When anxiety starts taking up too much space in your life

You may be functioning well on the outside while feeling overwhelmed internally. Worry, overthinking, perfectionism, self-doubt, or a need for certainty can make it difficult to relax and feel present and centered in your life. Experiencing anxiety is just part of being human, but sometimes anxiety can become excessive or persistent, leading to thoughts and fears that feel uncontrollable or threatening. When anxiety reaches this level, it can begin to interfere with your work, your self-image, and your relationships.

At Chicago Psychotherapy & Consulting, we help adults understand their anxiety and the patterns that keep it going. Therapy can provide a space to slow down, understand what is happening beneath the anxiety, and develop more adaptive ways of responding to yourself and your experience.

What Can Anxiety Look Like?

Anxiety doesn't look the same for everyone. For some people, it is an obvious feeling of fear or worry. For others, it can show up as overthinking, perfectionism, difficulty making decisions, or a constant sense that something needs to be figured out.

If you’re feeling anxious, you may experience:

• Difficulty relaxing or being present

• Feeling overwhelmed by everyday responsibilities

• Worrying about what other people think of you

• Reassurance-seeking

• Physical tension or restlessness

• Anxiety surrounding major life changes

• Persistent worry or fear

• Overthinking and rumination

• Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes

• Difficulty making decisions

• Excessive self-doubt

• Relationship anxiety

Sometimes anxiety can even look like being highly productive, overly responsible, or constantly trying to anticipate and prevent problems.

Anxiety is rarely just about the situation happening in front of you. Current stressors can evoke earlier experiences, relationship dynamics, expectations, and beliefs about yourself, even ones you aren’t aware of in the moment.

You may have learned that you need to be perfect to be loved, that mistakes are not permitted or even dangerous, or that other people's approval is essential for relationships to survive. You may feel like you need total certainty before you can feel safe. These patterns can operate outside of your awareness even while they guide your thoughts and behaviors.

Therapy can help you understand the source of these patterns and how they continue to affect your life today. You can develop a more flexible and manageable approach to your anxiety and other stressors, which can lead to increased self-esteem and improved relationships.

Why Does Anxiety Keep Happening?