How Anxiety Shows Up in the Body (And Why You’re Not Imagining It)
If you’ve ever Googled “why does anxiety cause chest pain?” at 2 a.m. or wondered why your body feels constantly tense even when you can’t pinpoint a clear worry, you’re not alone.
Many people experience anxiety symptoms in the body long before they recognize anxiety emotionally. For some, the physical sensations are so strong that they fear something is medically wrong — even after tests come back “normal.”
The truth is: anxiety is not just in your head.
It is a whole-body experience.
Anxiety Lives in the Nervous System, Not Just the Mind
Anxiety is your nervous system’s way of trying to protect you. When your brain perceives threat (real or imagined), it activates the body’s fight-flight-freeze response.
This response releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, preparing your body to react quickly. While this can be helpful in real danger, chronic stress or unresolved trauma can keep this system activated far longer than necessary.
Over time, this leads to physical anxiety symptoms that feel confusing, overwhelming, and very real.
Common Anxiety Symptoms in the Body
Anxiety can look different for everyone, but many people report experiencing:
Chest & Breathing
Anxiety chest pain or tightness
Shortness of breath or shallow breathing
A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the chest
Muscles & Movement
Chronic muscle tension (neck, jaw, shoulders, back)
Restlessness or feeling unable to relax
Trembling or shaking
Digestive System
Nausea or stomach pain
Bloating or digestive discomfort
Urgency to use the bathroom
Nervous System & Sensory Changes
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
Feeling “on edge” or easily startled
Fatigue & Sleep
Extreme tiredness despite rest
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Waking up feeling tense or panicked
These somatic anxiety symptoms can come and go, or linger quietly in the background — often worsening during times of stress, transition, or emotional suppression.
Why Anxiety Can Feel So Physical
Many people ask, “Why do I feel anxiety in my body when I’m not consciously anxious?”
Here are a few reasons:
Emotions that weren’t safe to express earlier in life often get stored in the body
Chronic stress teaches the nervous system to stay on high alert
Trauma or medical experiences can sensitize the body to perceived threat
Overthinking and hyper-vigilance keep the body braced for danger
Your body may be responding to patterns learned long ago — not because something is wrong with you, but because your nervous system learned survival.
You’re Not Imagining It, And You’re Not “Too Sensitive”
One of the most painful parts of somatic anxiety is being told:
“It’s just stress.”
“Try to calm down.”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
But when anxiety shows up in the body, it can feel terrifying and isolating — especially if you’ve had medical tests that didn’t explain the symptoms.
Your experience is real.
Your body is communicating.
How Body-Based Therapy Can Help Anxiety
Because anxiety lives in the nervous system, talk therapy alone isn’t always enough.
This is where body based therapy can be especially helpful. Rather than trying to think your way out of anxiety, somatic approaches focus on:
Increasing awareness of body sensations
Learning to regulate the nervous system
Building a sense of safety inside the body
Gently releasing stored tension and stress
Body-based work may include grounding, breathwork, movement, mindfulness, or somatic tracking — always at a pace that feels safe and collaborative.
Over time, this can help your body learn that it no longer needs to stay in survival mode.
When to Seek Support
If anxiety symptoms in your body are:
Interfering with daily life
Causing frequent health anxiety or reassurance-seeking
Persisting despite medical reassurance
Connected to trauma, burnout, or chronic stress
Working with a therapist trained in somatic anxiety and nervous-system-informed care can be deeply relieving.
You don’t need to wait until things feel unbearable to get support.
