If you’ve ever been told to “just think positive” or “calm down,” you know how frustrating and isolating anxiety can feel. Maybe you’ve tried deep breaths, mantras, or mindset work—and it helped, but only a little. The truth is, anxiety isn’t just in your mind. It’s in your nervous system. It lives in your body.

Anxiety is often a survival response—not a personal flaw. It can show up as racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, looping worries, or a constant feeling of being “on alert.” But it can also appear as muscle tension, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, or a tight chest. These are all ways your body tries to protect you from danger, even when there’s no clear threat.