hypnosis downloads that can start helping you right away with anxiety, confidence and more: Hypnosis Downloads